Saturday, October 20, 1917. The water was very smooth and glassy so I didn’t solo till about 9:00 and thus missed chocolate again. It is a long wait for one cup of coffee and a small slice of bread at 6:00 then nothing till 12:30. However, I got up finally and took a couple of turns. About 30 minutes after I came in Chip came in and they sent out a sailor with his boat. Just after the motor started and fortunately before he left the water the strap on top to lift the boat came loose, caught in the propeller, and ripped the upper wing from the front straight apart. Also made a tremendous hole in the lower wing and the engine fell down and forward, just back of the pilot’s head. If it had happened in the air, “C’est la guerre.” Just then I got another flight, three turns, and felt right at home. No flying Saturday afternoon, so Chip, Hen, and I walked to Hourtin. Scab felt badly the night before and though he flew was still low. We had tea at Hourtin and got some chocolate. As we were leaving Al and John came through on their way to Moutchic as they were finished. Also a lot of sailors. Then we walked back and had dinner; it’s about 4-1/2 miles.
Sunday, October 21, 1917. Although it is the day of rest we rise at 6:15 and the bad news—no coffee and bread. After sitting around for a while suffering from cold and famine, I slipped to camp and procured a large hunk of war bread and some chocolate and brought it out. It was welcome. Then about 9:30 I got up to take four turns. I was feeling pretty good so I did three spirals and made large [toures de pistes? (triangular cross-country flights)]. When I came in, the beach captain said I was finished. At first he intended to beach me four days, but then decided that I could just go to St. Raphael. No more flying here. As my feet were sore from walking to Hourtin, stayed in camp, read, and played bridge in the afternoon. Also had a slick bath. Scab, Hen, and Doc [Stevens] walked to the ocean and took a swim.99 When they got back, about six o’clock, Hen, Chip, Scab, and I went to the canteen, a sort of recreation room, and treated all the visitors to champagne. There were about nine of them, and they are a fine bunch of men, all petty officers. They have most of the officers here [shamed?] a mile.
Monday, October 22, 1917. Big day, as I slept ’til 8:15, being finished here. After the chocolate and toast, Chip and I went out to the beach saw Scab and the finish. Cabot telephoned to Moutchic that we were done.100 About 10 the boat brought out Reg and Sam, who had taken Al and John’s place. Fred still at Moutchic. Due to the party last night; they got a ride and said it was easy. All four of us thought it was darned hard the first ride. They were sore at Bob for the way they had been treated and advised us not to stay at Moutchic when we left here. After lunch Cabot and I played Fearing and Chip bridge.101 Dr. Stevens, Scab and Hen went for a walk. Later Chip and I rode to Hourtin on Sam and Reg’s bicycle and had chocolate and bought some postcards. Supper lasted two and a half hours. Those Frenchmen sit and talk ’til one goes wild.
Tuesday, October 23, 1917. Cabot telephoned and Moutchic 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