Fish and Chips

It was deemed Fish and Chip night!  Hooray!  So we were off to Ford's Cove for some vittles.  Apparently so was everyone else on the island.  So it was a bit of a wait for our group of 9 to get our order filled.  At first we all sat down to wait on a log. 

Waiting began to take its'  toll on some.

Hunger pangs were giving way to exhaustion.  We had spent the whole day at the beach in the hot sun, running and playing all day. 

Grandma was taking it the toughest.  You can just see her thoughts... "I should be doing something productive with my time.  I wonder if there is something in the car to work on... no I took everything out so I would have seats for everyone.  hmm... I should relax and enjoy this time.. I wonder if I should go ask about the order, see if they've started it yet.

The wait was long... well over 40 minutes, but mmmm it was yummy and I managed to find a few photo ops to keep me busy.  Much to my subjects dismay!

Caleb his efforts to look aloof  and not notice me are wasted... I know he really wanted to turn and give me a big cheesy grin!

Dayton sitting on the log by the cove was such a natural shot for him. 

Miles, Whittaker and Sarah were all tolerating the wait at different levels.  Sarah, was too mature for her own good and was waiting patiently.  Miles definitely was needing something to take his mind off of waiting, but Whittaker wasn't aware that this moment was any different than another moment of being cooped up in a stroller and moved from one location to another. 

Once we decided to leave the log, the wait wasn't nearly as difficult to handle.

Bailey had come prepared for a bit of waiting time.  She had swimsuits, towels and juice boxes.  She also knew that the rocks at Ford's Cove could be a lot of fun to play on.

We headed down to find a place to claim as ours out on the rocks.  On the way, Miles found a penny on the ground. Lucky pennies are something my boys love to find.  This one was very dirty.  Miles hoped that meant that it was really old and not just dirty.  He took it to the water to clean it off.

*plop*

Yes.  Waiting no longer consumed his thoughts.  Now much of the wait was spent trying to relocate the lost penny.

Everyone assisted for a bit, but all gave up... except Miles.  He explored the rocks for a bit and played some also, but he returned every few minutes to look one more time for the penny.  Unfortunately he was unsuccessful.  But if you're a treasure hunter.... I know where there's some money out by Ford's Cove!  (Miles is now asking for a metal detector for Christmas so that he can take it to Hornby next year)

Warning:  Picture intensive.  How we entertained ourselves while we waited, and waited, and waited ....


and waited for our food. 

Fortunately, a gorgeous sunset, an exquisite formation of sandstone rocks and the tide coming in provided a natural playground and plenty to occupy an excruciatingly long wait....

 

 

 
The kids leapt, they splashed, they explored, they made new friends, they observed marine life, they sat and absorbed the tranquility, they asked a few times how much longer until the food was ready....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging with Dayton, navigating the changing pathways as the tide came ever closer, testing new abilities to leap from one rock to another and amazingly no one fell in... although there were a lot of near misses! 

 I loved watching as people came in so many ways to get their take out food.  This one in particular was great.  They kayaked in, she hopped out, placed their order, then she popped into the cove store and grabbed a bag of groceries, she returned to the restaurant window, picked up her order and returned to the kayak with their food.  Once the groceries were stowed, they sat in the kayak, allowing themselves to be swayed by the waves as they enjoyed their meal.  Then they went on their merry way. 

Similarly, sailboats, small yachts, hikers, bikers and even hitchhikers came down to the cove for their meal. 

 Sometimes we needed to take turns babysitting.  Whittaker was strapped into his stroller which was becoming all to familiar to him, but this time it was carried out to an outcropping of rocks not yet covered with the tide.  He was in the thick of the action.  He could see everyone around him hopping on the rocks and having a great time.  It was so fun I'm sure he forgot about being strapped in like a prisoner for once!

So, I snapped a LOT of photographs while we waited for our food.  My subjects were generally cooperative and patient with me.  It was only fair to allow a photo of myself to be taken. 

 I'm sorry... I can't help it...  I am a Supernova after all! 
Once the camera was back in my possession again I assisted those who were preparing to carry the food down to our dinner location.

Miles was fascinated by the boating equipment and how it worked on this boat shaped restaurant.  He determined that the ropes were too short for them to be anything more than decorative. 

Finally... our food was ready.

With such an order, they had waited until they could put our order in all at once so we could all eat together rather than cooking it as they had space in the fryers and some of us eating sooner than others.  Sometimes decisions are made that if given the opportunity to do them differently another time, we would... I think this was one of them.  Two smaller orders would have fed us a lot sooner.  However, we might not have enjoyed such a tranquil and delightful pre-dinner ocean show. 

Regardless, we all (except Duncan), enjoyed our meals.  He decided that cod wasn't his favourite fish.

We were spread out at different 'tables' so to speak, but we all found just the right spot to enjoy our meal.  

Once our meal was completed, the big boys loaded up into Dayton's boat......

and swung by our dinner location to give us a wave before they .....

... sailed off into the sunset!

Day 4 had been another wonderful day!

Like Father, Like Son

Fishing at Phipps Point - Day 3

Phipps Point was the destination for the adventure this morning!  The first to arrive didn't waste any time.  Dayton's fishing/boating expedition charter was kept in business most of the day.  The first to go were the boys.

With a spring in his step, Dayton took out the first group.  They boated a bit, and fished a bit.  They had some success.  Miles caught a flounder and a rock cod.  Duncan was happy enough with telling Miles' fish story and getting to go out in the boat into water 'that was so deep you couldn't see the bottom'. 

The boys returned from their adventure to a beach of waiting passengers.  The second crowd had arrived at the beach after the boys had taken off in the boat so the anticipation for their return was exciting.  Possibly because it signaled that it was now the girls turn to go. 

Both girl's were successful fishers.  They had a great time and definitely liked the open ocean feel.

One had so much fun out in the boat, she had a tough time seeing it come to an end.

The next sailor was eager though and was trying to figure out how he was going to get into the boat when he couldn't quite reach it.

Oh, we can just get our feet wet?  That makes it a lot easier.  (Look out for the mischievous look on Miles face)

Yup... I could see it coming.  Look at it this way Kenzie... you got a second ride.  Oh dear, the eager sailor isn't impressed... IT'S HIS TURN!

Caleb to the rescue!

Welcome aboard the Dayton fishing expedition of Phipps Point!  Without a gangplank, it's a ride just getting aboard!  Oh look.  Another aspiring fisherman/sailor. 

'The boat is moving!  

Can you make the waves still for a minute so I can get in Dayton?

I'm getting awfully wet here!'

Miles... relax... it's just water!! 

'This doesn't feel very secure!  The boat is still moving Dayton!'

Kenzie doesn't seem phased at all.  Miles is heading for dry land though.

Safely aboard, Cooper began casing the joint and going over a safety inspection... First the life jacket.. so far so good!

Derek, at home anywhere, is asking Dayton about every item in the boat and what it is used for!

'O.K.  Caleb.  Now that you've assisted in boarding the young lads, give up the jacket and get out!  I'm going on this voyage!'

All aboard that's going aboard... time to shove off!  Oh.. actually no standing in the boat.  Better sit down Cooper.

Ok Dayton.. Now we're all ready.  Um, just a quick trip they don't need much.  (read... I don't need much.. or any but they wanted a ride so we're out here so let's get this over with... oh and one more thing... can you steer around the waves so it's a smooth ride?  Thanks.. that's all. )

 

Cooper wasn't having too much fun with the fishing... Apparently he anticipated that the fish would bite as soon as he put his line in the water.  When they didn't bite instantaneously, he began to mope, 'I'm never going to catch a fish.'  Just then, to add to Cooper's dismay, Derek felt a tug.

Photo from Wikipedia.... we didn't send a camera out in the boat.... they likely would have been too busy to snap a photo anyway!

Would you believe that Derek and Cooper both caught sharks before they came back!!  Dogfish sharks!  They range between 1 1/2' to 5' long and are one species that has a venom that is 'slightly toxic to humans'.  just slightly!  Good thing we didn't know any of these things until after they went fishing.  Dayton had to help out since they were pretty heavy.  In fact the one Derek snagged, snapped his line.  These boys will be telling their fishing story for a long time!

Dayton finally closed up shop for the day.  The fishing/boating expeditions were over.

With all the fishing charters completed and the boat docked, Dayton took a much needed and refreshing dive into the ocean.  The reaction to his impromptu dive?

"DAYTON!  WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"  Cooper yelled it across the beach in absolute unbelief that ANYONE would dive into the water off of the pier.  Especially now that he knows.... there are sharks in the water!