Saturday, December 22, 2007

A Merry Yule and the Solstice sunrise.



I have just got back from the British Camp on the Malvern Hills after watching the Solstice sunrise. I got there at about 7AM to find the whole place in pitch darkness with a heavy fog. Finding my way to the top was eventful to say the least and twice I nearly fell A over T down the hills. My visibility was down to about 3 foot and, having forgotten my hat, freezing as well. I think the first photo of the pathway shows how bad it was. I reached the top and hailed the four watchtowers, hoping that it would warm up and clear a little in time for the sunrise. Just before sunrise I met two people called Anne & Jane who introduced themselves and waited alongside me. The wind by now was picking up and I could feel one side of my body getting number and wetter by the second. Then, slowly, the fog began to clear and a tinge of pink spread across the skyline. We weren't able to see the sun on the horizon but all the same the colours were beautiful. The fog began to lift and the sky was a deep blue behind us. By 9AM we thought we had seen the best of it and retired to lower ground and shared some of Anne's most excellent coffee. All in all, a nice sunrise and, more importantly, a feeling of grounding and a new beginning to the year. It was nice meeting Anne & Jane who, by the way, are from London originally and maybe I shall see them again, either at the shop or on the Hills.

A Merry Solstice to everyone and a Happy New Year.

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