Three Venues

Glastonbury… Avebury…Stonehenge… three candidates for spending Winter Solstice 2014 but unsure which one to head for. The only rational decision is to visit all three in one night… right?

So first stop Glastonbury where the new moon, longest night and thick cloud cover conspire to produce the darkest kind of night, inky black and devoid of all natural light

after stopping for spring water and snacks I head off again and a few hours later find myself in Avebury Henge. This Neolithic masterpiece is set in the Wiltshire landscape and surrounded by ancient manmade features who’s meanings have been lost in time. With no nearby towns or light pollution it’s even darker here so I rely on familiarity to fumble my way around. There are only a few people here so I almost have the place to myself… what a treat but with the torch light fading my spider senses are on full alert as I try unsuccessfully not to slip on the slippery chalk paths

Much later I finally arrive at Stonehenge

it’s busy here, maybe two thousand visitors taking full advantage of being able to get up close and personal with the giant monoliths.

but amongst the madness are pockets of calm

and people celebrating their own way to mark the occasion.

Finally day breaks and as the sun returns the wonderfully eccentric participants scuttle off to hide until the next turning point of the Earths procession around the sun.

It’s so refreshing to bear witness to this cultural underbelly… it’s what’s drawn me back year after year and keeps the daily routine in check. Exhaustion is getting the better of me so it’s time to head home and sleep… maybe it was all just a strange dream… Zzzzzzzzzz