Another Isle of Wight -1970's Festival Story

I was telling a story of Desolation road at the last blog about Gollum. After the Festival I stayed behind with a bunch of others to earn a few bob and get some meals. I signed up to help clean up the site of garbage and was paid 5 old pence per garbage bag. Also I was able to add to my wardrobe as when I came over to Uk early that year. I only came on a one way ticket, $1.20 in my pocket and the clothes on my back.

How I managed to get through customs I do not know. I digress..

Anyways, about a week after the Festival was over . There probably was about 20-30 people still at the site. We had cleaned up the site and helped take down the various fences etc. We had a visit from Constable Plod and some of his friends. They came to try and chivvy us up as the locals were complaining that the Hippies were still on site and wouldn't leave the Isle.

I was tidying up my stuff but as I was putting things into my haversack. When Constable Plod opened the tent door and saw me put a matchbox into my case. He said" Oy,Oy. What's in that matchbox. then" In those days one usually carried one's stash in a match box. He turned to his mates and said" We got one"." Got one what?" I said back to Him."

" I wonder what is in that matchbox?" he said. with a laugh and a nod to his mate. I told him" An Elephant".

"You can't get an elephant in a matchbox!" " You must have some dope in here." Said Constable Plod. I said " No, it is an elephant." " Ha,ha,Ha, Lets have a look at that matchbox ." Said constable Plod.

So he opened it up and inside. It was a little metal elephant that I was given by some girl in Canada before I left.

Well Constable Plod turned every shade of red and really didn't have a sense of humour. He left in a real huff. I then put my other matchbox into my haversack that I had in my pocket.

Well, the next day. We were all escorted off the Isle of Wight. As it seems we were in the Isle of Wrong and not
Isle of Wright. As we had all over stayed our welcome.

I landed in Southhampton and proceed to Hitchhike back to London. Unfortunately I walked almost all the way there.
I used to see these large Lorries pass by with what I thought was a divine message. Not to get disheartened, as I would get a ride to London, when it was right. It said " TAKE COURAGE".

I found out later on that it was a brand of beer. Although some of you would say Beer is divine.