The beach is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you’re going to get.

Low tide, high tide, sunny, windy, rainy, empty or crowded, it changes every day, every few hours even, and this is why it’s probably my favourite environment. You just can’t control anything at all and you have to adapt no matter what.

Hoping to go for a swim? Tough luck, it’s low tide, how about some seaside foraging for a change? Dying to lie down and finish the book you started on the train? Not a chance, it’s windy and chilly, maybe it’s best to just keep on exploring.

And if your weather app lied and it’s actually dark, gloomy and rainy when you arrive, then you can enjoy a unique atmosphere, and pick wild raspberries on the way for a snack later on.

Mark and I spent the last four days in Les Sables-d’Olonne and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, leaving Nantes in the morning and jumping on a late train back in the evening, all sandy and sticky with salt water.

More of that this week, I think.

At least I hope so.

I’m happy at the beach.