Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 12:28:51 GMT
Margam Park kite festival has been going for about twelve years I was told when I got there….so why have I have never heard of it before? I can do my bit and put the word out, so let’s say something about my experience and first attendance. Through more ‘publicity’ to the kiting fraternity this year, put out well ahead of the event, the festival had one of the largest turnouts of kiters seen for many years, around forty units camping attending from all over the country and two from Holland!
The predicted long range forecast for a lovely sunny weekend was in the end wrong, but I still ran with it in mind when I left home at 12.20am on Thursday for the four hour drive to Port Talbot via the Severn bridge toll crossing that cost me £12.10 to use …. because I was a pick-up (commercial vehicle), everybody else paid £6!!! Arriving at Margam Park entrance at 4.20am I had to convince two BBC film crew members I was invited here, but blagged my way in and found a car park to get my head down just as it was getting light. Despite making a ‘do NOT disturb if you see me parked up in a lay-by’ post before I left, Mr Wheeler went out of his way to wake me up at 7.20am when he arrived! We then drove 200yards past the car park to be the first people on the allocated campsite area, I could not believe I drove 198miles to stop short by 200yards … if only I kept going for twenty seconds more I could have set up properly!!
WOW….really was everyone’s first impressions as you come round the corner and see the house/castle, gardens and huge flying area for the first time. Already it was worth the long drive and expense in getting here (but not the £12.10 Toll) and it only got better! By now you would have seen the pictures, a few more added just now here: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4143844759071.218003.1372301398&type=1&l=9b1e18be72 that will portray the location and event better than (my) words can. Meticulous arrangements were made for us to camp and fly, I think forty five units were booked in and virtually all turned up meaning the camping area had to be quickly extended to accommodate us all. It was a mixture of kiters from all over the country which added to friendly atmosphere of the encampment of odd balls, lets face facts … do you know a kite flier that can be described as a ‘normal’ person?
Kite flying was a bit iffy to say the least, I was the only persistent odd ball that flew continuously in the low winds of Friday as others were still arriving and setting up during the course of the day, but Saturday saw everyone in the air and lots of public which pleased the kite traders and other stall holders. There are a lot of other activities on the go at Margam Park, too much to mention but we had a walk around the substantial immaculate grounds, derelict and deteriorating medieval buildings, the craft fair held in the main hall, and someone blagged his way up to the top of the roof (almost made me forget that £12.10 toll charge) to take pictures of the panoramic views, but was attacked by accurately flown fighter kites from the camping area below, thanks again Martin! Sunday was a complete wash out, it rained continuously but enough wind for just Martins lifter and my Seahorse to fly all day, the only kites up; if the truth be known I wanted to wash the seahorse. Monday was dry and sunny, but no wind…valiant efforts were made by everybody to create a spectacle for the many public that were passing but it was a fruitless task so the R/C toys came out to accompany fighter kites that just about struggled into the air. A new game was invented and will be demonstrated at future events, Canard cricket, watch this space. Quite a few took advantage of the dry conditions and packed up to leave as Tuesday was predicted stormy and wet, those of us that stayed can confirm it most certainly was and saw all but four units pack up and leave during the course of Tuesday, defeated by the weather once again this year, damn drought!
This year it was a fifty percent split of new and previous attendees to Margam, and without exception all the attendees said that they would attend next year, it was that memorable, different and satisfying an event in so many unique ways, I have rabbited on a bit here but honestly I have left out far more occurrences of activities this Jubilee weekend, cannot believe I have not heard of this before and missed out on the past dozen years! Run along the lines of a free fly zone it worked a treat, an arena was constructed but soon dismantled as there was no need. Organisation was superb from conception to finale, my feedback would read ‘Item received was as described, delivered well packaged and on time, good communication, highly recommended and will be back for more.’
Thank you to Lindsay and Alison for your unfaltering hospitality and dedication to get it right, it was appreciated by all attending and the whispers you would not have heard said all good things! As promised, everyone had their bridge tolls paid in full, except me who received £12 but that was 10p short……Lindsey was not having that and gave me a Margam Park trolley token thingy that looks like a £1 coin, hey in my mind I was 90p up, result, and another well satisfied camper was dispatched home!
