We had good intentions of getting out of the house with our bikes early Sunday morning to ride the Farmington Canal from Avon but at 9:00 am we were just finishing our first coffee of the day. While Bill pulled eggs from the fridge for our breakfast, I stood barefoot on the deck scanning the backyard, hoping to catch sight of the turkeys and their chicks who’ve taken up residence in the woods beyond the yard.
In the still, windless morning I heard what sounded like a series of fire crackers: pop, pop, pop-pop. Looking toward the noise, which I assumed came from the house where the young guys live (who else would light fire crackers at 9:00 am on Sunday morning), I saw the power lines over the next door neighbors’ house vibrate, shake the tree leaves. Five seconds later the lights went out as a large limb broke free from a tree and landed in the street taking the power lines with it. Bill’s stove is electric; the water hadn’t yet boiled for our second French press, eggs were no longer a breakfast option.
Tree limb had been rubbing against the power lines for awhile.
Neighbors gathered in the road to peer at the damage the fallen tree limb had done. We weren’t completely blocked in, there was enough room for a car to get by. Bill and I needed to put our bikes on the rack that wasn’t affixed to the car yet. We needed to change our clothes, fill our water bottles. We knew our window of opportunity was narrow. While we discussed our options a police cruiser drove up with red and blue lights flashing. The officer, who lives on Bill’s street, jumped out of his car, told us to get back, away from the wires sprawled across the street. We looked at each other, knew our escape route was cut off.
Wouldn’t be so bad if it hadn’t taken the power lines with it
“We could ride along the shore.”
“We still have to drive and they won’t let us through.”
Another cruiser pulled up, blocked the road on the other side of the limb. We wouldn’t be leaving the cul-de-sac anytime soon. There was nothing to do but go back in and wait. Bill called his dad, I read and dozed on the couch. Eventually, the power lines were repaired or replaced, power restored. The limb remained, unmoved, encircled with orange cones.
Probably not live but you never know
By the time we were able drive to Avon we didn’t feel like it. Instead, we parked downtown and walked our usual route to Walnut Beach and back. The beach was packed with people trying to stay cool. Umbrellas of every color of the rainbow dotted the landscape. Small children hopped from one foot to the other, trying to avoid burning their soles on the scorching sand. We followed the boardwalk out to the street, turning at our usual spot, planned a dinner of shrimp and pineapple skewers over rice and grilled corn on the cob. When Plan A is foiled, resort to Plan B.
where my feet are 
Wow, that must have been quite a storm, Geralyn. Plan B sounds great to me! Can you believe we’re approaching the end of August?
No storm, Jill. That’s what was so weird. It was a perfectly still morning and all of a sudden – crack, crack, crash! Good excuse to relax all morning. Days are getting shorter. 😦
Your plan B seems perfectly wonderful. Wish I had that choice of a plan B where I live! Being near a beach would be lovely.
Glad to hear no one was hurt with the tree collapse. Yikes.
Thanks, Carrie. We were happy nobody happened to be driving through when the large limb fell. I do appreciate living near the water. 🙂
That was an exciting morning. Am sure you heard Mom’s voice “STAND BACK KIDS”. Ha ha Scary though…..LIVE ,,,,wires! Xo
We didn’t think the wires were live but you never know…..better to be safe than sorry! Meant to ask you if you remember “straight beach” from when we lived there? Bill and I walked into straight beach and along the water last time. 🙂
Very odd for a large tree limb to come crashing down w/o being provoked by wind or storm. Perhaps it was diseased. You both were really lucky not to have been standing in its path when it came down.
Bill lives in a very wooded area. He and the neighbors can remember the same thing happening at least three other times; large tree limbs falling down without any wind or storms to help them. Strange.
All’s well that ends well. Your dinner sounds like a delicious ending to the day. I need a photo of it, but perhaps it’s better that I don’t see it. It’s still four hours until dinner. 🙂
Simple, but yummy, meal to end a nice relaxing day. Wish I had some leftovers, getting hungry!
Me too.
Nothing to do but adapt to the circumstances. (That’s how human beings have survived and prospered.) Sounds like you made a good adjustment and had a lovely day. Shrimp and pineapple, grilled corn. Yum.
I think the universe was forcing us to slow down and enjoy a relaxing day. 🙂
Everyone should have a plan B.
Sometimes I even need Plan C!
I love walks and bike rides. There are tons of hiking paths around, and even a bike path running along the ocean. And yet, I have such a hard time with the idea of taking the car somewhere to walk or bike. It just seems wrong! So mostly I just walk from my house. With a canine. 🙂
We walk and bike from my house too, but Bill lives on the wrong side of a very busy multi lane road. So, we usually drive to get our rides and walks in. The upside is that he lives near the shore!
Sounded like a good B plan 🙂
Not so bad, Jo. 🙂
No I never heard of “straight beach”. How did you know what the name was? Mom
I thought we called the beach at the end of our street ‘straight beach.’ Will have to ask my brothers about this!
Oh my!! What a morning! And what a disappointment since you couldn’t escape. But I’m glad you had another plan. 🙂
A forced relaxing morning after the commotion of tree limbs, downed wires and catching up with the neighbors. 🙂
Dang, I can still fell that lack of a second French press! Good thing you are both adaptable. Plan B sounds mighty fine to me.
No coffee might have been the worst of it, Linda! We managed to survive though.
Smart plan B! sounds like an adventure
We managed to make it a good day despite the change of plan. Thanks for commenting.
Yes that was a nice twist!
A change in plans indeed. If I could afford it, I’d install a back-up generator. Not for falling tree branches, but because winters have become so unpredictable.
We don’t use A/C much (and we are looked at as freaks!) but one of the neighbors had their generator in use to keep the A/C running while power was out.