Day No. 22 - Médoc - Gone with the Wind - Dune du Pilat

Today welcomes us with some sunshine. Western songs sound over to us from a caravan.

As we have to saddle up again, this fits in perfectly with the theme. We pack quickly because we want to be at the ferry on time for the crossing to Lamarque.

We set ourselves a few small tasks on the way to the harbor: 

1. Documenting Hector's departure from the citadel on video
2. Baguette to buy, because our breakfast is to be moved to Fort Médoc opposite today
3. Capturing a little of the street art we saw the day before on a chip. 

Not only are things running smoothly today, we also have enough time for street art and can take a photo of an old Citroën Type H at the harbor. I think the lettering on the rear of this old and certainly breakdown-prone vehicle is particularly cool and always reminds me of Auntie Ju:   "In case of a breakdown, bring cheese and crackers" - awesome, right? I wouldn't have expected the endangered tiger to "click away" in such a small place, nor the cuddling ladies. - We like it!

It's a good thing we get on the ferry on time, because the next one wouldn't have left until four hours later.

The crossing on the Gironde from Blaye to Lamarque is impressive. The stretch between the two landing stages is narrow compared to the 15 km wide estuary into the sea. But even here the current is already powerful. The masses of mud on the banks are evidence of the masses of water that are transported. Along the shore at Lamarque, the fishermen have built small houses on stilts from which they lower their fishing nets into the water. Practically a roofed-over seat for fishing.

In Lamarque, we stop briefly at the local church. Unfortunately, it remains closed to us.

We continue quickly to Fort Médoc, where we first make coffee. Then we explore the fort.

The citadel of Blaye on the right bank and Fort Médoc on the left bank of the Gironde, as well as Fort Pâté in the middle, served to militarily secure the river, which is almost four kilometers wide at this point. We think Fort Médoc would be much better to live in. Although the guardhouse would be enough for us, as you have a great view of the Gironde from there. A visit to the fort is definitely recommended if you are in the area. However, we wouldn't drive long distances to do this.

We now make our way to our destination for the day, the Dune du Pilat. Our route takes us via Sainte-Hélène, le Temple, Marcheprime and Le Teich through the Médoc wine-growing region. There is a lot of countryside here, but the road is not only lined with green vines. One or two stately homes also line our route. But we have something bigger in mind today: I'm only saying 2.9 km long, 616 m wide and up to 110 m high... "Gone with the wind" - the Dune du Pilat is by far the highest dune in Europe. But what is particularly exciting is how it grows seamlessly out of a forest. One moment we are standing under the treetops and a few steps further on, a mountain of sand towers up in front of us. We decide to make the ascent. When we reach the top, we know what we have done. Like a child's game of hopscotch, two steps forward, one step back. From the top, you can see the open sea on one side and the treetops on the other. I don't have the words to describe what I feel.

The Frenchman Antoine de Saint-Exupéry may have seen himself primarily as a professional pilot and only secondarily as a writer. I consider his "Le petit prince", which is also available "op Kölsch", to be a must-read, especially for adults. - He also wrote one of my favorite quotes: "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up men to procure wood, assign tasks and divide up the work. Instead, teach them to long for the vast, endless sea."

But up on the dune, I can't help thinking of another quote from him:

"My dreams are more real than the moon, than the dunes, than everything around me" - today this is certainly not a contradiction, because I would be surprised if I didn't dream of this dune, very real.

Insight of the day: It's not just icebergs that are melting. - Moving dunes do it too.