Tenby Day 1 and 2

August 14 & 15:  We have had 2 low-key days doing domestic things.  On Sunday, we shopped for essential groceries, did 3 loads of laundry (in the basement of our building) which entailed walking up and down 4 flights of stairs and hanging everything on wooden racks in the laundry room, and scoped out the town.  Today (which was warm and sunny), we did some more shopping, and we each got haircuts (and a beard trim for me).  We also explored more areas of the town, sat overlooking the beach, and strolled and waded along the beach.  This is a vacation spot for families and since the weather has gotten nice, they are out in large numbers.  The beaches are ideal for small children, with little to no waves and broad stretches of fine sand.  We have gotten our feet wet, but it is too cold for swimming.  Many of the kids and most of the ocean swimmers have wet suits.

Tenby is a small pretty city located atop a headland with steep cliffs all around and nice sandy beaches on the sides.   At the end of the headland is the ruins of a fort, and the town center is surrounded by a mostly intact medieval wall.  Inside the wall is a busy retail zone that is restricted to pedestrians (and dogs and baby carriages) between 11 am and 5:30 pm.  In contrast to the Lakes Districts, where camping and hiking supply shops predominated, here you can buy beach gear - brightly colored plastic pails, shovels, wind screens, bathing floats, etc.  Every other shop seems to be a fish and chip place - it's astonishing to think how many tons of fish and chips are eaten across England daily.  Most of the buildings in this part of Wales are painted pastel colors, and I have also seen cinnamon and pumpkin-colored houses.

We have watched the tidal movement with amazement.  At high tide, the beach below us is a generous 80 yards deep.  At low tide, the entire basin is empty, the stone pier and the boats are high and dry.  You can walk 1/4 mile out before getting your feet wet - on very soft, clean sand - none of the cobble stones common on other English beaches.   High tide was between 4 pm and 5 pm yesterday, and people were still walking down to the beach that late in the day.

The harbor at low tide

North Beach is in the background

South Beach, all sand