JJ and I visited Beaulieu to see the revived Steam Show.
Steam Showman Engines had come from all over including Cornwall and Fife. It was an enjoyable event although quite small and if you are looking for something to visit tomorrow then I would recommend it. There were a couple of rides there - the motorcycle speedway and a carousel (the Gallopers) which JJ thoroughly enjoyed! There were many steam powered demonstrations. They included a cider press of which JJ tasted the first stage - very sweet apple juice; wood cutting with a circular saw and a rackbench and the use of steam on the farm.
Beaulieu was even having a makeover, as one of the demonstrations was the hand digging of roadworks in the autojumble field. They even had a fire to brew the tea which was being served to the workmen by a fine bevy of young ladies.
There were some lovely smells in the air - apples, fresh wood and the steam coal smoke which was everywhere - as was the soot and Alfie has come back as a Dalmatian.
Here he is posing on one of the beautiful showman's homes on display:
Many entrants wore period dress and looked very authentic. I am sure the warm weather was very hard on the ladies in their heavy dresses and skirts.
These two were particularly cute!
This man was actually a model but very realistic - used to advertise the local brewery:
The recent record breaking British Steam Car was on show in the museum and people were being allowed to sit in the cockpit to have a photo taken. The guy asked me to have a go but I figured I might not get out again plus they didn't have a block and tackle to lift me in there in the first place!
There were other steam vehicles as well:
We spotted two steam powered trikes at the show and we wondered if one was a child's ambition to own a trike. The other seemed to be giving people lifts around the grounds but we never managed to get a ride. It looked great fun though and I wondered if this was the pioneer machine of today's trikes.
There were also crafts on show:
Beaulieu Steam Revival - 5-6th June 2010
The Tractor Girls who are going to be travelling in tractors to raise money for charity were there and collection buckets for them were placed around the event especially by the rides which were free. Worth looking out for:
