We retired to La Forêt du Pilat campsite. This campsite is very small, which we like. There are only a few pitches between a few wooden huts. But we were able to choose a pitch. Here you are right next to the dune. As it was windy, we wanted something warm in our stomachs. Once again, we cook our standard dish: pasta with colorful vegetables. We are slowly having to come up with a variation.
I go to bed early. - Was I dreaming about the dune? - No, "thoughts are free".
But when I wake up, I want to go up. Torgit, thinks only briefly about the whistling wind, the shifting sand and gives up. As the sun has yet to make an appearance, we pack up and celebrate our morning coffee party. But then the sun comes out and the whole dune lights up. I quickly grab the drone and set off on the ascent. -
Ascent sounds like an exaggeration? Climb up first. - But once I reach the top, I am rewarded with a fantastic view. Apart from me and a few scattered paragliders, there's hardly anyone else to be seen. Now it's time to connect the drone and recalibrate the compass. Everything fits. - Everything?
Do you know those moments when you have the right subject, the sun is shining and just as you're about to start shooting, a big cloud appears in front of the sun? - That's exactly what happened here. Looking at the cloud, it was clear that I didn't have to hope for better weather. But the location is a blast even without the sun. Experiencing a dune like this in the middle of Europe is gigantic. I became most aware of the elemental force here when I read that the dune shifts by around 5 meters per year. That's over 300 meters in a human lifetime. Doesn't sound like much? - What do you think if your house is nearby?
So I launch the drone, carefully, because the planes aren't too far away. - The wind quickly shows me that I'm at the limit of my flying skills here. So down with it and pack up. - I prefer to sit on the dune for a while and watch the paragliders. "Above the clouds, freedom must be boundless - All fears, all worries, they say - remain hidden underneath - And then what seems big and important to us would suddenly become void and small" - Reinhard May has nothing more to add here.
Would you like a few more superlatives and facts? Largest sandpit in Europe, largest shifting sand dune in Europe.
Nature reserve: Over 80 meters high, 500 meters wide and approx. 2.7 kilometers long.
Approx. 60 million cubic meters of sand. - Located at the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon.
South of the small town of Arcachon and the suburb of Pyla sur Mer, opposite Cap Ferret.
After my descent, which I do by hopping, because it goes down really quickly, I head back out onto the road. Today's destination is Donostia-San Sebastián. We want to leave France behind us and finally experience a little warmth again. - On the way, we look for a little spot for a second breakfast...
There are certainly worse places to have breakfast. - We enjoy sitting by the rippling water. - Whoever made this spot so inviting is to be thanked. - Freshly fortified, we set off again. We drive past a heath-like landscape and then onto the highway. But even this is beautiful today. Huge, flowering pampas grasses can be seen to the left and right over a long stretch. - But even that passes and the highway looks like a highway...
Once we arrive in Donostia-San Sebastián, we drive through the city and take in the Basque port city. - As you can see, first impressions are deceptive. - Coming off the highway, we first see prefabricated buildings. - But the more we look, the more we like what we see. Beautiful townhouses line our path. Then we head to Zurriola hondartza. Once there, we quickly realize why surfers love this town. A surf beach in the middle of the city center, very, very nice. We sit down on the rocks at the side and enjoy the sun. Now it's time to find a place to spend the night. - We quickly decide to leave the city and drive to Gran Camping Zarautz. The way out of the city takes us past the harbor and many upmarket commercial buildings. The town is not only famous among filmmakers, but there are also said to be plenty of good restaurants. We plan to explore the city the day after tomorrow.
The campsite in Zarautz is situated on a hill from where you have a wonderful view of the sea and the bay. In front of the actual campsite, with lots of "yogurt cups", there is a whole collection of vans. We quickly join them and meet a few sociable people from Cologne, or should I say Ehrenfeld? - The evening ends with beer, whisky and cigarillo. Suddenly I feel like I've got the light on. - But it's not the alcohol, a light simply goes on. Directly above us, on a wall, hangs a lantern, like a shining balloon, directly above Hector. - He gets his halo and we use a couple of cushions to block out the light. - Good night John Boy.
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