Pink Granite

On my desk at home sits a basket woven by the Penobscot Indians in Maine.  Inside is a piece of red granite taken from Red Beach near Calais where my mother lived.  I thought of that basket of granite and my mother as we took a drive along the Breton coast at the most northern point to enjoy the craggy pink granite jutting out to sea.

Pink granite rocky shore

The rocks protect lovely beaches and marinas.  And islands dot the watery landscape all along the coast.  Farther out to sea lies the Ile de Brehat.  At the most remote end toward the north is the La Jument lighthouse, which was made famous by the photograph showing the monstruous wave engulfing both it and the keeper--but for his quick move to return to the safety of the interior of the tower.

Beach community protected by pink granite rocks

Here the tides draw the water far out to sea revealing sand and in some beaches   grass-like growth that is collected in huge piles and lifted into dumptrucks that then carry the grass elsewhere to fertilize the fields.

Beach grass awaiting harvest

On our way to the beautiful drive along the granite coast, we stopped at Pleyben to visit the parish close there.

The parish close at Pleyben

There are several parish closes in the area that were built between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The last supper

At Pleyben, the triumphal arch depicts thirty scenes from the life of Jesus.

Cleaning the feet of John the Baptist--or is it the other way round?

 It's a remarkable piece of sculpture--fashioned in granite, of course.