fired up by my recent tree oracle we set off for the 'southern' stonewylde moot at avebury and it was a lovely sunny day as we drove through the forest.
our journey took us through the ancient village of downton in wiltshire, about ten miles from our own village. i have fond feelings for the village as i have roots there going back, as far as i have researched so far, to the 1600's. this village and the ones of whiteparish, sherfield english and compton chamberlayne are all within ten miles of salisbury and i have traced family back to the 1500's in compton chamberlyne
old sarum
bronze age round barrows that dot the land around stonehenge~these are part of the winterbourne stoke barrows
heading out across salisbury plain the weather does not look good
the neolithic silbury hill~the tallest man made mound in europe
the following pictures are all of the moot at avebury~most of us were meeting new people for the very first time but we all connected and good friendships were forged during our time together
*look out for the crop 'circle'*
a goodbye group photo~until we meet again
more barrows~this time just outside of avebury
our route takes us across salisbury plain
taking a different route home we drive by stonehenge as the rain statrts to fall
the rain continues beyond stonehenge
sailsbury cathederal
a few miles down the road and back in the new forest the sun is out and it looks like summer
foals are starting to spring up all over the forest now
~of bodhrans~
carp had arrived in avebury earlier than all of us and had been in the henge shop where he had something to show me~a beautiful bodhran with a triskele painted on the skin. as is usually the way of things i did not have the money to buy it there and then, but handling it made me want to get myself one even more~almost as if there was a vibration calling to me. he had also brought his didj as he was hoping to go to the west kennet long barrow to play for a while in the chamber, so he gave a short solo performance~the sound was amazing so i have decided to buy a didj once i have my bodhran and had a few months practice.
oh and he gave us the most wonderful bird house he had made (picture to come!) so thank you so much!
5 comments:
Aaah, Silbury Hill, Avebury, Stonehenge, some of my very favourite places! I'm hoping to head that way myself this weekend! (BTW my partner plays the didj and I play the bodhran myself very badly! We've played in WK long barrow many times! )
Oh what beautiful pictures! i am envious!
Sounds like a wonderful day. I love Avebury and I also love the Stonewylde books, so I am very envious!
Gosh.. that picture of The Beech's at Avebury doesn't half bring back a memory or two .. how often have I stood there in all weathers .... I love Avebury, it's one of my favourite places. Next time you visit you will have to go to The Devil's Den whcih is round the corner from Silbury Hill. Have you got "The Modern Antiquarian" by Julian Cope? Brilliant reference for earthwork explorers! x
What a lovely trip. Thanks for taking me with you. It is nearly 20 years ago that I was in England for the last time. I have lovely memories but I kind of miss it. Oh and when I was at Stonehenge even longer ago - it rained.
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