Sep. 7, 2016

A major inconvenience

So the trip began proper today, it began with a scrounged lift to St Cleer by Steph Ward then a walk through the Cornish mizzle to Liskeard station. interestingly because I was leaving, the town had a different complexion than the one viewed through my normal eyes.Though run down, it felt like I remembered it when I first arrived here in 1988 and perhaps the reason why I settled here can be explained by the perceptions I had today.

Train journey was great, almost on time, and I managed to meet Darryl from James Cargo at Reading Station being only 10 minutes late. We had arranged that he would meet me there to hand over the V5 registration document that I had left in error on the already crated Motorbike. Well done James Cargo and Darryl - well beyond the call of duty and extremely considerate.

I managed to get to Gatwick with the prescribed 2hours before flight time. I thought might as well do it as soon as possible, get it over and done with - i hate airports. The queue wasn't too long and I was soon at the front of it, with only hand luggage this was going to be a sinch. How wrong could I be, I was told by the young assistant that I couldn't board the plane as US Immigration forbid travellers who did not have a return ticket and as I only had a oneway I couldn't go. Despite my remonstrations she wasn't budging. So after my usual clumsy but effective rant she passed me up the food chain to her supervisor. She to could not get that I was leaving by land on the motorbike that i was importing. I ranted some more and surprise surprise she passed me to bigger fish, none other than Chief of Homeland Security at Gatwick Airport. Karen was an extremely tall and imposing women, with a don't mess with me look - so I didn't! I thought better try charm and calm reason and spades full of Irish blarney. My problem, became her problem and she became determined to solve it. After looking at my paperwork she said I believe ya so I'm gonna let ya through, but i can't guarantee that US immigration in New York will be as sympathetic, do you want to take the chance, you may get turned back, it depends who you get and what mood they are in! She advised me to maybe book a return ticket before boarding the plane so I had something to prove Id be leaving the US - this should get me through immigration at the other end.

Sitting here in my NY bNb I'm annoyed i succomed to her suggestion as firstly I didn't want to be held to a time limit and secondly it now changed the nature of the trip, I'd now have deadlines and targets to reach, all the things I have spent my life doing, this trip was going to be different, or so I thought. What was even more annoying was I sailed through customs, with no one batting an eyelid or even asking me about how I was to leave the US. Which confirms a belief that i have had for some time, that the British are sticklers for following the rules to the letter and interpreting them unquestionningly. Thank God for a little American laissez faire. However tomorrow is another day and I still have the joy of clearing my bike through customs to look forward to.....

Sep. 7, 2016

My attempt at a selfie at Liskeard station