A Free Day

St. Mawes. Photo © Rob Jones

The quickest way between two points, they say, is a straight line, but it’s not always the most enjoyable or productive.

Today’s task: I needed to get to St. Mawes to interview a man about a book (See Tim Hubbard - Secret Gardens).

From where I live, I can see St. Mawes. And the easiest (though not the cheapest) way to get there is by ferry from Falmouth. It probably takes about 20 minutes.

Oh but that’s too easy.

Instead I took the train to Truro, and then hopped on a bus which took me on a very pleasant meandering and explorational journey through the by ways of the Cornish countryside, passing places I never knew existed, and finding destinations I didn’t know I desperately wanted to visit (Probus, Tregony, Pendower Beach, Trwithian, Portscatho and St. Just in Roseland.)

I think I probably love bus travel because you are a prisoner. A prisoner of fortune, because anything can happen along the way.

After a while, on a glorious spring day, I arrived in St. Mawes.

I should backtrack a little here. In Truro I nipped into a well known supermarket to get some supplies, only to find at the till my selected bananas didn’t scan. I tried several times before looking helplessly at the person on duty to offer assistance with a, ‘I’m a man … I don’t know how to shop’ look.

They couldn’t scan them either and eventually slyly moved them into the bagging area muttering, ‘that’s what we do when things don’t scan.’

Result. Free bananas.

Anyway - back to St. Mawes which was enjoying a beautiful spring day, although clearly other parts of Cornwall - over towards the Lizard I could see - had storm clouds a-gathering.

I was early. I sat and read a book over a coffee. I strolled about taking arty pictures. I peered into a fudge shop. I read menus, and succumbed to buying some cheese, toasted almonds and Moroccan olives, and then met the author for a very enjoyable chat. Afterwards we headed to the sea front for a debrief and a comparison of notes about life!

He left to give a talk. I ran for the bus only to find that the ‘machine’ that issued tickets, didn’t.

‘Not your problem, hop on.’ said the driver.

Another glorious trip in reverse to Truro, and up to the station and back to Falmouth by train.

A grand day was had by all.

Rob