The Day of the Flat Tire: October 31

 It was time for groceries. We bundled into our trusty car and drove ten minutes to Gosforth, remembering the wonderful bakery and small grocery store there. We were met with disappointment, however. The grocery store had suffered a major fire and was in ruins. The bakery (a private home beside the grocery store) was not affected. However, a sign on the door informed us that the owners were taking a brief vacation and would not return until the following week, and hoped we weren’t inconvenienced.

Well, we were inconvenienced. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

To find a grocery, we drove to Seascale, about five miles beyond Gosforth. As we approached the village, we noticed that one of the tires seemed to be hitting the road quite hard. When we parked at the Co-op, Ruth saw that our front left tire was flat.

This was a bit of a shock. We decided to concentrate on groceries first, then deal with the tire. A basketful of food later (roasting chicken, fruits, veggies, eggs, etc.) we exited and stared at the incontrovertibly flat tire. No change. No miraculous healing. 

Fortunately, there was a garage just half a block down the road, so I walked over and explained the situation to the owner, trying to keep my lip from trembling and my eyes from tearing up. He took pity on me and said he’d send a man over right away to assess the situation. On the man’s advice, we drove the car the short distance to the garage, where they promised to look at it and tell us what could be done.

Ruth took a walk along the beach, while I called Hertz and got permission to get the tire fixed. Returning to the garage, I was informed that the tire could not be simply repaired; it must be replaced. The good news: he could get the new tire and replace it by 5:00 that day. 

So Ruth and I made lemonade out of this lemon and found a lovely fish and chips shop along the beach that happened to be open. We were treated to the crispiest fish and chips in the entire UK, along with mushy peas and tartar sauce. Delightful!

We knew we had a long wait ahead of us (it was only noon, and the car wouldn’t be ready till 4 or 5. So we took our time with the fish (which was excellent and very filling). Then, to stretch things out a bit longer, we ordered dessert: crème brûlée, our favorite. Also a big pot of tea. The waitress brought us the wrong dessert (a lemon pudding), so she threw in the crème brûlée for free. Soldiering on, we bravely tackled both desserts and managed to eat every spoonful. We finally left when the shop closed at 2:30. 

The rain, which had been coming down thick and fast most of the morning, miraculously cleared, and we decided to walk the beach. Braving the wind, we stretched our legs and attempted to walk off the extra calories we’d just eaten. In spite of the wind and recent rains, it was lovely walk.

Next we headed to the Anglican/Methodist church, which provided a respite from the returning rain.

Our final stop was the library (right across the street from the garage), where we were offered tea from a friendly staff. Lots of kids came into the library with costumes, as this was All Hallow’s Eve, so we were well entertained. 

Finally, at around 4:30, we were able to collect our car and drive back to Eskdale before dark. Still full from our lunch at the fish and chips shop, we settled for a bowl of muesli and the first episode of Foyle’s War. A good end to an unexpectedly trying day.