Despite the oil spill last year, the Japan Sea still has the cleanest beaches in our part of the country, so we spent one day of our trip with the Bender family on Shioya beach in Fukui-ken. Calvin and Brian, naturally, loved the water. Michelle, who normally doesn't particularly enjoy baths, carefully inspected and examined and researched this big tub of water the entire time, never afraid, but not really seeming to enjoy it, either. But from that day hence, whenever anyone takes a bath or shower at home, she insists on going in, too. She often gets two and sometimes three showers/baths a day. The Kariya/Porritts now have three ducks in the family. Quack!