My goodness, this marks a step change in our trip. The cold front has brought temperate weather (almost). Despite daytime temperatures in the low twenties (that's still cold for us!), the night temperatures here are in single figures. James is rummaging for the duvets and mumbling about running the boat central heating, whilst the kids still want to play in the unheated outdoor pool.
The wildlife is astonishing. Just sitting on the foredeck, I am watching squadrons of brown pelicans in breeding and non-breeding plumage. We now have real gannets and eiders, as well as gulls and terns, but all the species a British birder would twitch at. As I glance at the sky, I can see an osprey soaring above the boat accompanied by red-tailed hawks and a black vulture, whilst the grackles continue to call and mob wildly.
The culture is so different too. We hired a 'compact' car which is bigger than a large UK SUV. James is struggling with the sheer size and lack of turning circle. We also took the kids to a mall as promised in search of Harry Potter and Lego. The kids thought it was the best day of the trip yet, with real stores to browse, lots of gifts, soothies and a trip in a real car. I got cornered by a skin-care saleman. "What do you use on your face?" he asked, rashly. "Er.... only sea spray recently," I replied. It's also the land of the message board. "Jews for Jesus" proclaimed one such sign. I was bemused, but James reckoned it was for those who thought they hadn't killed him off properly the first time round.
We bought a bottle of very drinkable red wine for $4 and are now snuggling down for a chilly night aboard.
The wildlife is astonishing. Just sitting on the foredeck, I am watching squadrons of brown pelicans in breeding and non-breeding plumage. We now have real gannets and eiders, as well as gulls and terns, but all the species a British birder would twitch at. As I glance at the sky, I can see an osprey soaring above the boat accompanied by red-tailed hawks and a black vulture, whilst the grackles continue to call and mob wildly.
The culture is so different too. We hired a 'compact' car which is bigger than a large UK SUV. James is struggling with the sheer size and lack of turning circle. We also took the kids to a mall as promised in search of Harry Potter and Lego. The kids thought it was the best day of the trip yet, with real stores to browse, lots of gifts, soothies and a trip in a real car. I got cornered by a skin-care saleman. "What do you use on your face?" he asked, rashly. "Er.... only sea spray recently," I replied. It's also the land of the message board. "Jews for Jesus" proclaimed one such sign. I was bemused, but James reckoned it was for those who thought they hadn't killed him off properly the first time round.
We bought a bottle of very drinkable red wine for $4 and are now snuggling down for a chilly night aboard.
So u take your children on trip of lifetime and all they want is to hit the shops.As for feeling cold it will climatise you ready for your return - we have coldest March for 50 years. love mum xx
ReplyDeleteBird life is great for what looks on Google map like an industrial dock. Children don't seem to feel the cold if there's water to mess about in: they will even swim in the North Sea! Wine sounds good just so long as you found the duvets (divots will not keep you warm). Lots of love Dad XOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteReal gannets - not those booby things.
ReplyDeleteRod
Happy Birthday to Elizabeth (hope I have the right date?)
ReplyDeleteHope James finds the divets! Failing that just drink some more red wine at $4 a bottle. Budget day yesterday - 10p on a bottle of wine - the cheek of it!
Gill
xxxx
Things to see: an aircraft carrier and two battleships
ReplyDeleteUSS Yorktown @ Patriots Point, SC
USS North Carolina @ Wilmington, NC
USS Wisconsin @ Norfolk, Va
They are all WW2 ships, Yorktown was successor to the carrier lost at Midway, which the US won by 4-1. The battleships were naval dinosaurs but they were big and loved by their admirals. Lots of love Dad XOXOXOXO and an extra hug for E tomorrow.