Rocks

  Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Saturday, February 24, 2007

I've always been one of those people who believes in doing the opposite. I still remember when I was younger, my Mum said "don't jump off of that cliff" !!! Maybe that is why I am so fucked in the head today !!! So when I was told by a Canadian girl, don't meet this Argentinian couple called Zento, they are evil,  it was like waving a red rag in front of a bull, so I went out of my way to meet them, but instead of just meeting them, I decided to take them on an eating tour of London, including our favourite Lebanese restaurant to celebrate their two year anniversary. During this evening, they wanted to know about Stonehenge, so it put a thought in my brain, maybe we should go ourselves

Before

Ten years ago, we visited a Kiwi, three henges , a barrow and a hill. It was loads of fun, so we decided to re-trace our footsteps

Kiwi

After WW1 finished, a bunch of soldiers from NZ decided to etch into the chalk hillside a giant Kiwi. We saw it from a distance through the trees, but trying to find it. Fuck me. We had no idea. How the fuck did I find it all those years ago? I think old age is catching up fast. The old brain doesn't seem to work like it use to !!! We drove around for half an hour before we gave up and moved on.

Woodhenge

Basically, before Stonehenge existed, there was a structure built out of wood. Because it was

003 Woodhenge

built out of wood, it does not exist anymore, but there are holes everywhere filled with little concrete pillons. What gets me, is that they say that there once stood a wooden version of Stonehenge. How do they know that? Was a man from that period of time, cryogenically frozen, brought to life, asked him what it was like, then they re-froze him !!!!!



Stonehenge

As you drive down the road, it stands out like dogs balls. You can see it from such a distance away. We followed two coach loads of people in, grabbed our listening device and

020 Stonehenge

fought the crowds for the photo opportunities. Even though you can't get to close, it still is quite awe inspiring. Lucy, on the other hand, being a POM (even though she will tell you she isn't), had run around the centre when she was a kid. I think they stopped letting you in there in the twenties, kind of shows her age !!! We walked past a new age druid, and I listened to his explanation about why it was there. As we neared the end, Lucy saw Ed !!! Ed is one half of Zento !!! Lucia came over, and asked if we wanted to come with them to Bath. I said that Bath fucks me off today, I know a better place to go. Ed said lets go, so we exited and moved on.

Avebury

Twenty miles away is Avebury. In my eyes, this place is better than Stonehenge. There are huge stones which you can go up and touch. They are built in a huge ring over four fields. It's

049 Avebury Circles

loads of fun traipsing through the mud getting to them. It amazes me that these stones are so huge, and that they were transported by little green men in flying saucers. Maybe not, but fuck it makes me wonder.





West Kennet Long Barrow

We drove down the avenue, so called as it leads to West Kennet and there are more standing stones all the way down. Once there, we attempted to get to the tomb, but the track

066 West Kennet Long Barrow

was flooded, and as Team Zento are Argies, and I am an Aussie and Lucy is a bitsa, we unlike the Poms were not wearing wellies. Ed asked if we had any plastic bags, which we did. We tied them around our feet and up our legs, and crossed the water. Through the field and up to the barrow. This is the oldest one in the UK. 5500 years old. I think this place is great. You can go in and see the burial tombs, and just hang out. After we had seen see all, we climbed over the top of it. There are some great views from here. We walked back, donned the bags, waded through the water and jumped back into the car.



Silbury Hill

This place is across the road from the barrow and is the largest man made hill in all of Europe. Scientists have tunneled in to see if there are any bodies or anything but there is

076 Silbury Hill

nothing there. Years ago, we climbed to the top, but now the gates are padlocked and rusted shut. There are also signs stating that it is a protected monument, and not to climb onto it, so out of respect, we just looked at it. I am not a spiritual person, but there is a vibe around here.





The Rest

We drove onto Marlborough and had a very late lunch or was it an early dinner. It's a nice place. We have driven through here loads of times but never stopped. Afterwards, we took the Argies out to see a white horse etched into the chalk hillside. You can do a white horse tour of Wiltshire which we did ten years ago on a different weekend. Maybe in the future, but who knows.