La Table des Pions or The Fairy Ring...

I had today's blip planned, a shot of Petit Bot bay; but as I walked along towards the bus terminus a bus going to Pleinmont came along and I jumped on. It was probably a good choice because the tide was a little too high for Petit Bot.

I walked along the zig zag road to the end where the Fairy Ring is and decided that would be todays' blip. La Table des Pions with Lihou Island in the distance.

visitguernsey.com gives this description "In local folklore the site is linked with fairies, witches, and elves and as such the locals call it the Fairy Ring. However, in reality it was used as a dugout picnic bench of sorts by island officials when inspecting roads and coastal defences up until 1837. The Fairy Ring can be found at the southwestern point of the island on Pleinmont headland."

The Fairy Ring is also linked to the Chevauchee, which is part of Guernsey's pagan past. Some years back the local paper wrote "This chevauchee (a word which means 'cavalcade') was a formal procession of officials and servants, riding on horseback around every field and patch of land on Guernsey. It took place at midsummer every three years and was initiated by the priory of St Michel, who held ownership rights over common land. The official purpose of the cavalcade was to collect tithes and ensure that the roads and boundaries were in good order.'

There is no doubt about the pagan origins of this custom and there were a number of stopping-off points where fertility rites were performed."  You can read the whole article here.

In 1966 as part of the celebration of the 900th anniversary of the Norman Conquest there was a re-enactment of the Chevauchee which was great fun.

For those who would have preferred to see the beach have a look here and here.

My camera has been safely delivered to the camera hospital and is currently having its conversion operation. Hopefully it will recover fully and be back with me soon.