dispatches from the new world of work

Life Amongst the Cousins

Coastal Path

2.5 absurdly good days in Cornwall. The incredible town of Portloe. [Photo below.] Hiked about 20-25 miles (about 5, 12, 6 I figure), hiked until 10 p.m., up and down the whole time. About zero fellow hikers. (Only about 1,000 vertical feet—not the Sierras or Maroon Bells.) Pasties. A great little hotel, the Lugger—their fresh fish (John Dory on Sunday night) lived up to its billing. Lovely conversations at the likes of shops the size of a postage stamp—also the local Post Office.

Work totally out of mind, thence very rough "return to civilization"—even though it was but a stretched weekend. No cell phone coverage! No Internet! Great trains! Joy to the world!

I feel completely at home in Britain, having been visiting for 40 years, since 1966, when I came over on a U.S.N.-R.N. midshipman swap—served aboard HMS Tiger, a cruiser. Well, not completely at home—which is great. Am completely comfortable—but also enjoy the cultural differences of a "foreign country"—even if it is "the cousins."

Stayed in Portloe

Tom Peters posted this on 06/27/06.

Comments

Hey feel free to stay, we are lacking people with the ability to stir things up in this country and that touch of charisma...Branson excluded of course. Now, Cornwall is great but you can't beat the Yorshire Dales where I live....I hike with a voice recorder(!) yes I know, but the countryside is so inspirational, something about the peace and quiet and also the feeling of the simple beauty of such a complex world of nature. Great to have you here, coming to see you at Leaders in London - great line up.

Posted by Anna Farmery at June 27, 2006 4:23 PM

Thanks Anna; so much of the British Isles that remain for me to see.

Posted by tom peters at June 27, 2006 11:38 PM

nIcE pIc!

Posted by K.Sriram at June 27, 2006 11:56 PM

Chalk up another vote for Yorkshire Anna - God's own county (although I am sure that sentiment is shared in other wonderful places in the world!)

Posted by PaulH at June 28, 2006 2:18 AM

Carrying a pen and pad is well worth the effort. The amount of stuff I think of and then totally loose is crazy. Cornwall is awesome - the next time you visit I would recommend visiting the Eden centre if you haven't already.

http://www.edenproject.com/

Posted by Andre Googe at June 28, 2006 4:27 AM

Wow!

Posted by Jim Ro at June 28, 2006 7:07 AM

Excellent to hear that you've been made welcome and have enjoyed this trip (I'll be looking at the slides next. Cornwall is terrific. I am sure you would also enjoy walking on the Isles of Scilly - 30 miles off the coast from Land's End, a short flight or lovely/not so lovely 2 hour ferry crossing depending on sea conditions!
We visit Tresco every year - plenty of pictures here:
http://www.tresco.co.uk/

Posted by Michael from UK at June 28, 2006 11:09 AM

Missed having you posting, but good to hear you had a break

Posted by Justin at June 28, 2006 8:59 PM

Just has some junk mail in my inbox - 'become a travel agent in a week' - looks like we all had it :-)

My offer - Birmingham City Centre. More canals than Venice, wonderful, tasteful modernisation and culturally rich and diverse. Just down the road is Stratford-upon-Avon â€“ Shakespeareâ€™s home. The Midlands - truly the HEART of England.

Enjoy England Tom, wherever you go

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 29, 2006 2:42 AM