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Going to be amazing weather for most of us and 30 deg or more down here in Kent.
I'll be going up to a local long barrow that I haven't been to, for the solstice, since before Covid. Sadly, I wont be riding there, instead I'll be doing this "hiking" thing. Still, it'll be a lovely, if hard work (for me), 10 miles there to meet up with an always eclectic bunch of strangers.
I'll be bivvying there near the inevitable fire whilst wrestling with my Blair Witch issues as every other bugger never camps there apart from me. It being a burial mound possibly accounts for that. 😁
What you upto, big or small?
Nothin’. Avebury is closest, it’ll be clogged up with a bunch of aging hippies and ‘pagans’ cluttering up the place, banging drums and making a nuisance of themselves, and Stonehenge will be almost impossible to get near to, unless you’re prepared to ride there.
It’s a fact that the Winter solstice was more important at Stonehenge, as well.
Silbury Hill would be nice, and West Kennet Longbarrow is lovely, but parking anywhere around there will be a ‘mare! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve visited, even cycled around the Avebury area many, many times over the last thirty, forty years, and I love them dearly, but all the drumming and other stuff totally distracts from the peaceful atmosphere they possess.
The plastic tat that people insist on tying to the branches of the beech trees on the Avebury embankment annoys me as well, because it’s PLASTIC, they do the same to the trees at the Swallowhead spring, and light tea lights in the gaps in the stones inside West Kennet Longbarrow, which leave horrible black soot marks on the stones.
Also, swallows nest inside, and they’ll have very young chicks by now, so will be badly disturbed by a bunch of loud people hanging around for hours - I’ve stood quietly inside one of the chambers and watched the parents swooping in and feeding the chicks, which they won’t do if there’s people moving around.
And breath…
Thought about a long road ride on Saturday, might still do that if I can get out at really early.
A few years ago I planned a dusk-til-dawn century ride starting from a stone circle not that far from mine but then the weather was crap that night and I binned it off.
I'm really not up for anything overnight though, it'll leave me wrecked the following week.
Cub camp and avoiding getting sunburnt/dehydrated.
Weekend in London to see LCD Soundsystem in Brixton. Not solstice related but should be a nice way to spend the weekend with the wife as she’s had a pretty shitty last month.
will update if my plans come to fruition
Having a few days at Tarland trails, although i see theres an XC event on sat/sun so might just spectate those days. Crackin weather just now, making the best of it,!
Trail running race in the blazing heat on tired legs. It'll be horrible, but the beer after will taste good!
...weeping as it means winter is closer! ☹️⛄️🌨️
In reality - I'll be in Church at a rock gig seeing these guys!... 🎸
https://www.thesewickedrivers.com/
Walking from Gullane to North Berwick by the beach, I might paddle if it's hot but no desire to swim in the Firth of Forth as the water is freezing and the jellyfish are everywhere just now
I've been badgered into initiating my free bus travel pass to get there, I was meant to apply 4 years ago
Old Samsung drum fire pit in the evening to cook the steaks then watch the sunset looking over towards them behind Largo Law
Building a Rig sled weapon dandy horse vanity project DH bike. Then hopefully riding it.
Also going to the tip, hopefully not related to the above
Early solstice sunrise swim at Ilkley Lido, napping during the morning, train to Carlisle in the afternoon, Ride to the Sun in the evening.
21st of June is our wedding anniversary (14 this year) 🥰
Probably wont be doing all that much apart from melting in the heat though 😂
I have only just found out now, after googling it, that the 21st is not actually midsummer's day.
Sunday is the Rapha Manchester to London ride so I'll do an early start to meet that as it passes mine, maybe join it out to Bakewell. I know a few of the folk who are riding it.
I'm off to Avebury to tie plastic tat to trees whilst banging a drum.
...weeping as it means winter is closer!
I'm with you there :-/ May and June have just flown by and plans to get out on the bike came to little, too much going on at work and home these past few months to make the most of the decent weather... hope it holds out for a bit longer into July. An overnighter while it's warm would be good.
Im off into the highlands on my motorbike. Camping for the weekend
I’m daubing myself in pigs blood, donning a sheep’s fleece and walking up the hill to beat my chest with a lute and chant at the sunrise
Off to That London to march. I might take some water and even wear a hat.
I have only just found out now, after googling it, that the 21st is not actually midsummer's day.
Obviously not as it's actually the start of summer.
Sunday is the Rapha Manchester to London ride so I'll do an early start to meet that as it passes mine, maybe join it out to Bakewell. I know a few of the folk who are riding it.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for crazy-legs this solstice then 😂
I’m riding the Manchester to London, it looks like it’ll be a rather warm one!
Going to the Phuture Solstice Sessions in a field near Ipsden, now just need to work out how to get home from the rave!
Nothing same as pretty much as every year.
Nothing, riding wise - my twin sons’ 18th birthdays, so I would be very unpopular!.
Otherwise, I would be enjoying: https://yorkrally.org/
Seeing lots of bicycles and good friends.
Duplicate post!
I'm going to be up Ballater/Tarland way, going forward to some good bike riding and some head space. I think my BIL is going to Stonehenge, can't think of anything worse. Obviously I can.......
Nothing planned, I might get some crazy notion to go for a ride in the windy 28C weather, once I've woken up a bit... Couldn't sleep and originally rose much ealier than usual these days at 0530, but back in bed at 0930 and not long backup again!
Summer Solstice MTB event in Northampton, riding 100 miles of epic Northamptonshire trails.
Gravel bike obviously.
Going to be a hot one - I think it will be a result if I can avoid being taken to A&E with heat stroke.
Going to the Blossoms gig in Delamere Forest.
Marshalling a club hill climb
Stopped in at Avebury as we were passing, and had always wanted to see it but never got around to it.
Seemed awfully busy.
It was only once we saw the nth group of hippies that we finally twigged it was the solstice and we had completely forgotten! Made me faintly nostalgic, quite a few casualties of the 80s and 90s by the looks of things. A goodly amount of dreadlocks, poi, jugglers, incense, lager and women in long dresses hugging the stones. I imagine after the weekend they'll all head on for Glastonbury.
I'm going to be up Ballater/Tarland way, going forward to some good bike riding and some head space. I think my BIL is going to Stonehenge, can't think of anything worse. Obviously I can.......
tarland trails closed on sunday (unless of course you’re participating in the race). Mostly open on Saturday tho i think. Was hard going up there today in that heat!
Had it in my head it was today (Friday 20th), but apparently it's tomorrow (Saturday 21st).
I don't feel quite so bad about failing to get out this evening now for third day running, this heat is doing my head in!
Dragon ride on Sunday albeit the shorter 100km route. Never done it before and not managed the buildup if hoped but should be a good day out. I would normally ride up the hill fort behind town with a beer or too but heading down to Cardiff tonight instead.
Had it in my head it was today (Friday 20th), but apparently it's tomorrow (Saturday 21st).
I don't feel quite so bad about failing to get out this evening now for third day running, this heat is doing my head in!
TBH it did go thru my mind that it was on Friday,as there was a bit of a party going on to er 5am.
I’m miles away from it but could hear the booming of the bass.
I vaguely remember this last year as it’s loud and tbh thought I may well as well be at than spending the night awake attempting to sleep thru it 🙂
We are fortunate enough to live in a city that was designed by hippies with the central thoroughfare aligned exactly with the solstice Midsummers Boulevard terminates at Campbell park where the manmade hill: the Belvedere is capped by a light pyramid that the sun rises from on midsummers morning
.so we dragged the kids out of bed at 3:45am and drove there (there was an organised bike ride the length of midsummers boulevard if you fancied it)
we joined a hundred or so others
have lived in Milton Keynes for 9 years and wanted to do this ever since i found out about its secret pagan roots!
Chilling today because I’ve not long got up, nightshift tonight too. Which does at least mean I got to watch sunrise and will watch it set tonight.
The view from my “office” isn’t too bad 😎
Got up, walked to the beach to see the sunrise but watched lots of grey clouds instead. Nice espresso though.
Stared in awe at the two dozen people who were there to go for a dawn swim.
dropped my daughter off at Manchester Airport at 2.00am - saw dawn on the way back to Leeds. Not quite the spiritual experience at 3 - 4 am but still - i was up
Currently on medic duty at the finish line of the West Highland Way Race ultra marathon in Ft Bill; there have been a few problems today with various conditions of broken runners being shipped up to the finish but nothing too serious so far. The end is not until 1200 Sunday, so there's plenty of time yet for it to become very messy... The race started at 0100 this morning in Milngavie, the winner arriving here just after 4pm, for a very creditable 15hr time. But he's the only finisher so far and 245 started. Oh joy.....
Had planned to have a little bonfire and drink a bottle of Barbera d'Alba, bit instead I'm sat inside the van sheltering from a mahoosive storm.
Had planned to have a little bonfire and drink a bottle of Barbera d'Alba, bit instead I'm sat inside the van sheltering from a mahoosive storm.
if it helps. No matter as you’re over 12 late.
Yesterday now but I rode Chase the Sun Italy. 172miles, 11.5hrs from near Rimini across the Alpenines via Florence and Pisa to the other coast. It was “a tad warm” in Florence but the central part of Italy (a place I haven’t ridden before) was spectacular. Beautiful countryside and miles and miles of incredibly quiet roads.
It’s the winter solstice where I am, you ignorant clod… 😀
On the bright side the days are only getting longer for me.
Bike build remains unfinished ☹️ front brake hose is too short, tyres require more persuasion to seat onto rims 🤬
Did the Bristol Rally bike packing pootle - bivvied 20km from Stonehenge and rolled through early doors Saturday. Many very tired hippies (though almost outnumbered by grumpy security) - Avebury a few hours later was pretty rammed.
Great ride though, would recommend!
Met a few folks doing Chase The Sun - cudos, scorchio conditions!
Had a sultry Solstice ride up at Aberfoyle on Saturday night. Trails are running as well as I've ever seen them. Did some world-class sweating and saw a slow worm - very cool; looked like he was made of liquid bronze. Finished just as the first claps of thunder rang out.
Would post pics but y'know...
Pulp at Coop last night. India test At Headingley today although the weather looks a bit iffy
Wanted to see the sunset from high up. Rode from home up the Wye valley and onto Gospel Pass, got rained on along the way, cloud and murk meant I didn't see the sunset from the top of Wales' highest road anyway, was windy up there too and it got worse later so I didn't sleep much under a flappy tarp, sunrise was nice then it drizzled at 5am as I fixed a flat I found before setting off, breakfast in Hay with a stove coffee as nowhere was open (had ridden down early to avoid any more drizzle), rode from there to the Malverns then home, got rained on again on the way and the headwind was a bit annoying at times. 200 miles done and I'm done. Not done anything like that since illness last summer and I'm more tired now than I've been in ages. All done on a 20" wheel bike too. Great weekend.
Was our winter Solstice. Went camping. Was gonna go to a rave at some dude's home made StoneHenge but he cancelled due to storms so we went camping anyway, somewhere else.
Forgot to update. Had an amazing time at Trottiscliffe. Beautiful weather, chatted to many peeps (no one turned up till fairly late, started thinking I'd got the date wrong!) then cooked some chorizo sausages on the fire.
Slept pretty well there on top of the burial mound and for reasons won't go into, I wasn't worried about the Blair Witch Charing my face off. 😁
Walked back home the next day but had to detour off the north downs way to get water. I was properly parched.
Turned out I am not "hiking fit" either but it was an amazing experience. My first, teeny, tiny adventure in a few years and a test for some other things this summer. Felt a little sad/jealous when I saw other cyclists on the trail but hopefully I'll return to riding in time.
Edit: uploaded some pics but they haven't worked unfortunately.