I Stroll Into A Rave

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Last summer I had to complain (with other villagers) to the police and the local council about the 24 hour non-stop bassline noise coming from a rave which sounded as if it were next door but in fact was some miles away in the countryside. The village seemed to act like collection bowl for soundwaves passing through the hills between the party and the village. Well, the party organiser was caught and taken to court and fined for making a noise or holding a rave without permission of the landowner. Or something else, I forget.

Anyway, yesterday I strolled into a rave!

Yes, I was hiking on The Ridgeway as I do from time to time. I was trying a route I have never walked before which I knew would eventually lead me all the way back to my village. So I started out early Sunday morning. It was a brilliant morning. Clear sunny skies with a cold breeze. Ideal conditions for hiking. Errr and for the person who thinks I am a “Rambler”, please note, I am not.
I would never belong to a formalised national group that spends weekends hiking in various locations of the UK and abroad. Besides, I cannot stand the organised formality of it all or the numbers of people I’d be forced to have to spend my precious time with. I get to be alone too few times and I like to use this time selfishly to reflect, think , plan and relax in my own company. I enjoy my own company. Luckily I am one of those people who does like being alone. I am not lonely.

Well there I was strolling along enjoying the outdoors when all of a sudden beyond the crest of an incline, I saw cars riding on my precious Ridgeway. WTF! I was livid. These jerks were ploughing up the turf and creating a miles long mudbath. No way. Then I saw the police roadblock. Yippeee! The old bill was out in force. What was going on? And then the police helicopter arrived and began making low passes up and down the Ridgewy ahead. It hovered for a while so it must have been taking photos. I just plodded on and after a while come to the roadblock where a few police were taking down details of the vehicle drivers. Ahead, one car appeared to not want to come closer. As I got abreast of it (a remodded old VW Beetle), I noticed that it had sunk into the mud up to the rear bumper and was’nt going anywhere. Nice gooyey sticky mud. The kind that rips you wellies or boots off if you are unlucky enough to walk through it and sink in too deep! I offered the guys in the beetle a hand to push but they declined and were waiting for the RAC to come drag them out. (Note: would the RAC truck be allowed to drive on the Ridgeway? Don’t think so!)

Then it struck me - I realised that their accents were rather posh! Despite the dreadlocks and grunge gear, they were posh people! Sooooooo this must be that Oxford lot who got nabbed last year!. The organiser of last summer’s rave(s) was sent to court and fined a hefty sum. I bet myself that he was back with a winter rave on my doorstep! Cheeky bugger! I like it. Cocking a deaf at authority and flicking a birdie to the cops! An entrepreneur who will let nothing get in his way to make some money. So I trudged on as more cars began to appear ahead of me driving in the direction of the roadblock. Silly, they should stayed put or gone in the opposite direction.

Instead they kept coming as I plodded on to where the A34 crosses over the Ridgeway. As I got close to the bridge the cars and people began to increase in number as did the music in decibels. I was walking into a rave man!! Cooooool!!

I was greeted by the people at the outer perimeter of the throng and had a chat with them all. They confirmed they’d been there all night (froze their posh butts off) but had a great time. No sign of drugs, just beer cans and cider bottles. The main crowd (or what was left of it) were under the bridge trying to keep warm. No fire. That was a good few brownie points to them.

The kit was unbelievable. The size of the genny was amazing. As was the size of the speakers. Serious stuff. I bopped a bit and had a chat then left but got into discussion with more ravers. All very eloquent, articulate and posh sounding! Students from some of the many colleges of Oxford University and judging by the quality of the cars and the makes, from affluent families.

For me this made my day. Me a doos, trundling happily along an ancient road coming across a modern day posh rave! My luck!