Somerset Steam Spectacular - part two

Well what a weekend. I do feel sorry for any outdoor event organisers, the great English climate in crap. Those idiots in the Met. Office several weeks ago stated that we are going to have a long hot dry summer, what bollocks!

They are obviously run by students that know nothing about anything.

Anyway we got there late Friday evening, that is Mark Jones driving the Mack unit with low loader and ploughing, his passenger was Chris Beale with me following behind with caravan and Land Rover Discovery. We collected the unit from Heddington in Wiltshire then proceeded to make out way through the network of archaic roads and arrive at our destination about 10.00pm. We set up camp, had some chips and a beer then went to bed.

The next day was OK, and we got the ploughing engine off the loader and drive her into the ploughing field. Two other engine followed down, but not a lot was done because the plough was late in arrival. Anyway finally it arrived and a little plough was done. We did not have that much rain on Saturday. However Sunday was not so good. We did a little work again then it was time to attempt to pack up.

Now the caravan was not so bad and I was able to get out of the bottom field and wait, but first we had to load the ploughing engine.

With 'spuds' on the nearside rear wheel, (now 'spuds' are a device you bolt onto the wheel to give you extra grip in shit hole conditions) we drove slowly back up the field to load up. Chris was driving and me steering. Now this was an experience for both of us, you really do have to see it to believe it trying to drive and negotiate a ploughing engine in goo like condition. She was slipping and sliding all over the place. Finally we got her to the low loader but because the conditions were so bad there was a danger that she would slip off either the ramps or even the trailer. The only sensible answer was to winch her on and that we did to great relief. After that the Mack unit was winched into position and she finally left the rally field about 7.00pm. I got home about 11.00pm and after a shave and a shower got to bed at midnight.

Have a look at these photos, all of 'Linkey' and not only admire the rural English country side but take a look at the engine's motion. The credit for that photo is Chris Beale who nicked my camera.