Jersey: Rock pools and crab cakes

9 August 2010

After our pit stop for food we went down onto the beach at Grève de Lecq, feeling Jersey sand between our toes for the first time.

The beach had a number of rocky outcrops, some of them dressed with vivid green grassy seaweed and in the sometimes very deep crevices were rockpools. We found beadlet anemones, little fish and molluscs clinging so tightly to the rocks that you needed something much stronger than just your fingers to pry them loose.

I’d left my polariser at home, not thinking I’d be getting very close to the water with my camera. Of course I’d forgotten about rock pools. Fortunately Suzy was there to cast a shadow with her hand, having about the same effect when needed.

The weather treated us well, the sun shining just enough in the late afternoon to cast great reflections and shadows and then to make us wonder whether perhaps the sun cream would have been better off in our bags than our hotel rooms.

My original plan for the beach had been to built an enormous castellated sand fort around us and within its walls we would lie about and do nothing. That didn’t come to pass though. Apparently we’re too old. And we didn’t have a bucket and spade either. Nowadays we’re more sedate and are content to paddle about in the waves and stare into rock pools. And, if you’re Lauren, exclaim that you’ve found gold when you find a glittery rock. And, if you’re Suzy, risk certain death by poking anemones with your finger. And, if you’re Sarah, proudly write your name in the sand for all to see. And if you’re Dave? You just wait patiently.

In the evening we took a taxi down to St. Brelade’s Bay for dinner. The driver dropped us right at the beachfront and in the summer evening light we admired the little garden and the pretty beach before heading to The Crab Shack to eat. The walls were decorated with shells and cactuses and boards with terrible seaside puns were nailed up here and there. From the menu we chose a few dishes from the “Shackatizers” and variously had crab cakes and chips, Jersey Royals and seafood risotto for our mains.

Back at the hotel we had a nightcap in the bar, where the girls made me try a gin and tonic as I’d never had one before. The number of things that had come up in conversation that day that I’d never done or tried was making us wonder if I’d actually lived at all. But at least I can cross “drink a gin and tonic” off the list now.

Posted in: friends, jersey, travels

Comments

4 Responses to “Jersey: Rock pools and crab cakes”

Thursday
9th August 2010 @ 1:01 pm

You’d never had a gin and tonic? *faints*

[Reply]
bethany actually
9th August 2010 @ 3:33 pm

Sounds like a lovely day with friends, even if you ate seafood, of which I’m not fond.

That first photo is messing with my mind; I can’t wrap my brain around the perspective. The last photo is fantastic.

I’ve never had a gin and tonic either, but then I’m not much of a drinker.

[Reply]
Tina
9th August 2010 @ 4:31 pm

Gin and tonic is my favorite! So refreshing–like a pine tree in a glass. Er…or something.

[Reply]
Jersey: Saunas and tortilla chips : dreamdust
12th August 2010 @ 10:11 am

[...] slept well after the sea air and G&Ts of the night before. In the morning we headed down to the dining room. Well, actually it was a case [...]