Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
This is a call for a ride last Saturday night.
No takers? Ok, I'll tell you what it will be like if you want to come...
Intending to meet MacBludgeon at some point, it was worthwhile to spend a Sat night in search of Sun morning...
I left home about 21:45 with the intention of having a good long chat with myself all the way to Stonehenge, where I would rendezvous with several of the Corps of Cyclists from yacf and 'celebrate' the Summer Soul Sister - well, something like that anyway, a funky 'do'.
I was lost in the reverie of what to expect when alongside me I heard the whirr of bike and an exclamation of "Hello mate, nice night for a ride - going anywhere nice?"
'Stonehenge' (Well, I was going to Woodhenge first actually, but that's another story.)
"Oh, so are we"
The 'we' was a peloton of couriers from Hackney, who set off from Hyde Park at dusk. It's a small world sometimes, and I cast aside my conversation with self for introductions and gentle conversation until the first stop at Egham Hill - about twenty minutes after I left home
!
And on. About half an hour's riding - with one guy, Roger, already cramping badly and there was a drinks break. This is not a 'slug the PSP and munch the energy bar' type of stop that us genteel riders are accustomed to...this involves more natural products, along with 'technical cigarettes' - much to my amusement! Like a News of the World reporter, I 'declined their offer' of refreshment...
Cool Colnago rider, Martin, takes sustenance of the liquid kind.
It were a 'rum do' that evening...
The next garage stop - about thirty minutes later - and I spied two druids worshipping at the ancient 'Pillars of Essence'. I did ask for a photo and they said 'Of course!' Indeed, they were headed toward the Solstice and I made a note to self to apply vinyl flowers to my bicycle next year...IF.
The A30 at night is a long road, and progress was hampered by Roger's rider's cramp (Funnily, I just wrote 'writer's crap' as I was typing - must be Freudian if ever there was...) and then one of the Colnagos broke a spoke. The owner took a swig of rum and set to work with chain whip, cassette tool, spare spoke obviously, and half an hour later we were on the way yet again. By this time we had reached Basingstoke and the B3400 beckoned.
There were some nice bikes being ridden to sunrise. This one was being re-spoked at 01:15! We turned the corner and my tube failed. As I was happy at the back, everyone else vanished up the road...a quick change and I was able to blast along the dark, winding road to make contact once again. But not for long, as the rear tube decided it was time for a rest. Two flats in one journey! Pain in the butt made worse because it was decidedly inky in that part of the world. Oh well.
By the time I had got myself organised again, I raced off, leaving my pump somewhere on a grass verge 'just outside Whitchurch' - so I thought. Not much dawned on me this day, not the least checking everything before restarting - 0/10 for care in my community. The others were long gone and it was nevertheless a lovely ride into Andover. Time became tight and I took the Mouseketeer route A303 - direct to Amesbury. Originally I programmed the Garmin (quiet at the back) to skirt this big road, in order that I arrive via Woodhenge, as I was interested in what that had to offer, but the lure of the tarmac and 'head down' beckoned...plus the fact that dawn was knocking on the dark, cloudy shell of night. A period of hard graft and lo! The twinkle twinkle reminiscent of a FNRttC ride - the string of red lights that indicate night cyclists! Rejoined the Hackney posse and we passed by various shades of hi viz authority and an ant trail of folk making their way upward to Stonehenge. Roger the cramp was suffering badly but he needed to continue as his girlfriend was giving him grief over the 'phone. She had caught the train from London to Basingstoke, cycled the comparitively short stretch to, and was ensconced at the Stones. So many expletives - so little time! Ha ha.
And this is what it was all about. Druidville's answer to Bill Oddie in cabaret. He was encouraging the audience to sing a song about some bones that needed to be returned - sung to the tune of 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down Boy' (Don't believe that? I have a video!) I was fascinated and amazed. I have seen so little life, and I think I have been 'around a bit' - this was definitely one for the memory. Respect to the people who are devoted but this was comedic in its appearance. Plenty of piss artists too - at one stage I'm sure there was a cider carrying competition - the equivalent of cheese rolling, where smoky individuals cradle massive plastic bottles of Blackthorn etc and stagger around West Papua's finest dancers...
www.freewestpapua.org will get you more info on why these gents were near naked in the chilly morn.
As I tried to cycle across the fields and decided against throwing my bike over a barbed wire fence, and as the constabulary were being adequately forceful in directing people miles around the block to enter the arena of solsticity, I contented myself with views and conversations conducted through the fence. I met up with Jason and friend, two of the messengers again, and then 'Louise' came over for a chat...wondering why I was dressed so strangely! "You must be a cyclist!" Correct.(Don't quite qualify as a serious cyclist yet but...) Anyway, she was very pleasant, had spent 9 months cycling around Vietnam, was a graduate in theatre costume design, was making five wedding dresses, made her clothes, her boyfriend was a local but she lived in Chester and was definitely coming to Solstice again...Here she is; best of luck girl, nice talking to you.
A conversation piece. Louise.
So, an experience. I sort of understand the hippy style concept of romance. Half of the participants don't have enough money left after purchasing vats of cider and the other half couldn't really be charging for what's on offer - ergo 'free love'.
Attentive crowds watching the high vizer do a rubbish impression of Rolf Harris - crowded eh?
What struck me also, was the sheer number of people walking in the fields. As the light levels rose, it was apparent the all the fields had people walking in them. Moving all over the place - not just in the Stonehenge direction. Like ants on a kitchen floor - as far as I, or the eye could see. there were people walking through fields - it is definitely worth a visit if you want culture shock and interesting sights.
I was there! Thanks for your company Darren, Jason, Sid, Roger, Martin, the two ladies and all the other 'messengers' - maybe someone will pick this post up and I hope also that Tim O - and others - will post the photos of superb views that they saw on their trip to Stonehenge by another route. I met MacBludgeon by text only! I was breakfasting in Basingstoke by the time he was 'bonking' after his campfire feast!
I also cycled back to Heathrow, but I'll save that for Part 2 - and I recovered my pump nestling in the grass - a long way from where I thought I left it!
Ta ta for now.
No takers? Ok, I'll tell you what it will be like if you want to come...
Intending to meet MacBludgeon at some point, it was worthwhile to spend a Sat night in search of Sun morning...
I left home about 21:45 with the intention of having a good long chat with myself all the way to Stonehenge, where I would rendezvous with several of the Corps of Cyclists from yacf and 'celebrate' the Summer Soul Sister - well, something like that anyway, a funky 'do'.
I was lost in the reverie of what to expect when alongside me I heard the whirr of bike and an exclamation of "Hello mate, nice night for a ride - going anywhere nice?"
'Stonehenge' (Well, I was going to Woodhenge first actually, but that's another story.)
"Oh, so are we"
The 'we' was a peloton of couriers from Hackney, who set off from Hyde Park at dusk. It's a small world sometimes, and I cast aside my conversation with self for introductions and gentle conversation until the first stop at Egham Hill - about twenty minutes after I left home
!And on. About half an hour's riding - with one guy, Roger, already cramping badly and there was a drinks break. This is not a 'slug the PSP and munch the energy bar' type of stop that us genteel riders are accustomed to...this involves more natural products, along with 'technical cigarettes' - much to my amusement! Like a News of the World reporter, I 'declined their offer' of refreshment...
Cool Colnago rider, Martin, takes sustenance of the liquid kind.
It were a 'rum do' that evening...
The next garage stop - about thirty minutes later - and I spied two druids worshipping at the ancient 'Pillars of Essence'. I did ask for a photo and they said 'Of course!' Indeed, they were headed toward the Solstice and I made a note to self to apply vinyl flowers to my bicycle next year...IF.
The A30 at night is a long road, and progress was hampered by Roger's rider's cramp (Funnily, I just wrote 'writer's crap' as I was typing - must be Freudian if ever there was...) and then one of the Colnagos broke a spoke. The owner took a swig of rum and set to work with chain whip, cassette tool, spare spoke obviously, and half an hour later we were on the way yet again. By this time we had reached Basingstoke and the B3400 beckoned.
There were some nice bikes being ridden to sunrise. This one was being re-spoked at 01:15! We turned the corner and my tube failed. As I was happy at the back, everyone else vanished up the road...a quick change and I was able to blast along the dark, winding road to make contact once again. But not for long, as the rear tube decided it was time for a rest. Two flats in one journey! Pain in the butt made worse because it was decidedly inky in that part of the world. Oh well.
By the time I had got myself organised again, I raced off, leaving my pump somewhere on a grass verge 'just outside Whitchurch' - so I thought. Not much dawned on me this day, not the least checking everything before restarting - 0/10 for care in my community. The others were long gone and it was nevertheless a lovely ride into Andover. Time became tight and I took the Mouseketeer route A303 - direct to Amesbury. Originally I programmed the Garmin (quiet at the back) to skirt this big road, in order that I arrive via Woodhenge, as I was interested in what that had to offer, but the lure of the tarmac and 'head down' beckoned...plus the fact that dawn was knocking on the dark, cloudy shell of night. A period of hard graft and lo! The twinkle twinkle reminiscent of a FNRttC ride - the string of red lights that indicate night cyclists! Rejoined the Hackney posse and we passed by various shades of hi viz authority and an ant trail of folk making their way upward to Stonehenge. Roger the cramp was suffering badly but he needed to continue as his girlfriend was giving him grief over the 'phone. She had caught the train from London to Basingstoke, cycled the comparitively short stretch to, and was ensconced at the Stones. So many expletives - so little time! Ha ha.
And this is what it was all about. Druidville's answer to Bill Oddie in cabaret. He was encouraging the audience to sing a song about some bones that needed to be returned - sung to the tune of 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down Boy' (Don't believe that? I have a video!) I was fascinated and amazed. I have seen so little life, and I think I have been 'around a bit' - this was definitely one for the memory. Respect to the people who are devoted but this was comedic in its appearance. Plenty of piss artists too - at one stage I'm sure there was a cider carrying competition - the equivalent of cheese rolling, where smoky individuals cradle massive plastic bottles of Blackthorn etc and stagger around West Papua's finest dancers...
www.freewestpapua.org will get you more info on why these gents were near naked in the chilly morn.
As I tried to cycle across the fields and decided against throwing my bike over a barbed wire fence, and as the constabulary were being adequately forceful in directing people miles around the block to enter the arena of solsticity, I contented myself with views and conversations conducted through the fence. I met up with Jason and friend, two of the messengers again, and then 'Louise' came over for a chat...wondering why I was dressed so strangely! "You must be a cyclist!" Correct.(Don't quite qualify as a serious cyclist yet but...) Anyway, she was very pleasant, had spent 9 months cycling around Vietnam, was a graduate in theatre costume design, was making five wedding dresses, made her clothes, her boyfriend was a local but she lived in Chester and was definitely coming to Solstice again...Here she is; best of luck girl, nice talking to you.
A conversation piece. Louise.
So, an experience. I sort of understand the hippy style concept of romance. Half of the participants don't have enough money left after purchasing vats of cider and the other half couldn't really be charging for what's on offer - ergo 'free love'.
Attentive crowds watching the high vizer do a rubbish impression of Rolf Harris - crowded eh?
What struck me also, was the sheer number of people walking in the fields. As the light levels rose, it was apparent the all the fields had people walking in them. Moving all over the place - not just in the Stonehenge direction. Like ants on a kitchen floor - as far as I, or the eye could see. there were people walking through fields - it is definitely worth a visit if you want culture shock and interesting sights.
I was there! Thanks for your company Darren, Jason, Sid, Roger, Martin, the two ladies and all the other 'messengers' - maybe someone will pick this post up and I hope also that Tim O - and others - will post the photos of superb views that they saw on their trip to Stonehenge by another route. I met MacBludgeon by text only! I was breakfasting in Basingstoke by the time he was 'bonking' after his campfire feast!
I also cycled back to Heathrow, but I'll save that for Part 2 - and I recovered my pump nestling in the grass - a long way from where I thought I left it!
Ta ta for now.
I'm a Brighton boy after all!
I may be some time.
) I know you appreciate decent write ups - here's one!
