We arrived in London this morning and met Phyllis Ashenfelter and Lynne Harlan, representatives of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, on the flight from Charlotte. Corey Still and Mark Ross were there to greet us and make sure we found our bus to travel 240 miles south to Plymouth.
     We made quick changes at the airport, converted our dollars to pounds, grabbed a snack and boarded a charter bus to Plymouth. After a quick lunch near Bistol, we barely had time to freshen-up before our next stop to meet the Mayor of Plymouth, Michael Wright.  Nearly everyone slept on the way -- the overcast, rainy weather provided the perfect backdrop for a brief nap before our first dignitary meeting.
     Upon meeting the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, the Cherokee delegation exchanged gifts and enjoyed a reception and Devon Cream Tea service.  This traditional afternoon tea service was very proper and typically includes hot English tea including biscuits loaded with double cream and strawberry preserves. Corey Still sang Yihowa Tsvgvwiyu to our the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, just as the Cherokee would have been spoken here 250 years ago, nearly to the exact day.
     Following our time at the civic reception, we checked in to our hotel in Plymouth and got settled in. There was an optional guided walking tour that visited several sites including the Citadel, Barbican, Hoe and Mayflower Steps, led by Dr. Stephanie Pratt from the University of Plymouth. The weather was blustery and rather chilly in this sea town, but we were able to see the exact area the original 1762 delegation would've shipped in to.
     After our full day, we enjoyed a lovely group welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant. Now it's time to shake the off the jet lag and get rested up for the rest of our journey.
More later!

Lauren Jones