And so the days of our lives go pretty slowly trying to get to the top the largest sand dune in Europe – Dune de Pilat in the Bassin Bordeaux.

Slowly and in my case… panting like a broken down horse. But at two hundred metres high and shifting around 15 meters in height depending on the season, even though it was quite a hike to get to the top, but the view is stunning – with sand and sea as far as the eye can see and beyond. Hiking up in one thing – getting down can be done in a variety of ways – people have surfed it, skied it, mono-boards, run, rolled and strolled. We stood and watched three young French lads throw themselves off the side of the dunes in spectacular, sand shifting sumersaults, “go-proing” themselves as they tumbled, and then we took the stairs.

Between the sea and the forest - the largest sand dune in Europe

Between the sea and the forest – the largest sand dune in Europe

As far as the eye can see - Far far out to sea

As far as the eye can see – Far far out to sea

How many steps to the stop... this is just part one!

How many steps to the stop… this is just part one!

Flying high above Europe's largest sand dune

Flying high above Europe’s largest sand dune

Deceptive to the eye - it stretches high and far

Deceptive to the eye – it stretches high and far