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Sept. 27: Friday: Another trek on the Sentier Littorale.

So…are you bored yet with all the photos of the Mediterranean coastline? I hope not, because that is what I have more of for you today. Of course we began the day with our gardening work from 7:30 till…it was noon today. Then back to the apartment for lunch, and we met S & T at 2:00 to drive to Plage De L’Estagnol. For those of you who don’t know French, plage means beach. S & T wanted an afternoon lying on the beach reading and sketching along with some swimming, and Cathy and Debi wanted to walk more of the Sentier Littorale, so we combined forces. They stayed at Plage De L’Estagnol and we took up the trail there and walked through Plage Du Grand Jardin, Plage De La Mere Dieu, Plage De La Vignasse, and ended at Plage De Cabasson, where they picked us up.   The walk took 2 hours. We did it leisurely, with lots of stops to gawk at the amazing scenery and to take photos. The weather was perfect for it, a mix of sun and clouds, warm but not too hot, a gentle breeze but no wind. The terrain wasn’t easy and it was quite varied. Sometimes we barefooted it through the surf, sometimes we walked through the woods, sometimes we scrambled over rocks, and, as always, there were all sorts of stairs. The views of the sea were breathtaking. We aren’t tired of them – hope you aren’t either. There was quite a bit of nudity, both male and female, old and young, in-shape and out-of-shape – in short, real people. Some of you will be disappointed, some relieved, but I tucked my camera away on the nude beach we walked through. I’m definitely not in Kansas!! But, being an artist, it’s all apples and oranges to me. Constantly in our view the entire walk was Fort de Bregancon, from the 16th Century, which sits on a small island linked to Cap Benat by a footbridge. It’s closed to the public. Abandoned in the early 18th Century, then restored under the young General Bonaparte, in 1968 it became the summer retreat of French Presidents. The photos I took only show it at a distance. At the end of our walk, S & T came to pick us up at Plage De Cabasson. Cathy went for a swim while we waited, but I opted for an espresso and a dish of ice cream. In the last 10 minutes (might have been shorter than that), while we waited for our friends to whisk us away in their convertible, we did an art session. Cathy threw hers away, but I kept mine. Later, back at the apartment after dinner, we did another art session. Cathy did a charcoal drawing (she is doing one a day), and I did a second collage. I’ll include photos of all three works. Tomorrow we are going back to St. Tropez, where I can work on my sunburn somemore. Nah, just kidding. There is some sailing race going on – I’ll be more specific in tomorrow’s blog post – and we don’t plan to watch it, but want to see the boats. We also want to see more of St. Tropez. We are thinking there might be stops at a couple more places on the way back, but we are leaving the day loose. It’s so nice to have a couple of days off!! Now, on to the photos. Hope you enjoy them.
We began our trek on the Sentier Littorale by walking the Plage De L'Estagnol, but I forgot to take photos. So, when we reached the part of the path that goes into the woods and over the rocks and along the cliffs, I turned around and took this photo of L'Estagnol.

We began our trek on the Sentier Littorale by walking the Plage De L’Estagnol, but I forgot to take photos. So, when we reached the part of the path that goes into the woods and over the rocks and along the cliffs, I turned around and took this photo of L’Estagnol.

The Mediterranean Sea was off to our right on this walk.

The Mediterranean Sea was off to our right on this walk.

The path begins. The water was actually an amazing deep blue and turquoise, but it got washed out in this photo.

The path begins. The water was actually an amazing deep blue and turquoise, but it got washed out in this photo.

Our view at the beginning of the walk.

Our view at the beginning of the walk.

Another view.

Another view.

Stairs, of course...up and up and up and up...I'm certainly getting my exercise on this trip!

Stairs, of course…up and up and up and up…I’m certainly getting my exercise on this trip!

Further along the path.

Further along the path.

Love these trees!

Love these trees!

More stairs!

More stairs!

Yet another gorgeous view.

Yet another gorgeous view.

The hole in the rocks; the lone tree (rather like a bonsai);  the beautiful deep blue sea.

The hole in the rocks; the lone tree (rather like a bonsai); the beautiful deep blue sea.

I'm always mesmerized, and I keep trying to capture the magic.

I’m always mesmerized, and I keep trying to capture the magic.

Further along the path...yup, Cathy's in front again...and I'm dawdling behind, playing with my iPad mini, taking photos for you.

Further along the path…yup, Cathy’s in front again…and I’m dawdling behind, playing with my iPad mini, taking photos for you.

Looking backwards, see how the sea is on the left now?

Looking backwards, see how the sea is on the left now?

Going forward along the path again.

Going forward along the path again.

Further along the path, a change of terrain.

Further along the path, a change of terrain.

I just can't believe I'm in the middle of all this beauty and grandeur.

I just can’t believe I’m in the middle of all this beauty and grandeur.

Looking down at the path we were walking on. Hiking boots were best. My black shoes were insufficient, but I managed. We actually passed some people walking this trail barefoot! But we think they were only going a short distance - they were picking their way very slowly. One woman was also topless - definitely not in Kansas, anymore, Dorothy.

Looking down at the path we were walking on. Hiking boots were best. My black shoes were insufficient, but I managed. We actually passed some people walking this trail barefoot! But we think they were only going a short distance – they were picking their way very slowly. One woman was also topless – definitely not in Kansas, anymore, Dorothy.

More of the trail; Cathy still in the lead.

More of the trail; Cathy still in the lead.

Another section of the trail with a little wooden footbridge.

Another section of the trail with a little wooden footbridge.

The surf. The water is crystal clear.

The surf. The water is crystal clear.

Still walking.

Still walking.

That's Fort De Bregancon out in the distance. In has been in earlier photos, too, I just didn't think to mention it in the captions.

That’s Fort De Bregancon out in the distance. In has been in earlier photos, too, I just didn’t think to mention it in the captions.

Ah, well, I just like this photo.

Ah, well, I just like this photo.

And this one, too. It is difficult to decide which of the many photos I take to put into a blog post - I show you only a small fraction of them.

And this one, too. It is difficult to decide which of the many photos I take to put into a blog post – I show you only a small fraction of them.

Along the path again.

Along the path again.

And even further along the path.

And even further along the path.

And further still.

And further still.

The view opposite a stretch of beach. I like the combination of the fences and the trees.

The view opposite a stretch of beach. I like the combination of the fences and the trees.

A stretch of path where it was a bit challenging to get a good footing.

A stretch of path where it was a bit challenging to get a good footing.

Some interesting holes in the cliff rocks. I took several photos, but I'll only include two here.

Some interesting holes in the cliff rocks. I took several photos, but I’ll only include two here.

Here's the second one.

Here’s the second one.

Can you see the stairs cut into the rock here? They are just below the long rectangular board and the handrail, then more to the left of that nearer to the bottom.

Can you see the stairs cut into the rock here? They are just below the long rectangular board and the handrail, then more to the left of that nearer to the bottom.

There's Fort De Bregancon in the distance. We are getting closer.

There’s Fort De Bregancon in the distance. We are getting closer.

Our final destination, Plage De Cabasson.

Our final destination, Plage De Cabasson.

I like the way these palm trees line up. At Plage De Cabasson.

I like the way these palm trees line up. At Plage De Cabasson.

Plage De Cabasson.

Plage De Cabasson.

The beach restaurant that served as our "studio" for ten minutes.

The beach restaurant that served as our “studio” for ten minutes.

My much needed espresso and glass of water.

My much needed espresso and glass of water.

The view from my table looking left (a gauche).

The view from my table looking left (a gauche).

View from my table looking straight ahead (tout droit).

View from my table looking straight ahead (tout droit).

View from my table looking right (a droit).

View from my table looking right (a droit).

Debi's collage done at the beach "studio."

Debi’s collage done at the beach “studio.”

Debi's collage done back at the apartment after dinner.

Debi’s collage done back at the apartment after dinner.

Cathy's charcoal sketch done in the apartment after dinner. She threw away her Caran d'Ache sketch done at the beach "studio." Is that cheating? Should that be allowed? Well...YOU just try and stop her!!

Cathy’s charcoal sketch done in the apartment after dinner. She threw away her Caran d’Ache sketch done at the beach “studio.” Is that cheating? Should that be allowed? Well…YOU just try and stop her!!

Martha
September 30th, 2013 at 2:25 am

Beautiful photos….and places! Such a serene feeling conveyed, despite your challenging walk/hike/climb! Glad you had some time off to enjoy this place.

Vicki
September 28th, 2013 at 8:41 pm

You make it possible to live vicariously with your stunning photos – the scenery just keeps getting more magnificent. Thank you for sharing so much of this adventure with us! I’m very, very envious….but so happy you are having such a super time.

Laura
September 27th, 2013 at 9:41 pm

I am definitely NOT tired of the gorgeous seaside photos. Between your photos and the descriptions you have really captured the extreme variations in terrain.

Those rocks with the holes in them were visually inspiring and reminded me a bit of you collage book!

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Debi Pendell Artist by debipendell.com