What I did in my holidays (Part Six – a roll in the mud (and the rest!) at Crustymania….)

Ah Shamania. Four days of “psy-trance”. Not my idea of fun. What had I signed myself up for!!!! Still I had been assured that it was a “spiritual” festi, and no doubt it would be an experience…. Should with hindsight have put a heavier disclaimer on it when discussing it with my mum, but hey she is a big girl now…. Didn’t discover until I got the ticket that there would be no shower on site, didn’t discover till I got there that there was no drinkable or washable water… Oh how civilised we are at Northern Green……

Anxiously did I watch the programme on Youtube…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2FFAAy8tmU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toFnwYbsH6M&feature=related

and 9 parts....

Anyway. Had my usual last minute panic leaving my flat…… One day I will learn to travel light. Made it from home to Nelson in 2 bus journeys, not bad! Met mum at Nelson train station… well eventually it is a building site at the moment…..

Lovely saga trying to get a taxi to site…… There is a big hotel by the station that must be the main landmark in Nelson, and said taxi firm is in the same street… could they find me and mum? Well they did eventually and get us to site…………

So finally made it to site, checked in with Mike the Intensive CareBear, and got tent up.

Nice site art……………



Already the mud was there…



Feel the LOVE! Rite way round this time….



Now this will look good lit up at night….



One of the somewhat related stewards



Think this is the main stage or something….



There’s nothing like an English Summer… so sang Annie Lennox who is not of course English but Scottish. But there you go…



As if by magick a lake appeared! This one is called Jeff!



And beware of the troll!



Welcome to Crustymania!!!



Some funny looking chaps in florescent HI-VIS jackets…



Great bumper sticker



As Alexi Sayle said, “I don’t like the countryside, it hasn’t got a roof over it…..”



Lovely weather heading our way!



Nice sentry box for lovely security.


Runic John, c/w hammer….



Site art, mud and grass where now there is mud……



Close up



Happy Campers!!



Mud etc……..



Written In Mud!



Bluebell!



More straw for exquisite dancing…



Looking up in Fraktals Café!



The soil was I think peat. We were on top of a hill. Large vehicles sank into the mud. Small vehicles sank into the mud. The people sank into the mud…. This made it’s way to Fracktals Café, says it all really…



When your wellies are sunk into the mud you are pretty much stable. It is getting out you might lose your balance….

Dunno how they got this kite in the air…. It’s pretty high up



The Healers at work, after a lovely meditation on Love!



Look at the mud on this site!!!!! Here come the cleaners…..



Solidarity!



Playing with fire… might end up in the tourist guide to Pendle….



Main doo-dah lit up at night, nice and colourful eh?



Look! Captain Pugwash on the Television again! That takes me back



Mud! Mud! Glorious Mud!



There is a light that never goes out…



Said it would look good lit up at night…



The farmer drives a nice Lamba! Did a sterling job pulling all the vehicles out of the mud!



Here it is close up, really is a Lamba!



Bear shows a bit of Flower Power!



Who let the riff-raff in! Well at least they are dressed for the occasion! LOL



The sheep show their comtempt….



Welcome to Shamania! You Will Never Leave!



Beautiful Countryside…



The Proletariat in the crew kitchen..


Your stewards, some of them.



Seems healing took a dive….



A remarkable alchemical transformation brought about by rain…



And the real magick! Mum and I escaped at the first opportunity, got a taxi into Nelson, I bid her goodbye and headed to the bus station, when what do I see…. Go by broom!!!



Probably be £2.50 to Manchester though lol



So farewell to Crustymania. It was an experience… my thanks to all who made it happen.