Saturday 15 February 2020 Cornwall Cogitation 7 To leap across the pond takes some doing. Monday, the day before our departure from Elkhart County, Indiana to Cornwall County, England, I made coffee and sat down to finish the last chapters of a Daisy Dalrymple Mystery, Die Laughing, by Carola Dunn. It’s the first of Dunn’s books I’ve read. Oh, the twists and turns of plot such mysteries take. I may look up other of her books.
Ready
Later Monday morning we walked off a few errands, including lunch at Culver’s. Finished packing, weighed the bags (within the weight limit), emptied the fridge by giving some things to neighbors, did laundry, got a good nights sleep,
Set
Tuesday morning, did a mental check for the afternoon departure from South Bend International Airport (in the city home to presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg).
Wait
On the way to the airport we got a text from Delta that we’d have to be re-booked since the flight to Detroit was delayed and we’d miss our pond-crossing connection. Re-booked, checked in, we waited and waited, finally boarded for Atlanta. Flew through spots of turbulence, landed, got to our departure gate, left at 9:58pm, arrived Heathrow 7 hours later, thanks to a 100 mph tailwind propelling us across the Atlantic at 700 mph.
Arrive
Imagine that. Delta got us to Heathrow only four hours after our original schedule. Still, we missed our train connection to Cornwall. Not to worry. With a new ticket in hand we were off and riding the rails. At 5pm, Marilyn Bowden met us at St Erth Station, delivered us to our flat and invited us to dinner with her and Steve. Wonderful, such kindness conveyed in a delicious hot meal and catch-up visit.
Arrived! Safe and sound. Time to put the kettle on.
Thursday and Friday
Thursday. Unpacked. Watched the weather, rain one minute, sun the next, dark clouds, blue sky. We were happy to accept Steve’s offer to take us to do “the big shop” for groceries and supplies. Dinner at Sanders Fish and Chips in Hayle with Noel and Lynne after they dropped off the things they had stored for us.
Friday. Walked to St Ives for errands, library, lunch. Rain, mizzle, overcast, still, a welcome coursing over familiar pavements and paths, new growth all-around. Lunch at Lifeboat Inn buoyant for body and spirit (Green Thai Chicken Curry and Green Thai Seafood Curry). Back at our flat, cozy by the fire.
Saturday
Rain, windy. Storm Dennis is set to arrive today. The branch line rail replacement bus passes our window on regular schedule. Some places in Britain are bracing for a month’s worth of rain in 48 hours. Preemptive flight cancellations have been made at Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
We’re grateful to have arrived safely on Wednesday without major incident, between two disruptive and damaging weather conditions. Last weekend Cornwall took a three-day beating from Storm Ciara. We’re Just glad to be here, within sound and sight of the sea, among friends, in anticipation of footpaths that will will eventually dry out. “Hunker down and do a bit of wave watching,” a friend emailed us this morning.
We’re good. Snug. Happy in waiting.
-John
It's About Now 
What an interesting week! I appreciate knowing about your English friends’ assistance in facilitating the transition.
Here in S.E Pennsylvania, we’ve had less than an inch of snow all winter! It’s the coldest day in almost a year: 15degrees F.At least it’s sunny!
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Interesting indeed. Good to have arrived. It would be near impossible to get here since Saturday. Total travel disruption on the railways.
We walked to lunch after church, in drizzle, sun, and rain. Home blanketed in blue skies. That’s Cornwall. Interesting indeed.
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Almost a twitch of the nose like Samantha in the old series Bewitched, you are transmitted to your winter home. I wondered if Ciara had impacted your area. Sounds like you are all settled in awaiting your winter adventures. Looking forward to hearing more.
Kaye
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Yes, glad that that twitch of the nose was not a sneeze. We’re glad to be here and grateful that we got here between two big storms. Train travel has been canceled because of flooding. Replacement buses are being used. We’re not going anyway for the moment. Twitch, twitch.
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Wonderful to hear that you’ve arrived safely and that friends, as well as Delta, helped make a long journey more bearable. Sounds like you’re cozy and comfortable! When the storms pass, you’ll be out and about exploring your home away from home. Wishing you a splendid winter/spring in Cornwall!
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We walked to the Cornish Arms for a Sunday roast–salmon and turkey. Tasty and ample. The mile and a half walk included sun, mizzle, rain, and drizzle. Going home we walked under blue skies. Cornwall treats us to many surprises. Good to be here.
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You made it! So glad to hear.
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If you were coming this week, Steve, we could show you rain, drizzle, mizzle, and blue skies. Oh, and high winds. Nature’s wonders all around. Trouble is, the trains can’t get here today because of disruptions along the line. And it’s a walk too far. “All shall be well, all manner of thing shall be well.” Thanks to Julian of Norwich, our concerns and worries can be cut short.
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Good to hear you’re safely ensconced! Have to add “dawdle-worth” to my lexicon!
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Thanks, Frances. Were you and Ron here we’d do the dawdle over a Cornish cream tea. And a pasty. A Moomaid ice cream. A cracking fine walk.
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