Glastonbury 2009

mattfender · 02-06-2009 02:18PM

i couldnt wait so i put my car park sticker up already

robinph · 03-06-2009 03:39PM

My tickets just arrived this afternoon aparently.

mattfender · 03-06-2009 04:11PM

mine came the other week, looks deadly

robinph · 03-06-2009 04:15PM

I didn't even realise that they were sending them out internationally again now, so just went and used a UK address instead.

Toast · 04-06-2009 11:20AM

Yeh was an excellent surprise to find it delivered to the house.

Anyone getting the 6.30am Ryanair to Bristol who would like to split a taxi to the festival on arrival? (or anyone else who will be in Bristol Airport at 8amish) Just be me and my gear so if anyone needs to make up numbers I can jump in.

robinph · 04-06-2009 11:31AM

Flying over the Tuesday evening myself.

mattfender · 04-06-2009 05:36PM

driving again, last year was great crack. Love drivin through Somerset at sunrise after the fest, then passing stonehenge, absolutely awesome.:pac:

MikeHoncho · 04-06-2009 05:39PM

Toast wrote: »

Yeh was an excellent surprise to find it delivered to the house.

Anyone getting the 6.30am Ryanair to Bristol who would like to split a taxi to the festival on arrival? (or anyone else who will be in Bristol Airport at 8amish) Just be me and my gear so if anyone needs to make up numbers I can jump in.

Myself and about 8 others are on that flight on the Wedenesday. Was under the impression there were buses though so thats what we were planning. Have you been before Toast? Any advice on picking up booze on route?

robinph · 04-06-2009 05:49PM

There are busses into Bristol city centre from the airport, Bristol Flyer, but from there you would then have to get one of the festival busses from the coarch station as well. Your much better off either pre-booking a taxi yourself direct from the airport, or spotting any other crusties on the same flight as you and asking nicely if you can share their lift with them.

As it seems you'll have your tickets on you already this year it makes it a lot simpler with no need to divert via Shepton or anything like that to collect them. Ask the taxi driver to stop of at a shop somewhere on the way, although that will depend on how well he knows the back roads, but Wells is probably the biggest village nearby, although it is actually a city.

Not sure on the exact price of a taxi, but between a few of you it won't be a whole lot different to the cost of the various busses, and it will definatly be hours quicker than into Bristol and back out again.

robinph · 07-06-2009 12:36AM

I'm sure there would usually be a long range weather forecast available by now, but MetCheck does not seem to be daring enough to make a stand just yet.

All I got so far was from the bottom of the Pyramid Stage Webcam page is that it is raining in Pilton at the moment.

Toast · 07-06-2009 08:37AM

MikeHoncho wrote: »

Myself and about 8 others are on that flight on the Wedenesday. Was under the impression there were buses though so thats what we were planning. Have you been before Toast? Any advice on picking up booze on route?

robinph has it covered I think.

There are buses and I'm actually booked on a National Express but the first one into the festival isnt till 10am and I don't want to wait around for 2 hrs. Don't know the story with other carriers but have always found the taxi option is the best way there (it isn't so easy getting back and it would be advised to have some sort of reservation for getting out.). Think last year we were quoted about 54 sterling for a taxi. So it works out at about a tenner for six. The ease and quickness is well worth the cost.

In the past we've got booze in Shepton Mallet but it was pretty limited. If you want spirits make sure to have some plastic bottles handy for decanting as no glass is allowed (and they do check!). Drink is cheaper in the UK but for convenience I usually pick up a selection of half litre spirits in the duty free that come in plastic bottles and do some bartering in the festival for beer (though I usually try to live off the cider bus/ale tent if I'm drinking pints). People are pretty trustworthy at the festival but its easier to do this with a sealed branded bottle than a soft drinks bottle of spirits.

Keep in mind Glastonbury is big and hilly. If you are getting beer depending on the fitness of your group and your other gear (and the weather) you'll probably be pushing it to do more than a tray each. You will have lots of ground to cover from the gate to a decent campsite and it won't really be possible to do it in shifts (unless some poor guy wants to sit on a pile of beer for an hour plus). Don't be tempted to have a sneaky one on the way either as I've seen many a tray collapse and some poor sod running after his beer.

Toast · 08-06-2009 02:03PM

Heres the bus information from the Glastonbury website. Looks like all the Bristol buses start at 10am. Relevant train times from Bristol Temple Meads to Glastonbury are 08:11 08:41 09:05 09:48. Given that it'll take about 30 mins to get to Bristol I reckon the best the early morning crew could hope for is 8.41 and that will leave you at Castle Cary at 10am... add to that queue for the shuttle to the festival and you could be looking at quite some time to get there. With luck a taxi could get to the festival for 9am.

robinph · 08-06-2009 02:06PM

I've seen pictures of people going through Castle Cary on the Monday afterwards and it never looked like much fun.

MikeHoncho · 08-06-2009 03:25PM

Thanks for the advice. One of the lads is on the case with the Taxi's and if we have any spare room I will let you know.

Getting very excited about this now. Been dieing to go for years but was never able to make it work. Planning to not be a complete timetable whore and see maybe 1 or 2 acts a day that I really want to see and take the rest as it comes.

robinph · 08-06-2009 03:34PM

Definately do not plan to try and see too many bands each day. It is a huuuuge site and there are a lot more interesting things going on around the place than just Bruce on the Pyramid. You just have to wander around aimlessly and see what you come across, do try an remember the name of the field that you are camped in though and also the number on the nearest red fire point as that will be the only constant landmark in the field over the first day or so as more tents keep appearing.

If When you get lost you'll find campsite stewards, at a caravan probably, in each major camping field, they are usually wearing yellow tshirts. They will be able to point you in the right direction or on the first day to areas that might have a bit more camping space available as some areas fill up a lot quicker tahn others.

mattfender · 08-06-2009 05:46PM

I camped on micheals mead, was great! Was very scary though with the massive poo tractors driving past our heads while we slept though as we were camped right by the track hah. Great view of the pyramid and crowd from there:pac:

robinph · 08-06-2009 06:07PM

Isn't Michaels Mead a bit close to the slurry pits though? :eek:

Camped in Cockmill Meadow the first couple of times myself, was officially family camping then but they never stopped us getting in. Think they are a bit stricter on who they let camp in the family areas now though. After that we were then camping in Pennards Hill or Park Home once the site got extended out that way.

Your unlikely to be able to get a spot on Dragon Field unless you are first in the queue for the gate on Wednesday morning, and Pennards would get pretty full by the end of the Wednesday afternoon. Any of the areas immediately around the Pyramid are popular as well if you really must see every headline act, and Oxlyers is popular with the pill-popping youngsters. I wouldn't reccomend Oxlyers though, and especially not if it is wet as that is the lowest point of the site and it is flat. It's also the busiest area of the site 24 hours a day so you'd need to be popping some kind of pill if you wanted to grab even 40winks at some point during the weekend.

Myself, I'll be living a life of luxury up in the campervan field, only problem is that we have to walk up the steepest hill on the site to get back to the van each time, not easy in the mud, and repeatedly go through security to get in each day.

mattfender · 08-06-2009 08:09PM

ah i had no problem last year!! Just get locked and you wont notice the smell:pac:

mattfender · 08-06-2009 08:14PM

Handy
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/glastonbury-all-mapped-out

robinph · 12-06-2009 11:39AM

MetCheck do now have a forecast up for us to fret over:

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/event_forecast.asp?eventID=559

Seems that they decided to take the piss slightly with their initial attempt at a forecast though:

http://www.glastowatch.co.uk/2009/glastonbury-2009-weather-forecast-a-tad-hot-rainy-and-windy/

mattfender · 14-06-2009 09:46PM

they let ya bring in a guitar with hard case?

robinph · 14-06-2009 11:24PM

I don't see any reason for them not to.

Only thing that you cannot bring on site at all, ever, etc is glass and they will check your shopping bags properly for that. Securtiy will also have an eye out for knives and drugs, etc, but won't be a problem with a guitar.

Just remember that you have a long way to carry everything once your there, and be prepared to loose anything that you do bring with you.

mattfender · 15-06-2009 01:39PM

ah yeah hopefully if we get the same car park spot and camping spot it should be ok ha:pac:

mattfender · 16-06-2009 08:01PM

I'm getting excited:D

Toast · 16-06-2009 11:49PM

This time next week I'll be worrying about my packing and trying to get some sleep for a 3.30am wakeup. Once again if anyone is on the early morning Wednesday flight to Bristol I'll happily jump in on a taxi with them.

mattfender · 17-06-2009 01:23AM

i'll hopefully be asleep for an early start to get to rosslare for 8:30am ferry!!:pac:

they sell red stripe around bristol? nice beer!

Musoabuso · 17-06-2009 09:39AM

I'm getting a 6:30 flight to Bristol on the wednesday, have a bus booked for 12 to bring us to the site...Anyone stayin in the off site camping?

robinph · 17-06-2009 11:41AM

Heading over on the Tuesday night and going on a micro brewery tour of Great Western Brewery just North of Bristol. Will be picking up a few 40pint boxes of their finest brews, then the Wednesday morning before going into the site we'll be heading to a farm just south of the site to pick up a several gallons of their various ciders.

mattfender · 17-06-2009 01:20PM

^^So you'll be well boozed up for the fest:pac:

I hope to get this view again, maybe not so close to the path though...

tman · 17-06-2009 01:35PM

Hoping to find a place on Pennard hill again this year, tis quite handy for drunken trips to Shangri-la/Trash City, and quiet enough too
Heading down Weds eve this time instead of Thursday eve last year so finding a good spot shouldn't be a problem

The Guardian lineup has been leaked... Not as all inclusive as the clash PDF file, but easier to read...
http://www.glastowatch.co.uk/2009/guardians-glasto-line-up-with-set-times-leaked/

Glastonbury 2009

Comments