HIPPIES & HEROES EdINBURGH

Hippies are heroes
UK ROAD TRIP
EDINGBURGH
So I left Glasgow and arrived in Edinburgh, it took like one hour or so by bus cost me 6.50, quite cheap. When I arrive the streets were filled with people the place is crawling, everyone wants to be a part of the fringe festival. Which by the way I didn`t know existed until I tried getting a couch to sleep, with no luck at that. The town was over booked hostel prices were jacked up and all couch surfers had guest already.
This brings me to where I am sleeping while in Edinburgh. I am sleeping in a tree house in the forest with a bunch of hippies. Crazy right? I say so cool.
Ok , ok, let me not get ahead of myself. Wednesday afternoon I am on the bus to Edinburgh, no idea where I am going to sleep so, obviously slight panic comes over me, but I don`t make a big deal out of it. I remember reading on couch surfing about this place you can just show up and its cool, so I thought why the hell not but to be on the safe side, I decided to send them a message, which I did.
Two minutes later a reply came back no problems just come. So I said that’s cool should I ask for someone?
-well my name is Dave and anybody will show you around, just bring beer, that was my response.
Now to get to the place is simple but if you are not told how you will never find it. These are the directions I got.
more info... http://ping.fm/wvvqg

DIRECTIONS:
by bus (it costs £1.20 and takes half an hour from the
city centre) - take the 37, 47 or X47 from Edinburgh
(Bridges/Clerk street/Nicholson street or Princes
Street towards Penicuik, get off at the 1st bus stop
in Bilston opposite a VW garage, there's a metal gate
right next to the bus stop... go through the gate &
down the path till you come to the bridge & you'll see
us there.

Bilston Site Phone: 07753280009

So the bus driver was kind enough to remember me after what was like 45 minutes to call on me when we got to the stop. I got off the bus and followed the directions. The path kept taking me further and further into the forest, I thought that I was going the wrong way till I ended up under a bridge and followed some make shift stairs down towards a stream. Crossed a wooden clearly make shift bridge and entered an area with several structures made out of clutter that was found. There was Dave and before he said anything I lift my Sainsbury bag fill with beers in the air saying, I come bearing gifts.
That surly put a smile on the three guys faces. I sat down with them around a fire and put my bags down on the ground. To be honest it was a cultural shock. As much as I know that somewhere deep inside of me is a hippie screaming to come out, in my mind the first thoughts that I have was whether or not I could ever live like this, that the place was dirty, the chairs were dirty, everything was dirty.
The truth of the matter is this, nothing was really dirty it was the forest it wasn`t the city and I was not in London anymore. Some other people came and introduce themselves, there was José from the canaries but apparently if I take his word for it has been living in Ireland for ages. Dave who seems to be the constant member on site showed me around and told me why they were occupying the spot.
He told me that the government wants to build a road through this forest and they thought that there is no extra need for roads and that the money that is going to the road can be used for something else, like furthering the agenda of finding a way to reduce our carbon foot print.
It was a pretty large structure, with several tree houses, very high up in the trees in order to see if the police are every coming to get them evicted, they also had lots of camping ground. Areas were cleared to make a small garden, toilets. I was even told that there are tunnels just in case the cops arrive. They can hid in the tunnels if need be with food and water. It cost the police 100,000 pounds a day to evict groups like these because of the location. And that the longer they stay the more it will cost the police. So it comes down to the question as to whether or not it is worth the money and the trouble just to have one more road built. He told me of his friend on another site that stayed in a tunnel for 45 days, which adds up to 4500,000 pounds money I am sure that can be used for so much more in a community.
I understand why they are doing what they do, and even though there are people who think that they are a nuisance, they are actually doing this for everyone not just for themselves. In my opinion it’s a noble thing to fight for something you believe in, something that the community is in great need of, defenders. Because I see no one else is doing it. Everyone else is just rolling over and accepting.
So yes when you see a hippie on the street and he smells, he does not look like he fits in, ask yourself why, what has he been through and why does he do it.
I said it was noble to fight but it’s a greater nobility to fight for people who thinks you`re less, who thinks you`re the scum of society. These guys are heroes, and I am not only saying that. If you read any classic literature and look up the things that define a hero you will see those same qualities in these guys.
This Luke Jno CHARLES
From Edinburgh Hippie camp Bilston glen