Sat 16 Apr 2005
Sunday the 20th of March started out pleasantly enough. We had driven to Perros-Guirac, spent the night, and were advised by the people in the hotel to head to Ploumanac’h and see the amazing pink coast line filled with rocks of different shapes. When we arrived it was clear that we were in for an adventure.
The first thing we came to was a giant turtle who warned us to turn back and not travel any further for there were bad things ahead. He told the story of how this beautiful land had turned to grey.
Once upon a time, the land gleamed a beautiful pink color and people traveled from far and away to come see it. Then one night a terrible storm knocked out the signal of the light house. The boats in the sea could not find their way and they were thrown up against the rocks of the coast by the rough waters.
One of the boats that crashed here belonged to the evil rock man. He was a mean man that hated everything beautiful. He wanted the entire world to be grey and ugly. He hated the beautiful color of the rocks, the fresh green grass, the sparkle of the blue waters, and the glisten of the sun. Even more, he hated how everyone enjoyed it all. Soon after his unfortunate landing, he decided to change everything. He cast a spell that took away all the color.
He perched mean dogs on the corners of the church to guard against the town’s people having any fun. He even kept them from repairing the light in the light house causing more ships to crash into the rocks.
Then he planted himself right alongside the path that lead to the château so that no one would dare to pass. He would ask riddles of anyone who did try to pass and crush them if they did not have the correct answers. In all the many years since the rock man had first arrived, no one had ever answered correctly.
But our girls were not scared of the evil rock man. They walked right up to him and asked that he return all the color and beauty back to the area. The rock man told them that if they could each answer a riddle then he would let them pass, but he wouldn’t restore the colors. He asked of Celia: “what is 2+2?” She thought long and hard but came up with the correct answer of 4. It was then Carissa’s turn. “Who can jump higher than the tallest rock?” he asked. This was a tough question and it took a good long time before she answered “everyone, because rocks can’t jump!” The evil rock man was shocked that they girls had answered the questions.
He let them pass and as the girls moved behind him they made a fast move and pushed him off into the ocean below.
The evil spell was broken and our girls had done it!l. All the color returned and the beauty of the land was restored.
It had proved to be an exhausting day so we loaded up the car and headed home.
Ploumanac’h was now safe.
