Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge

Subject: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: John J
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 12:56 PM

Sunrise is 04:39 BST tomorrow, the longest day. I will be up on Alderley Edge in Cheshire, NW England (NGR: 861778) to view the sunrise.

I was there for sunrise two years ago, and it really was a most magical experience.

I can thoroughly recommend joining the other people who will be there again this year. The effort is worth it.

I've no doubt that there are many other places in the world offering good views of the sunrise, but surely nowhere can be a magical as Alderley Edge.

John

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: GUEST,Matthew Edwards
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 02:37 PM

John, dear boy, I thought you were practicing night manoeuvres in Edale. May I respectfully suggest that you consult your compass if you believe yourself to be anywhere near Alderley Edge?
Won't most people be busy reading their way through the new Harry Potter? (Personally I'd rather reread Alan Garner.)
Much as I'd love to come and join you "at the dawning of the day", it is further than I'm willing to travel at that time of day. Perhaps I should just build my own stone circle at home and worship in private, but there is a shortage of sacrificial virgins around here, so what are the permissible alternatives?

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 04:16 PM

Thanks for that, John.

I don't know much about Soltice celebrations, but living about 15 minutes drive away, was considering going to watch the sunset there tomorrow.

You've tempted me to get up early and watch the sunrise. Do many people go? Where do they gather? The 'Edge' itself? Stormy Point?

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Yvonne
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 04:51 PM

If you are wearing those Lycra shorts again JJ, I am on my way--but there again Matthew's stone circle sounds interesting and far more cozy --;o) Is Helen joining you, JJ ??

Diz

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 07:03 PM

John, good morrow. I shall celebrate the short dawn on the Humber bank with the faithful dog. It is real undruidical, unChristian, truly natural joy. Enjoy.

Your friend

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Little Robyn
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 07:10 PM

The Heart of the Sun Morris side in Hastings, New Zealand, danced the mid-winter sun up this morning on the top of Te Mata Peak!
It was a beautiful morning, no frost, no cloud, mild temperatures(8-9 C) and the sun rose about 7:30am. It's now a lovely day and we expect the rest of the year to be the same (thanks to our dancing!)

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 11:55 PM

Hi John,

I'll join you at Alderley Edge in spirits only - look out for a 'Fluid Druid'. I'm cuurently having a solo **Winter** Solstice Celebration here on Stewart Island (NZ).

Have a great sunrise.

Slainte - Sam

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 21 Jun 03 - 12:03 AM

WOW! That was beautiful.

I set the clock for 4.15am, rose at 4.20, and loaded hound in car for 4.30, drove the short distance to Barrow Haven, and walked throught the timber yard with Scandinavian wood stacked 20 feet high. I first saw the sunrays on the side of a dirty old tramp steamer in the dock. As I emerged onto the seawall of the Humber, the sun was balanced on the horizon, totally unoccluded by cloud or haze, just to starb'd of the Deep, (big fis tank in hUll9).

That was at 4.36am.

So beautiful, and I was alone to welcome in the longest day.

Back to bed now.

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 21 Jun 03 - 12:19 AM

Hey Skipjack!

Mumble, grumble, BST, daylight saving, timezones, hemispheres etc... I got cocked up! Thaught there was another hour and a quarter before YOUR summer solstice sunrise - it's 16:15 hrs, Sat 21 June, here in NZ.

Dammit - missed joining you lot - oh well, another whisky to keep my spirits up. ... ;)

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: red max
Date: 21 Jun 03 - 06:41 AM

Watch out for Pete Coe's Wizard

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Yvonne
Date: 21 Jun 03 - 08:16 AM

How many were on the 'Edge' this morning, JJ?? You should have seen a fine sunrise there ?
I must admit to being very envious of Little Robyn. That sunrise sounded like total bliss---I stayed in my pit and dreamt of you all ;o)

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Jun 03 - 06:30 PM

Any dowelling in the timberyard, skip? (Thought you were off Polishing?)
Saw the dawn come up on 21st and 22nd from the beer tent at Beverley... very atmospheric (and very short nights!) :0)

Night all.

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Stu
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 11:17 AM

I never thought of going to the Edge. Anyone who thinks there are no areas in England with a real Celtic atmosphere should get down to the Edge - as Alan Garner once said, the Edge is part of the 'celtic cosmos'.

Stand on the Edge and look to the east and see the Peak District looming, and there lie some of the besk kept and unspoilt areas of celtic England. They're hidden in the deep cloughs and high on remote moors, but there are traces there of the ancient ways that are still very much alive and well.

I suppose really that these areas are actually older than the celts, and that our ancient ancestors who lived hereabouts worshipped in much the same way that some still do now (and I'm not talking about this new-age claptrap).

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 11:38 AM

I celebrated my "longest day" by watching the sunrise. It was especially nice here in Kentucky because we had cool weather and low humidity, rare for this time of year.

Did you know that the the longest day doesn't correspond with the earliest sunrise? http://www.faqs.org/faqs/astronomy/faq/part3/section-14.html

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 11:48 AM

Stand on the Edge and look to the east and see the Peak District looming, and there lie some of the besk kept and unspoilt areas of celtic England

Isn't Peak as in Peak district a corruption of Pict, Stigweard? In which case it pre-dates the Celts by a few hundred years!

Don't worry btw - I know exactly what you mean - just being pedantic because I am at work, bored and forgot all about the Solstice:-(

A very happy, if a little belated, midsummer to one and all!

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 12:05 PM

Anyway, while you lot were solubing in the sun, I had a jolly fine Xmas dinner with some mates. Roast pork and veg and Xmas Pud, with crackers to pull etc. All organised by a lass from Scunthorpe!

From topsey-turvey land.

Cheers - Sam in NZ

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 12:17 PM

Saw the dawn come up over York racecourse, whilst camping with the cycling club, got wished happy birthday by Mrs V who promptly turned back over and went off to sleep again. But we were both up and walking about for 06.00hrs. We sat up into the late night, along with the kids and hundreds of other cyclists and watched the sun set.All in all a good day considering the passing of another year!

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 10:55 AM

I celebrated the sunrise on the longest day by sleeping in late at Knockholt in order to lose some of the hangover from the previous evening's festivities and also to prepare myself for another day of singing, boozing, and barbecues.

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Noreen
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 08:39 PM

You'd gone to bed before sunrise, Dave?!

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:21 PM

Stigweard, "down to the edge" puts me in mind of Belfast folk who are always going "up the Falls". As for the effort being worth it, John, the last time I was at the edge I was travelling by bicycle from Liverpool to Sherwood Forest. Out of the whole ride, that bit stands out as an effort I would not want to repeat.

Subject: RE: Summer Solstice on Alderley Edge
From: John J
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:28 PM

Good heavens, ANOTHER cyclist! I wonder how many cyclists are Mudcatters?

If I can find your email address I'll send the picture I sent to Eric.

John