5th August 2023

Rosemary and I embarked on our annual pilgrimage to the Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza, this time with a twist—a pre-concert camping adventure near the charming village of Priddy. Nestled in the Cheddar Gorge, the Cheddar Camping and Caravanning offered was complete with freshly baked pastries available each morning. Priddy itself beckoned with its quaint pub and hidden charm, while a longer-than-planned afternoon hike (much to Rosemary’s initial chagrin) led me to the mouth of a mysterious cave system – a tantalizing glimpse into the subterranean world below.

Friday saw us driving through the dramatic Cheddar Gorge, past Deerleap Viewpoint with its stunning vista of Glastonbury Tor, before stocking up at Waitrose in Wells and settling into our temporary Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza campsite beneath the imposing Tor. The heavens unleashed their fury, sending some neighbours packing, but we weathered the storm, comforted by Google’s promise of sunshine for the concert.

Saturday in Glastonbury was a treasure trove of second-hand finds and antiquarian gems. We secured a pre-packed picnic supper for the evening at a local bakery. Decided we wouldn’t do so again. After a good lunch at The George and Pilgrims, we joined the throngs entering the Abbey grounds, securing a prime spot near a crowd-cutting footpath. As the clouds parted, the setting sun painted the sky in fiery hues. The Wells City Band entertained us first with their brassy brilliance, followed by the upbeat rhythm of Lightning Seeds and their anthem, Three Lions. Finally, the Scottish powerhouse Texas. Shame on me for not knowing their roots ran north of the border! The fireworks erupted in a finale of dazzling colour, and we cheered along with the ecstatic crowd before catching the coach back to camp.

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The Lightening Seeds, Texas and the firework display.

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