Each morning I’ve descended the stairs and arrived in the kitchen area before anyone else. I have emptied the dishwasher and generally cleared up the detritus from the night before, this includes dirty bowls half filled with soggy cereals and milk, hot chocolate powder and bits of food, as well of course as cups, glasses left hanging around.
Normally, I would resent having to clear up all this junk left by other people, but for some reason during this holiday I have taken on this job and performed it without grinding my teeth or being at all annoyed.
I know I would prefer not to be doing it but better to do the work with good grace than an under current of resentment.
After the usual early morning clear up we loafed around for a bit. Jeff Cooter turned up to do a bit of watering of the garden and we chatted to him about the hot tub which we are not sure how to work properly.
Journey to Coupeville
We had decided to go to Coupeville for today’s excursion and he suggested we visit Double Bluff Beach and Casey’s Fort on the way.
So with everyone on board apart from Greg we set off and dropped in on X Bluff Beach. The beach has a few parking spaces and we parked easily. The kids all wandered off onto the beach to play with the driftwood which abounds on these shores.
Bennett ran around enjoying the space and the attention of everyone. Maggi, Islay and I sat on a bench and watched the proceedings. We stayed about 20 minutes and then drove on to Casey’s Fort which stands just near Coupeville.
The place demands that you pay a fee to park in the grounds and from what we could see the place was mostly grassland, and so great if you wanted a picnic. The fort itself looked like a relic from WWII, all concrete and not very attractive.
Alex, Sarah and the kids decided to stay for awhile. Maggi, Adam, Islay, Keir and me drove on to Coupeville. Like all the towns on the island it gains its income from the tourists.
At Coupeville
We all wanted something to eat. We had spotted a pizzeria that was closed but the kid inside told me about another place. We arrived at the Pizza Factory at the arse end of the town behind the petrol station. It looked pretty grubby. We ended up ordering two extra large pizzas between the 5 of us to eat outside in the back of our car. We couldn’t finish the 2 pizzase and put them in the boot for possible eating later.
Alex and crew arrived just as our pizzas did, but when we finished our meal we headed to the front which had a few touristy shops. Drank a cup of lousy coffee, the others ate huge ice creams and we walked along the pier.
Our visit to Coupeville over we drove back to the house.
At home
Greg not only had shopped and cooked the evening meal but also went off into the wilderness that is part of the property and played Hunger Games with all the kids.
In the evening the telly stopped working so we couldn’t watch Sideways the film about a journey through the wine country with Paul Giamiti instead we went to bed early.