A perfect September day in the South of France

When we left home at 10.30 to drive the forty miles to Cap Leucate the temperature was already more than 25C and during that day it again reached 30+. Normally naturist beaches are comparatively civilised and considerate with no radios and intrusive behaviour, but in September the population is of an older generation. The shrill children are back at school and there are no ball games and even those marine motorcycle things have buzzed off. A spot of refreshment and a swim in the wonderfully clear and warm (23C) Med. preceeded a leisurely naked lunch at the beachside restaurant. We were welcomed by the bloke who has been the waiter there for many years and also welcome was the shade while eating Local shellfish from the etang are a popular choice but I am tempted by the fish soup and I don't care if it isn't the right colour of wine to wash it down. Regional reds hit the spot and slightly splahed where my shirt would have been. A blissful afternoon under the cloudless sky topped up the summer tan followed by the use of a rare facility on naturist beaches, a fresh water shower. The short walk back to the car dried us off for getting dressed and thank goodness for air-conditioning. Shopping on the way home was a a slight drawback but then we had run out of garlic.