Winter Solstice at Stonehenge

Sunday 21 December 2008 Stonehenge - Bath, England
Headed off to Stonehenge at 7.30am trying to see if we could catch sunrise for the solstice. We weren't able to get on the net, so had no idea if there were special arrangements at the solstice or we simply had to pear over the fence and wait until the opening time of 9am. As we were driving down the highway we could see the 'henge' in the distance, along with a stream of cars and campers as far as the eye could see in all directions. We quickly pulled over and found a place to park on the grass and walked to the visitor centre. Arriving we found that the entrance was free up until 9am when all visitors had to leave the area. Also, that people were allowed inside the circle and to touch the monument. It was simply an amazing experience. People were everywhere, chanting, singing, praying, meditating, dancing, herbal smoking ... we had been transported to Woodstock! I must admit we did a little touching the monument ourselves and it was interesting when you cut out everything that was going on around you and focused on what you were sensing, what you could sense. First of all it was a feeling of anxiety, then as time went on it was a heaviness in your chest like someone pressing on it (or was that actually the pagan in his cloak with his elbow dug in me?). Anyway, it was a wonderful experience and it would be interesting to be there during the summer solstice.

After Stonehenge we headed off to Avebury, the largest stone circle in the Isles, if not the world. So big is the town it is actually inside the circle, including a church, a pub, a chapel, along with other modern conveniences. The weather had got colder and the wind had picked up so we didn't walk the whole of the circle but did enough to wonder in amazement how these people brought these stones together. We were there about an hour and had decided to head off toward Bath when we realized we had a flat battery. The car lights had been left on and while Pete stressed about it, I door knocked and found a lovely local who was able to give us a jump start. We've found along our travels that people are simply wonderful and generous. There maybe some folk in the world who aren't so nice but as it happens we haven't met any of them.

Along the way to Bath we stopped at the Barge Inn. This pub is located along a canal and is dedicated to the crop circle phenomena which is renown in the Wessex area in July & August when the crops are at their peak. Well it is very interesting looking at these pictures and reading the stories and evidence behind them along with eye witness accounts including some from scientists who have seen them 'appear' within a matter of a minute. Basically, the crop circle phenomena, has been going on for years. What happens is a farmer wakes up in the morning and finds a huge pattern in his crop that you can see clearly from the air. The plants themselves are not damaged or broken, they are bent at 90 degrees, but commonly return upright within a couple of days. Witnesses claim to hear a whizzing, buzzing sound when the phenomena takes place, and they are particularly apparent after heavy rain. There are many theories about how they are formed, from alien visitations, to earth emitting energy through the water trapped in the lay lines, along with the hoax theory. Bottom line, it has scientists miffed, and is pretty cool.

Arrived in Bath, and ready for a Bath, but the Roman Spa there costs 22pounds for a session. So we snuck into a backpackers instead and had a great shower for nothing. Had our van parked between a train station and the central post office. Not the best environment for a good nights sleep, but to find a parking spot in Bath is like finding a pot of gold.