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Published: September 23rd 2010
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Arrival
We arrived at Stonehenge. The white squiggly line is actually the guard's vest ... interesting, huh? If anyone sees a symbol in it they recognize, please let me know. We managed to get up and get in the car by 5:40 a.m. Kim opted to drive because Rich was having a little difficulty getting his body to understand that it was morning. We had the trusty GPS, which marked our way to Stonehenge. Leaving Salisbury we headed north (I think) and raced the sun. The sky began to lighten, even though it was only 6:00 a.m. Our appointment was at 6:15 a.m. but it looked like dawn was going to break momentarily. Kim did a super job, exceeding the speed limit, I’m sure, but luckily there weren’t many cars on the road.
We pulled up to the Stonehenge parking lot on our left. We could barely see the outline of the stones beyond the chain link fence which blocked ingress and egress … gotta go through the ticket booth. There was a man standing by orange cones across the driveway of the parking lot. We stopped. Kim told him we had a 6:15 a.m. appointment, for Shull. He nodded and picked up some of the cones and let us in the parking lot. We parked, got out and walked back to the security guard. We found out we were
the only ones that were going to be allowed in Stonehenge from 6:15 to 6:45 a.m. We had no idea we were the only ones that were scheduled. We thought for sure we would be with a group of people. However, a tour group was scheduled to arrive five minutes before sunrise, which that day was to be at 6:50 a.m. The guard proceeded to give us an option for the “rules talk.” We could either hear the long or short version. We opted for the short version because the eastern sky was getting lighter by the minute, even though it was still relatively dark. The short version was: “Don’t touch, don’t sit, don’t lean, don’t pick up stones, etc., etc.” Or in other words … be respectful!
We proceeded through the turnstile, down the path under the road, back up the other side and towards the magnificent standing rocks that comprise Stonehenge. Another security guard was by the stones, guarding the site. (We talked to him a bit and learned that Stonehenge is guarded 24 hours a day, every day. He said the other week a man came out of nowhere around 3:00 a.m. and said he wanted
to read poetry to him (the guard). The guard went on to say that the man was okay, but they never knew who would show up. And he proudly stated … “we are handcuffed trained” … whatever that means!)
The morning air was chilly, the grass under our feet, damp. We wandered around, all of us lost in our own thoughts, watching the sky welcome a new sunrise, black, gold/orange, and yellow colors streaking across the sky. The sun broke over the trees in the distance, casting light and shadow through the upright stones.
The tour group arrived about five minutes before the sun broke, about 20 or so people, and we were glad to have had the chance to be alone in the great circle for a short time. I, of course, brought my flutes. Asked the guard if I could play, and he said sure. So I stood between two stones on the west side, watching the sun rise higher in the sky, shining through another set of stones, closing my eyes because the sun was shining so brightly on my face. I hoped no one minded, but Kim said the sound drew people in from
outside the circle and several people sat down and meditated. I was just glad no one got irritated!
Our time was up at 7:15 a.m. and we thanked the guards and Kim drove back to the hotel. Breakfast and then Nap Time. It was only 7:45 and we had till 11:00 a.m. to check out.
After a short nap, we checked out and drove into the town of Salisbury to visit the cathedral, a stop on our adventure for Rich. Then a bit of walking around the town, coffee, and back to the Stonehenge gift shop (it wasn’t open at 7:15 a.m.). We shopped a bit and then headed back to London. Stopped at the flat and then Team Shull went together to return the car. That was an adventure in itself.
It was a great, great day. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to see Stonehenge up close and personal. Unless you have special permission, you cannot get close to the stones … your positioned about 100 feet back. Thanks to Kim and Rich for indulging me in this quest!
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