So they said "you go up from your side of the mountain, and we'll go up from the car park, and we'll meet you on top for 5am." There I am, at 4:45am on top of a mountain in full kit and blacked up. No-one showed up. I did, however, note that a team in similar kit, were dancing on the next mountain. I could hear the music and laughter on the still morning air. I think I'll dance with them instead, next year.
May Day is often celebrated by Morris teams by dancing on top of the highest peak in their area, to greet the sun rise. That is a bit of a challenge for Clerical Error. Today we met 10 minutes after sunrise - there's no point fumbling in the dark. We met at a high point that we could drive to. Our intent was to ascend Moel Arthur, a peak in the Clwydian range of mountains, known as Offa's Dyke, in mid-Wales. On this hill the remains of the original earthworks of a fort can be seen, from conflicts with the invading Romans. This is not as high as Moel Fammau, but you can't drive up Moel Fammau.
Sixteen souls turned up, wearing their distinctive blacked faces, top hats and tails. This black acts as a background for their abundant red, yellow and green ribbon, and unique motifs on their backs.
The stick-man turned up without the sticks, again. He was sent home to fetch them. Minutes later other dancers arrived with sticks in abundancy.
The air was warm, and the sky clear. The valleys, below, were filled
with mist.There was only a light breeze carrying the delicate coconut-like scent of the
nearby gorse. It is traditional to North Wales for a Gorse Bearer to walk ahead of the
team carrying long garlands of gorse to announce the coming of the summer. You have got to
be some kind of extreme masochist to attempt to go anywhere near gorse, with its long
stabbing needles. There are no volunteers for this post.
There hasd been a tip-off. Just this hill was devoid of sheep. From this hill we can see the sea, and England, After the team recovered from the short climb, we started with Craven Stomp, a favourite of the team, and the first dance the team was taught, by Flag Crackers of Craven.
This was followed by the more traditional Much
Wenlock. Both these dances were for eight dancers. A seven-dancer dance followed,
entitled Hunt the Dragon followed, pictured above.
The team croaked two May Day songs; but enough of that.
The beautiful 4-dancer dance "Ragged Crow" was danced. The final dance was Not for Joe, which was a little difficult to execute on rough ground.
Tonight we dance at the Britannia Inn, Halkyn.
