Chateau BrelidyThe Open-Centre Turbine
You know, for being off the main drag of the really ‘happening’ places in France, we still seem to see our share of pretty cool stuff. I have written before about some cutting edge technological stuff that has been developed or deployed here, and this month we have a new one. I have mentioned in the past that our coastal area has the second most significant tides in the world and the highest tides in Europe. Only the Bay of Fundy in Canada is greater.
In some areas here, the tide can vary as much as 47 feet (15 M). Because of the gentle slope of the beach, the sea can recede over 9 miles out (15 Km) but return faster than a galloping horse. We even have a local seaside restaurant that at times of really high tides in the summer, can have clients sitting in ankle deep water. OK, so its not for everyone.
As a result of these geographical peculiarities, they have just launched a 45 foot diameter (15 m) Open-Centre Turbine off of a beach just up the road from us. Designed to be deployed directly on the seabed, it is one of the world's first tidal energy technologies to reach the development stage of permanent deployment at sea.
It is silent and invisible from the surface and is located at a depth sufficient to prevent any navigational hazard. The plan is to create farms of Open-Centre Turbines to provide a significant and undetectable supply of clean, predictable, renewable energy.
What’s new?
The area of Brittany we live in is called “La Cote de Granite Rose” (the pink granite coast) and it has historically been the predominant signature product of the region which kept the local quarry’s humming…until the Chinese showed up. The attractive stone is used for everything from the premier building material in the construction of homes and businesses, to cobblestone, sidewalk pavers or whatever.
In the 90’s, the Chinese began loading pink granite from their quarry’s as ballast into the ships that carried cargo from China to France. Once here, they sold it for whatever they could get for it, but soon found a willing market. Now they are on the verge of putting the locals right out of business. Incredibly, the Chinese can quarry the stone, ship it around the word to France and sell it at one sixth (1/6) of the price that they can here, digging it up a mere 10 miles (16 km) from our front door. Locally quarried Granite cost $800. (600 Euros) per cubic yard (M), while the Chinese sell theirs for $130. (100 Euros)
You think this is easy to hold up?
As in all cases, the Chinese can often out maneuver the competition by avoiding such expensive inconveniences as safety and environmental standards. In truth though, there is one more rather important factor. The French hold dear to their right to a 35 hour work week but the Chinese rack up that many hours in 3 days.
Note door size and slate roof between boulders
It is simply a fact of life that the cost of all the benefits and lifestyle the French have come to expect and demand has a heavy competitive price. Speaking of which, the French government has just announced plans to raise the sales tax (VAT) from 19.6% to 21.2%. Ahhh, a tax increase… that always helps!
Finally, we have made a couple of recent discoveries. The first was finding a terrific indoor pool in a nearby community right on the beach. This one is quite different in that it has features I have never seen in a pool before. For one, it draws all of its water from a pipe nearly 2 miles (3 Km) out at sea and heats it to 86 degrees (30C). For another, the pool has a number of jets as you would find in a spa or hot tub that can be directed to your back, feet or legs, rain showers to sit under and have the water just drip down soothingly over you.
View outside pool windows
Finally, there are directional jets that cause a river type current in a part of the pool if you want to float downstream or swim against if you prefer the exercise. The only thing missing is a floating table, a bottle and two wine glasses! They do make up for it with a floor to ceiling 100 foot long (33 m) glass wall with an unobstructed view of the beach and sea.
WWII B-17 American bomber "Stinky Weather" crew perished here.
Next, we heard about a memorial to an American WWII B-17 bomber crew that was shot down December 31st, 1943. We jumped into the car and went and found it on a beach a mere 9 miles (13km) from the house. The story goes that they were trying to ditch it out at sea so the Germans wouldn't get their hands on it but didn't quite make it. Neither the pilot or any of his 4 crew members lived to tell the tale. These little memorials dot the landscape here, there and everywhere.
It’s February…
Therefore it’s time to bottle the cider. Some things occur like the rising of the moon or the daily sunset. Stuff happens. In February, the old farts get together to scratch and spit and bottle the year’s crop of cider. I am always too late for the crush which occurs in late November but I am grateful that they never let me miss the bottling. It is such a fun event to participate in, and is held in the out buildings of a castle that has been in the same family for over 400 years. It just gives me the Willy’s.
Much like bottling our wine, it’s not exactly rocket science but it is hands on. Plus, there are tangible benefits. The first year that I was invited, I was suggesting all kinds of ways to make the operation faster, easier and more efficient. They smiled at the foreign poopy head who was all American in his production line cost cutting efficiency thinking, looking for a greater ROI, but who was missing the point of the process entirely. There is history here and I am darn lucky to be allowed to participate in it.
