A Midsummer’s Night Rider

Most people think Summer Solstice and Mid Summer’s Day are the same thing but they’re not.

Summer Solstice is the longest day, usually it’s on the 21st of June and Midsummer’s Day is on the 25th of June, kind of the opposite of Christmas and like Christmas, it’s the night before that’s full of magic for Midsummer’s eve is the Witches Sabbath – This year it happened to be a full moon.

I thought it would be nice to set up lanterns at the Grove and leave some offering for the Little Folk, so at around 9.30pm I did just that and cycled the 4 miles to the Grove.

It was getting cloudy so I couldn’t see much of the moon but by the time I had finished, the Grove looked quite spectacular.

As I sat admiring my handy work, I thought how nice it would have been with a few more people and that got me thinking, where would people gather on a night like this? – The Rollright Stones.

It was 10 or so miles from the Grove and would take me past my house in case I changed my mind.

In the distance the church bells chimed 11 o’clock and I made the decision to go for it!

I had a final look at the lanterns then left, as I rode back along the lanes, I could see glimpses of the moon through gaps in the clouds.

It wasn’t long before I approached my house, I looked at my watch and it was 11.20, I thought yes, I can do this, so I pressed on.

After a few more miles the sky got darker, I’d left the town behind me along with the streetlights and was heading into the blackness.

It was 12 o’clock as I rode down the hill into Long Compton, only a few more miles I thought to myself, as I passed the Red Lion Pub, I prepared for the steep climb ahead. It had been several years since I’d cycled up this hill and I forgot how long and steep it was, as I neared my destination two cars came down towards me.

As I as I turned off the main road two more cars passed by, if there was anyone there it looked like they were leaving. When I got to the layby outside the Rollright Stones it was empty of cars. It was now 12.15, I left my bike at the gate and walked in to the circle, a large figure stood in front of me…

I couldn’t quite tell who or what was in the dark but as I got closer; I could see it was a wicker sculpture!

I walked round the circle then crossed the road to the King Stone, then on to the Whispering Knights. There was no one around but me!

I walked back to the circle it was now 1am – midnight British Summer time. Time for me to go home, I look to the sky in the south to wave to the moon but she was still hiding behind thick cloud.

It was mostly down hill going back so I was home by 1.40am – I slept well that night!

Until next time – Glentaowen