14:06:52
First time for me to use the new Elizabeth Line today. In theory it would make getting to Paddington a bit easier, but today the Northern Line was acting up so it still took pretty much 45 minutes to get from home to Paddington.14:08:36
Here I am on the Elizabeth Line.14:19:14
The ticket machine at Paddington was also playing up a bit.16:32:39
Anyway, after a bit of faffing around in Swindon I eventually made it to Avebury.
16:35:37
16:38:58
As I had plenty of time before the sunset, and at least a couple of hours before Andrew was due to arrive, I decided to go for a walk around the outer embankment.16:43:48
A couple of often slightly overlooked stones near the Red Lion.16:48:41
A sheep.
16:48:54
I think the sheep were trying to get rid of insects by rubbing up against the stones like this.16:49:28
Sheep.17:01:00
Back to the main bit of the stone circle(s).17:26:56
I took off my boots and sat on the grass for a while.
18:04:48
Then went for a wander over to the West Kennet Avenue.18:06:07
18:06:23
...and sat there for a bit.18:58:30
Now back on the embankment.
19:05:39
I think Andrew had arrived by this point, so I opened the first bottle.19:49:27
Andrew and I blending in perfectly.20:19:00
Bright sun, an hour or so before sunset.20:20:44
20:29:56
Too bright to see the bottle Andrew brought along.20:35:49
Other people sitting on the embankment near us.20:35:53
20:39:49
Andrew from a little way down the embankment.
20:39:55
Less than an hour to go until sunset now.20:45:52
Lots of similar shots follow...20:49:14
20:50:47
20:50:50
20:59:50
21:02:38
I set up my GoPro to get a time lapse of the sun setting.21:02:48
21:06:20
More of the same.21:09:25
21:12:32
21:15:00
21:15:05
Sky definitely going a bit pink now.21:17:12
21:17:15
21:19:16
21:20:55
21:22:25
21:23:21
Very pink.21:24:57
21:25:00
21:30:04
I think the official moment of sunset was somewhere between this and the previous photo.21:31:52
21:31:54
People lighting up torches now.
21:35:58
21:37:25
21:38:14
21:38:23
21:45:16
22:00:45
22:08:30
22:17:46
Out come the fire jugglers etc.
22:18:04
22:18:10
22:32:13
Alas bottle number 3 was rather forgotten in the mists of time, but I brought some of it home, which Chie had, and said it was rather nice.23:46:11
Twirling fire etc.
23:46:22
23:48:34
00:01:11
00:07:40
00:14:00
00:23:12
Sparks.00:23:15
00:32:03
00:48:23
02:04:09
Attempt at night photgraphy from the patch of grass where I went to lie down for a bit.02:08:45
Also tried to get some night lapses with the GoPro, with mixed success.04:11:17
I might have dozed off. Suddenly thought at 4am I opened my eyes and it was practically daylight.
04:11:22
Sunrise wasn't due until 4:50, but well over half an hour before it was already surprisingly bright.04:23:50
A bit of mist over in the distance.04:25:21
One of the stones of the West Kennet Avenue in the early morning.04:26:36
04:26:39
04:26:42
04:30:35
I think this is quite nice.04:31:11
04:36:48
Back to the embankment in good time for sunrise.04:39:30
An impressive number of people there to see it.04:43:13
A video just before the official moment of sunrise.04:47:04
04:48:20
04:49:35
Right on the cusp...05:22:02
Not sure what I spent the last half an hour doing (I did get stuck in a conversation with a slightly angsty bloke I didn't really want to talk to, but surely that can't have been half an hour...?). Anyway, the sun has well and truly risen now.05:22:05
05:25:34
Some shots as I was walking down from the outer embankment.05:25:38
I think this came out nicely.05:26:31
05:27:17
05:28:22
A few final shots of the stones at Avebury before my thoughts turned to how I was going to get home...05:28:41
05:28:44
05:30:34
05:33:01
05:41:40
Goodbye for now Avebury!