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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2886 |
17th October 2012 Kayaking - Surf Skiing: Etang de Leucate Wind Direction: se Wind Stength: 5/35 Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: cloudy Max Speed: Distance Covered: Wednesday 17th October - canoe *** started sunny and still finished cloudy with s. east gale!!! Well what a day of extreme contrast!!! We woke up to a beautiful sunrise and the etang at Port Mahon like glass – the calmest we have ever seen it. We didn’t quite know what to expect because of the weather forecast we got on the internet yesterday and were pleasantly surprised. Had a leisurely start and made the most of what was finally, really going to be our last morning here (for this holiday anyway!) and finally left about 10.30. Drove to Leucate because we have wanted to canoe on the Etang de Leucate ou de Salses (where we used to stay the night before they stopped it all and built the enormous aire further round the bay. Peter Cutts still stays there but there are lots of signs telling you not to). We had a vague plan to canoe until we could see how far the Salses Chateau was and if it was too far to get to we would canoe round the edge over near Fitou and have our picnic on the island in front of where we had parked the van. Mag packed a picnic lunch while I pumped up the canoe (which doesn’t take very long at all anymore :)) and we were off. The etang was flat calm and there was no wind at all but there was a weird cloud/weather front above us and just as we stepped into the water there was a loud clap of thunder! We laughed (!) and set off along the bank around to where all the windsurfers with campers used to stay. There were several there and they were rigging up (? Why?). When we got past them and to the point the wind suddenly picked up and by the time we were level with Fitou it was very windy and there were waves – 30 mph :( We decided to give up paddling in that direction (as it just wasn’t happening anyway!) and paddled back. With the help of the wind and waves running that way managed to just make it to the shelter of the island – we nearly missed it but were lucky enough to land. By this time the waves had white caps and it was Tres Tres Vent – gusting to 40 mph!!!! We walked over the island to have a look at how rough it was on the other side and decided we should forget lunch and get back before it got even crazier!!! We paddled along the sheltered side of the island, bracing ourselves for when the wind hit and then paddled like mad things – first towards the van then as we were not making any headway at all we let it drift a little and amazingly managed to land about ¼ down the beach!! We were really pleased to make it and gave ourselves a pat on the back because it could have been a lot lot worse. The waves were really manic and Mag did get pretty wet! We were very relieved and happy back. Ate our picnic then carried the canoe with all the gear in it along the bank/beach back to the van which was quite hard going at times and very painful over the bumps when you only have your wet shoes on! This sounds like a nightmare but we actually did quite enjoy it :) Left the canoe out to dry and I went to see the windsurfers off the point a bit further round – most out on 3.7’s on small boards with weed fins – just the sort of freeride gear I haven’t got here so gave up on the idea of windsurfing – am not a lover of etang sailing !!!. I found some English people to talk to who have a house down here where they spend the winter before returning to the Lake District for the summer. Mag read a bit and we both had a cuppa before packing up and leaving. We drove to the Naish shop at Laucate roundabout and tried to get a refund for the harness we bought on Saturday but they would only exchange so I got a spare UJ to keep as a spare as I only have one (always carry a spare!) and a pair of neoprene shorts as the arse is completely out of my present ones and they are a huge embarrassment! This little jaunt ended up costing an extra 20 euros which wasn’t the plan but at least I as stuff I need whereas I already have a spare harness that Andy Johnson gave me :) We drove away via the usual haunts – La Franqui square where there was one windsurfer out but the sea is sooooooooo rough – very unusual for us to see it like that! Then La Palme etang – several kiters and a few windsurfers out. Then La Franqui Jetty – the speedsailing strip and it was unbelievable – the sea was really really rough with huge waves and the beach (where we were parked only 2 days ago) was completely covered in water with waves on! I walked to the jetty to take photos but Mag didn’t fancy that – far too rough for her ! Port La Nouvelle where only on Saturday the beach was a car park and lots of windsurfers out – covered in water and waves and only a few kiters packing up because they were getting blown out! It is amazing that the weather could change so completely in such a short time. I expect there were people parked on that beach at mid-day who suddenly thought they had better leave because the sea was coming to get them!!!! We drove to our beloved Peyraic de Mer because it is our usual place of shelter but of course in this wind direction it is not as sheltered as usual. The etang is very rough but the van isn’t moving too much! Clouds are building out to sea and we are expecting it to be crazy rain and wind tomorrow but we are going to make a slow start to moving North because there is sadly nothing much to stay around here for:( The weather isn’t going to improve until next week and the wind is the wrong direction! Photo Gallery here Tuesday 16th October – relax with McD’s Wi-Fi and 2 little walks :) How can two days be soooo different, there isn’t a breath today and the etang looked beautiful when the sun came up this morning, like a mirror :) We had an easy morning and took our time over everything then thought we were saying a last goodbye to our favourite spot – more of that later. We made our way to McD to post the great pbs etc from yesterday but there was a lady using the only socket so we decided to go away and have our lunch and come back later. We decided to take a look at Roquefort des Corbieres which we have seen signposted off the road from Sigean to Port La Nouvelle. It was a lovely little town, quite similar to Fitou and very much a wine area. We saw some interesting buildings up on the cliff which looked like windmills without sails. We found the road up and had a great spot for lunch with a view over the town one side and the etangs and sea the other side. We couldn’t quite see la Franqui jetty but could see the sign we use a a mile marker.After lunch we went for a walk across the plateau which was really pleasant and found fields full of solar panels! The whole area is dotted with wind turbines which you can see but there were literally hundreds of solar panels and you can’t see any of them from anywhere else. The windmill type buildings were lovely and one in particular had been made into a really nice little cottage which would be perfect for a bolt hole near windy La Franqui! It had a big outhouse built all around the bottom and a room in the top which looked out to sea. It even had a walled garden with cacti and succulents where you could sit out of the wind! With the traditional blue shutters it was just perfect :) Two ladies in a car stopped and asked us if we had seen their dog which had gone missing on a walk but sadly we hadn’t seen it and didn’t see it on our walk at all so hopefully they will get it back. There are a lot of places to go missing up there including a quarry! Drove back to McD and the lady was still on her computer and using the socket 3 hours later! We thought we were bad!! Mag asked if she would mind if we used the socket and she produced a 3 way adapter!! We could have asked her in the first place but then......... I wouldn’t have discovered that I had left my windsurfing shoes hanging in a tree at our spot at Sigean! I had put my suit out in the sun to dry at Roquefort and realised my shoes weren’t there! What a wally:) We had the usual session at McD and unfortunately looked at the weather forecast for the next week here and it looks horrendous – strong winds (the wrong direction!) and thunder lightning and rain and no sun symbols anywhere! We will have to see what happens and then decide what to do. We came back to Sigean, retrieved the shoes from the tree and had a cuppa then walked up to our favourite viewing point to sit and play cards while the sun went down :) It was a beautiful sunset again and the etang is still like a mirror so lovely reflections. The only downside is the bloomin mozzies – should have renewed our repellent before we went up there. Didn’t spoil it though and it really is a lovely place – perfect for our stays near windsurfing heaven :) Reasons to love Port Mahon, Sigean Etang • Amazing sunrises from our windows • Flamingos • Sheltered from the wind • Closest spot we have found to both windsurfing spots • Smells amazing of bitter almonds (there are also bitter almond trees but they are not what smells – it is these little white flowers on shrubs everywhere). Also the pine trees and the Garrigues, the natural scrub that covers the hills • Walks • Canoeing on the etang and over to the Island • From the top viewing point you can see all the etang and the islands and over to Peyraic • Glorious sunsets from the viewing point |
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