Yesterday I returned to Exeter from the camping trip I went on, on Tuesday. Tallis and I packed up our stuff and set out for Moretonhampstead - a village not far from Exeter - to head to the Spirit of Music, a small music-appreciation festival that is hosted twice per year a few miles outside of the village. Tallis spent her maturing childhood growing up there, but it was the first time for my friend Simon and I.
I bought a new tent, and made sure I had everything ready, and was greatly anticipating setting out to the camp site. Even after I had checked the weather forecast and learnt that the days were cursed with rain and wind, my spirits weren’t dampened.
It seems as if my time away from the Internet has damaged my writing ability. Stick with me.
I had a fantastic time when I was there. Everybody was very lovely. I made new friends, got to know new people, ate vegan food and was quite physically active; playing frisbee and football and such things. The days were nice, and the nights were nicer; sat around a camp fire, everybody with their musical intstruments which got more and more exotic. You could really feel that everyone was away from an urban society, and had a certain sense of freedom about them.
The campsite was rather quiet, to be honest. Not that I wasn’t expecting that, but it would seem that in May the site is filled with a rather clique group of people (the people who are dedicated to the event), where as in August, when the weather is nicer, more people turn up.
During my time there I didn’t really learn much, apart from a few amatuer camping mistakes (such as learning not to pitch a tent uphill), but I had a lot of time to reflect on the person I am and the things I do.
Right now I’m back in my chair, thinking to myself that I much prefer my tent, and if I could take my laptop with me to work, I’d happily be there all year round. Actually, that’s a lie, it was beautiful coming home to dry socks and a clean toilet, but a huge part of me much prefers the work that you put in to gain simple things, such as boiling water and keeping warm.
I’m aching a lot due to sleeping on a rollmat, but I had a fantastic time. Hopefully by August I’ll have the money to buy a few more essentials, but I can’t wait to break away and go back there again.
I’ve not yet sorted out an image gallery, so the pictures aren’t yet up, but when they are, I hope you look at them.
Language capability will catch up soon, I hope…