Camping in Glastonbury
After a nail-biting wait, I finally collected my new car from the dealer last Thursday, so Octavia and I spent the weekend camping in Glastonbury. We had both worked through the previous Easter weekend so that we could take four days off and spend them outdoors away from our computers. The weather didn’t disappoint us, except for a misty start to Saturday, and a drizzle of rain in the afternoon before the sun finally broke through.
We found an excellent campsite just over half a mile East of the famous Glastonbury Tor, pictured above, and put up the enormous 6 man tent we bought in San Diego earlier this year for the first time. After the usual 30 minutes of rotating the diagrams in the assembly instructions, I’m rather pleased with the thing. I’m sure the next time we put it up, it will take all of 10 minutes; I can stand up in the centre without my head bulging through the roof fabric; and there are only 2 guy ropes to tie down. As another nail in the coffin of Rip-Off-Britain, I paid US$100 for this tent in the spring sale at Sport Chalet… the last tent I bought in England 3 years ago cost £90 (again in the sale) and was considerably smaller, and much more difficult to put up and take down despite being almost twice the price.
Glastonbury (Britains smallest city!) is steeped in myth and legend, regarding the Holy Grail, King Arthur, Joseph of Arimathea and so forth. It is also a magnet for new age spiritualists, and every second shop sells either crystals, faerie paraphernalia or — my favourite — new age and self help books. Well worth the visit if you get the chance.
2 Responses so far
2007.04.18@2:17 pm
Hi guys i just saw this bit about Glastonbury, and wondered if you realised how close you were to our Green relations? They are at West Pennard, the next village on from Glastonbury and Pilton (home of Glastonbury Festival.)
They are the Cheese Dairy Farmers at Newtown farm, whom I went to meet last June, turning up on their doorstep and telling them “Excuse me but I think we are related!”
I do love Glastonbury, and nearly went down last week as I had the week off.If I’d known you were there I would have. Anyway bye for now and take care Luv Karen n Alan
2007.04.18@2:22 pm
Hi back! No, I had no idea about our Green relatives
It was my first visit, but I too was quite taken with Glastonbury. If we find ourselves at a loose end in the weeks ahead, we will quite probably make a return visit, and hope to get a view from the Tor that isn’t shrouded by the mist!
G&T