said they would send a truck for us. Packed in the morning. Rained most of the day. Played bridge in morning and afternoon. Tea about 3:30, telephoned again, heard that they weren’t going to send for us. They don’t seem as considerate as they might be. So Cabot and Fearing persuaded the French to send us over in one of their camions. We loaded up and left about six. Taking [Montrelay?] as far as Hourtin. He, finished there, was going to St. Raphael. We arrived at Moutchic at seven, got a lukewarm greeting, heard there were no orders, and were sent to Lacanau-Ocean to wait.102 It is at the end of a little railway to Bordeaux, on which there is one train each way each day. We stayed at the bathroom-less hotel (and by the way in our three weeks stay we were unable to find even a single outhouse in the place). Had a wonderful dinner at the café and some Madeira. Bed about ten. Hen, Scab and I had a triple room.
Wednesday, October 24, 1917. Arose 9:30, walked around resort, after some cool chocolate and toast with Chip. This used to be an old resort. There are two or three hotels, a café, bathhouse, casino, skating, dancing and tennis, and a number of private houses, very picturesque along the oceanfront. A very pretty little place. Some way back from the sea are the houses of the all-year inhabitants. From the appearances there must be about 15 altogether. The little railroad ends here, two trains a day, one at 6:30 am goes to Bordeaux and at 5:30 pm from Bordeaux. The whole place, like the rest of the coast here about, used to be nothing but sand dunes ’til the government planted pines. So it is very uneven ground, little hills all over. All the pines are slashed and cups placed to gather the turpentine. Forgot to say Beach went back on truck to Hourtin last night. At 12:30 we had a fine lunch. After it we walked to Moutchic, saw Bob, Dichman, Callan, Lieuts., Paymaster Michel.103 They had erected another hanger, built up the sea wall, cleared out a lot of the ground, and put up a Y.M.C.A. building and another building; and had about 10 machines set up. They had flown a bit. They sent us back in truck and we had fine dinner and played bridge. [Cabot and Fearing lunched then.]104
Thursday, October 25, 1917. Chocolate at 10:00, rain and cold. Played bridge all morning. Good lunch. Took walk with Chip. It is a hell of a deserted place now. More bridge, left at 5:00 got ride part way to Moutchic on French camion. Saw Bob who said that he would take me with him to fly Nieuports and go to Dunkirk.105 Ran back in 30 min. Took a cold rub, had good supper, more of that good Madeira, more bridge. Also wrote Frank and Mother.
Friday, October 26, 1917. Cloudy, rose at 9:00. Walked to Moutchic with Scab. Wonderful lunch there, steak and onions, spaghetti, peas. Chip and Hen arrived after lunch. We all got a flight. They had been giving the observers practice shooting with a Springfield at silhouettes on water. Chip made a hell of a landing, I was accused of pancaking and D[ichman?] gave us the razz. Walked back, bridge, good dinner and more bridge.
Saturday, October 27, 1917. Chip and Hen left for Bordeaux on 6:30. Truck arrived 8:30 to take Scab. Orders were for him to take a number of men and go to Le Croisic under Griffin and Corry.106 A good station. Certainly was sorry to see Scab go. Sat around all morning; wrote L.H.,107 Al, and Mother. Punk lunch. Read a bit. The rain let up and Fearing, Cabot, and I walked to Moutchic. There were Fred, Sam, Reg, and Scab. The first was on his way to Bordeaux then Hourtin to finish. The last three were on their way to Le Croisic. Bob had word that I was to go to Issoudun, Pau, and Cazaux to fly Nieuports108—the first is I think land school, second aerobatic, third firing. If it happens I’II have a great time and plenty to do, ending with Dunkirk. Sat around, saw off the four with a lot of enlisted men. 13 for Le Croisic, then walked home. Good dinner eggs and toast. Read till 9:30, also three hands of bridge.
Sunday, October 28, 1917. Arose 10 A.M. Fine day now. Walked about four miles on beach. Rain. Lunch at cafe. Paymaster of Bordeaux and an English-speaking smelt lunch at our hotel. After lunch Hen, Chip, Fred arrived with chocolate and a pair of goggles for me. Said Chevalier and Bartlett were at Moutchic.109 Played bridge till 5:00 walked seven miles on beach, cloudy. Dinner, bridge, sleep.
Monday, October 29, 1917. Hen left at seven in truck for Le Croisic. Later Cabot and Fearing walked to Moutchic. I had break at 10:30, read till 12:30, had lunch at cafe with Cabot and Fearing, and Chip. Had flight in morning. Then we walked to Moutchic and Chip and I had flights. I took up Fearing. Saw Di there, was awfully glad to see him again. He expects to be stationed there. Too bad to waste such a good flyer there. No more dope. Got letters from Mother, Dad, Louise [Harkness?]. First mail, hurrah. Dinner and lost 46 francs in game. Hell. Good weather all day, thank God.
Tuesday, October 30, 1917. Got up late. Cold, windy, cloudy. Played bridge till lunch, more bridge, walk. Dinner at cafe. More bridge. Chip and I had the darndest luck imaginable, have lost steadily for four days. Rain most afternoon.
Wednesday, October 31, 1917. Got up at 9:00. Hell of a day. Rain. Played bridge all morning and afternoon, short walk. Fearing got orders in morning to go to Paris. He left at 6:30 for Moutchic on his way to Paris. Certainly sorry to see him go, he’s a great fellow. Left me his leather coat. Dinner and bed. Today Chip and I evened up in bridge for all we lost.
Thursday, November 1, 1917. Walked to Moutchic. Lovett would never send even a truck for us. Not much flying, there is no castor oil.110 Seems to me they might show a little pep there and get some. Walked back for lunch at cafe. Then bridge. Di came over and we walked around, supper at cafe, walked halfway back with Di.
Friday, November 2, 1917. Up at 9:30 and shaved. Bridge, lunch, walked to Moutchic. We get a hell of a lot of walking. It’s 3-1/2 miles to Moutchic. Sat around and tried to get pay from the new paymaster. He’s tighter than the old one. Once spent a whole day with the new paymaster trying to get some advance pay. Ensign Jorgenson executive officer is back.111 Got letter from B.L. [Bob Lovett]. Back for supper, bridge, having planned to go to Bordeaux in morning, necessitates getting up early.
Saturday, November 3, 1917. Left here 7:30 in truck for Moutchic then Bordeaux. Di, Chip, C[abot?] and I, also lots of sailors, 1 hr 40 min trip. Shopped. Lunch at Hôtel de France, with Harry LeGore and Capt. Fitz of Marine Corps. Got a room. We went to a public bathhouse, and I went in and was given a little bathroom with a tub, water, and chair. Believe me, I needed a bath and took about two minutes to get in the tub. About as I got well soaped I happened to look up and there by my tub was a young French dame with an armful of towels. I told her I was used to washing myself and to get the hell out of the bathroom. I guess I’m too bashful and shy ever to be a good Frenchman. I got haircut also. Bought a new bag, etc. Had some chocolate, ice cream, and patisserie. Took 5:05. Arrived at 8:00, supper at cafe. Chip got off at Moutchic. Had supper there and then walked back. It started to rain then so he didn’t have to. Certainly was great to get into a tub. First time for three weeks. We left our wash at Moutchic. No mail for any of us. Also no orders.
Sunday, November 4, 1917. Big day, lots of traffic for this place. Sailor boy with his lass over here for couple of days. Lunch here. Then walked to sand spit from which they expect to fly. Coming home C. and Chip refusing to take an old crockman‘s (myself) advice, lost themselves and arrived on the beach five miles from here. Di and Dichman walked over with our mail, but we missed them. Later Jorgenson and Paymaster came over. Dinner, bridge and bed. Rain in morning.
Monday, November 5, 1917. Fine day. Short walk, lunch with Chip at cafe, walked to Moutchic. No flying for us, but others did. Dichman brought back Fred and oil from Hourtin. After dinner Di brought over four lt(jg) docs who are to stay with us.
Tuesday, November 6, 1917. Up early walked to Moutchic. No flying though perfect weather. Di came back for lunch. Fooled around with a football. Walked back and had a flight. Fellow leveled off about 20 ft. high and landing in a crosswind crushed down on right wing. No hurt, machine well smashed.
Wednesday, November 7, 1917. Wrote mother.112 Otherwise bored.
Thursday, November 8, 1917. Mail from Mother, Dad, Bert Hadden. Never enjoyed anything more.
Friday, November 9, 1917. In afternoon walked to Moutchic. No flying. Planned trip to Bordeaux.
