The overnighter (backblip)

Since Tuesday night in the tent at the farm campsite, I had been aware of a third being breathing close to my head. It wasn't me, it wasn't K, it wasn't me, (I held my breath to make sure), so who or what was it? I dismissed the sound as the product of an over-active imagination. 

Thursday night, however, was noisy. The wind was up and the tent was crackly. I guessed that several badgers were attempting to break in. When I awoke at around 6.30, I found several patches of unidentifiable mud, or poo, inside the non-bedroom part of the tent. It didn't smell bad, but it was messy. I cleaned up with kitchen roll, and then got the suprise of my life when I saw what appeared to be a large scrubbing brush asleep on a plastic bag. I blinked and looked again. It was still there, and it appeared to be a hedgehog. I had breakfast and began to clear up quietly, because K was still asleep. Eventually she awoke, and I cleared all the items from around the hedgehog. 'Fuzzypeg' didn't like this, was cold. Shuffled off inside the lining. Wrinkled its nose at the smell of bacon frying. I could see that it had been inside the lining before, because of the existing poo trail. 

We did have to leave the campsite, and eventually K figured out that if Fuzzypeg was curled into a ball, she could pick it up with the oven gloves and a tea towel.and safely deposit it in the long grass. Apparently she'd once seen her dog carrying a headgehog, and mistaken it for a rugby ball. She did this manoeuvre while I videoed it, and we left it in the long grass with a piece of bacon, which it ignored. When we looked again five minutes later, the ball had uncurled and moved away. K told me that hedgehogs are unwelcome on the Hebridean islands. TML told me that they are unwelcome in New Zealand. I felt very honoured to have been so close to the creature, even though it had been a noisy guest. 

Eventually we set off towards the east, bidding farewell to Pitton Cross campsite, and vowing to return. The staff were so friendly! We reached Mumbles some time later, and parked near Oystermouth castle for a look round. It's a Norman castle set in parkland, and is impressive, with far reaching views. The weather had changed to cool and overcast, so it was a good day for travelling. Mumbles seafront was being dug up, for some reason. We had a delightful lunch and visited a couple of charity shops, as well as a small supermarket, and then headed towards Chepstow. 

We reached the racecourse eventually, parked and got the shuttle bus to the Green Gathering campsite. Rain started as we pitched the tent for the third time in eight days. Had a cup of tea, and I managed to revive my energy sufficiently to explore the whole festival site and stay out till past 1am. My favourite moment was an impromptu sing-along in the Tiny Tea Tent. I shot another little video of people singing 'Thr Parting Glass', and Irish song, but it was the version of 'Cornwall my home' that I found particularly affecting. 

We slept well, without incident. I hope the hedgehog had a good night too, at Pitton Cross.