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Somerset Carnivals


enodreven

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Hi, Its a real pity we keep trying to get to the Bridgwater Carnival but again we have missed it, I have been told that there are quiet a few more that are held over this period in Somerset, any advice of which ones are still worth seeing and a good site that will allow access to those that remain would be helpful, we intend to head to the somerset area on Wednesday morning and stay until early next week, so anyone fancy a meet let us know Thanks in antisipation
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Have just picked this up from the internet ... Shepton Mallet Carnival 2006 Start Date: 08/11/2006 Start Time: 19:30 Genres: Community, Kids & Family, Outdoors & Attractions, Performing Arts Venue Town: Shepton Mallet If you check the BBC website for what's on in the Somerset area you will find more details. There is a lovely CL at Temple House Farm, (01749) 880294 - we can recommend this one for stunning views, should be fabulous at this time of year. We hope to be there around 8th, are having some refurb work done at Wyvern, just up the road. Look out for us in our Clou Liner! Regards, Vixter
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There is (was) a website for the somerset carnivals. I am sure google can find it for you. They certainly also go to Glastonbury, Burnham on Sea. North Petherton and Wivlescombe but don't know any of the dates for this year. We have been to the Glastonbury one twice and it is an experience. The Isle of Avalon campsite means you can walk into the town but it does book up very early and they take the chance to charge. Any auto sleeper owners the club organise a rally for the Burnham event.
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Hi, Vixter We won't be able to leave until around 12:00 on Wednesday as the wife has a hospital appointment in the morning so we may not make it on the 8th, I have checked the CC site and it states that the Temple House Farm CL shuts at the end of October is that correct or have they got it wrong, also if we do get there in time is there bus route nearby or can we ride in on our bikes ?? Brian
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[QUOTE]enodreven - 2006-11-06 4:51 PM I have checked the CC site and it states that the Temple House Farm CL shuts at the end of October is that correct or have they got it wrong, also if we do get there in time is there bus route nearby or can we ride in on our bikes ?? Brian[/QUOTE] I have just rang Temple House Farm and they are still open, they will remain so until the weather makes it too wet and soft. Sorry, I don't know about bus routes/biking to the carnival. If you are interested, give them a ring, they are very helpful. Vixter
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[QUOTE]chris - 2006-11-06 8:21 PM Bridgwater and North Petherton done on the weekend and Burnham on sea tonight so you will have to look elsewhere for others.[/QUOTE] Try this website www.somersetguyfawkescarnivals.co.uk In a nutshell- 8th November Shepton Mallet 9th Midsomer Norton & District 10th Wells City 11th Glastonbury & Chilkwell 13th Weston-super-Mare Vixter
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Hi, Just booked into Unity at Brean for Friday and Saturday nights as they are running a coach to Glastonbury for the carnival its £7 each for the coach and a fully serviced pitch at £7 per night that includes electric etc We were thinking of staying Sunday and Monday to see the Weston Super Mare carnival as well but it seems that we would have to use taxi's to get, to and from, Weston, unless any knows a cheaper way ?? don't suggest walking ?lol If your not doing anything why not join us ? Brian
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It was a great show as usual. The rain held off for the first half then drizzled for a bit. But we were with many others in the central car park with the back window of the van looking directly at the passing procession so were nice and cosy and dry. Its quite amazing how much power these floats consume. Many had a half megawatt three phase generator set stuffed in the back and most of these were working quite hard and smoking! Who wants to comment about the earthing system or earth leakage protection for this I wonder? Didn,t see anybody I knew from the forum apart from one mounted policeman who knew someone I knew. Fish and chips were good. C.
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Evening Clive, Re being able to see the Carnival from you van, just where were you, Town etc, we saw it some years ago and would love to go again but we both find standing for that length of time difficult but sitting there and watching in your 'home' sounds good. Its well worth the journey down and the best "free" show you will ever see. Be lucky, Mike Culver
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Hi Clive, we saw the carnival at Bridgewater last weekend (I think a lot of the floats will be the same ones) I too marvelled at the power useage but it was suggested to me later in the week that they are probably running low voltage (48?) lamps as used in fairgrounds, must have a dirty great transformer somewhere as well then. D.
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Fair enough then, it was only a suggestion made to me by someone else. I was impressed with one of the outfits when their lights went out. The procession didn't stop so neither did they, there was an electrician walking backwards, hunched over peering into a black hole at the side of the float with two other chaps shining torches for him, that's dedication! He did sort it out after a few minutes. D.
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[QUOTE]Clive - 2006-11-09 12:21 AM It was a great show as usual. The rain held off for the first half then drizzled for a bit. But we were with many others in the central car park with the back window of the van looking directly at the passing procession so were nice and cosy and dry. Its quite amazing how much power these floats consume. Many had a half megawatt three phase generator set stuffed in the back and most of these were working quite hard and smoking! Who wants to comment about the earthing system or earth leakage protection for this I wonder? Didn,t see anybody I knew from the forum apart from one mounted policeman who knew someone I knew. Fish and chips were good. C. [/QUOTE] If you look you will see everthing is bonded, and by that I don't mean Brambles gobbaldy gook half truth rubbish he posted on other thread, they take safety very seriously
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I have looked in some detail and it is true that the floats electrics are broken up into many sections for each phase, each section protected with individual circuit breakers. There are banks of breakers on board. But I am not sure about bonding. They cannot be bonded to earth via rubber tyres. Are they just bonded to the chassis perhaps?. Or is the supply fully isolated from the chassis so that if anybody touches a phase they would not get a shock to earth perhaps? I don,t know the answer to this one. I did see exposed slip rings and brushes on some floats on bits of rotating mechanisms which had lights on them last year. We walked down the parked up row of floats earlier during the day. Some vandals had overnight smashed a load of lamps. This year during the procession all floats were escorted by a bunch of technicians who all had radio linked headphones on for communication including the driver of the vehicle providing motive power. Twas well organised in that respect. They must cost a bomb and where the heck to they store and work on them throughout the year? Who pays for it all? The cash collected during the carnivals goes to local charities. OK so these floats "do" several carnivals but they outshine anything we have in my neck of the woods. C.
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While at Bridgewater we were reliably informed that each float is run by a carnival committee who try to get sponsorship, and go stewarding and car parking at places like the Glastonbury festival to raise funds, plus they run other fund raising things. Apparently they have large Atcost type sheds to park the trailers in during building. They start in January on next years float I was told starting with ideas which are frequently made as models to get it right. Many of the larger newer Generators are hired and craned on to the trailers for the carnival circuit. David
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The Glastonbury Carnival was absolutely amazing, I have never seen anything like it, some of the floats were beyond belief, If you have never been you really must try to go next year it was fantastic we will definitely try to go to at least one of the carnivals next year
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First i must say that the home of carnival is " Bridgwater". i have lived in bridgwater all my life and also been in carnival ( meet the wife who was also in the same club ) i would put a note in next years dairy as motorhometoday we run a rally again , it is a safe area to stay over the weekend with short flat walk to see the carnival. see you all next Nov 2007 Dave *-)
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