Men of XMarks at the 2012 Salado (Texas) Clan Gathering and Highland Games

[ShaunMaxwell]

Here's a group shot taken at the Salado Games this past weekend:

L to R: ShaunMaxwell, bdkilted, Chewse, kscaddo, super8mm, cck and Tobus. Also present but not pictured were eagle43172 (good to see you out and about!), medic78, and rumor has it that ragged tiger was also spotted.



Saturday was nice apart from the gale force winds, but I was surprised to see that all but eight of the clans and two of the vendors had vacated by the time I arrived a bit after noon on Sunday. It seemed a total bust with very few patrons apart from the pipe bands who were competing. Disappointing that so many pulled out early. I'm sure the food vendors didn't fare well and that will make them less likely to want to come back next year, plus I'd imagine that the organizers took it on the chin at the gate as well.

The new location was convenient to our hotel, but seemed unnecessarily spread out. I'm kind of hoping they'll move the event back to its former location next year.

It was nice to see you all there and have the chance to visit with you.

Cheers,

SM

[Standard]

Good looking group. Too bad is was such a windy weekend.
BTW Tobus, love your jacket, does it have a matching waistcoat?

[mattie]

Shaun looks like despite the weather you had a great XMTS turnout. I would like to see more photos if they are available. best regards to a fellow Maxwell Mattie

[David Thorpe]

Very sharp, to a man.

[Tobus]

Saturday was nice apart from the gale force winds, but I was surprised to see that all but eight of the clans and two of the vendors had vacated by the time I arrived a bit after noon on Sunday. It seemed a total bust with very few patrons apart from the pipe bands who were competing. Disappointing that so many pulled out early. I'm sure the food vendors didn't fare well and that will make them less likely to want to come back next year, plus I'd imagine that the organizers took it on the chin at the gate as well.

The new location was convenient to our hotel, but seemed unnecessarily spread out. I'm kind of hoping they'll move the event back to its former location next year.

It was good seeing everybody again, and meeting a new face or two!

This was my first time to participate in the Calling of the Clans on Friday night. I showed up intending only to watch, but somehow got talked into carrying the torch for Clan Colquhoun. I'm glad I did. It was pretty neat. But they really ought to think about making the ceremony a little longer than 5 minutes. The ruins of the college was a beautiful setting for the ceremony, especially at dusk and with torches for the lighting. I would like to have had a little more bagpipe music and bodhran playing, with perhaps more of a speech from the organisers. I didn't participate in the 'social' afterwards, though, so perhaps there was more going on there.

Yeah, Saturday was a pleasant day except for the fact that the winds were blowing consistently at around 25mph and gusting higher than that. The fact that everything was out on an open field, away from tree lines, really allowed the wind to howl through the tent area. I saw several tents with buckled legs or torn fabric. The good thing was that they were fairly straight-line winds, without any squirrelly effects like we had last year (aka the 'kilt-lifter'). All the kilts this year did surprisingly well. It's kinda fun to stand just right in relation to the wind, whilst wearing an 8-yard knife-pleated kilt, and feel the pleats rippling across the backs of yer legs. And even though it was fairly warm out, the wind made it feel not so hot. Especially for those of us wearing woollen jackets. But by about 3pm, I was starting to get a headache from the wind. That always happens when I spend a lot of time in the wind; it gives me a headache. And I got a bit of sunburn/windburn on my face too.

I too was disappointed on Sunday. Kelly and I came out around 10am and there was nothing going on. Only two vendors were left, and a handful of clan tents. There were still some musical acts going on, but the fact that everything was spread out made it seem kinda sad. If I were one of the organisers, I'd have been pretty upset about it. We literally stood around for two hours, waiting for things to pick up, and then gave up and left around noon. I saw your clan tent still there, Shaun, and had worried that y'all had left town without it! Sorry we missed you on Sunday, but we had to get back. Sounds like we left before you showed back up.

On a side note, they only charged us $5 per ticket on Sunday instead of $10 (as advertised), likely because they knew it was going to be a bust, thanks to all the vendors leaving. I can understand why so many vendors and clans left (the forecast was for thunderstorms and possible hail), but it sure made the event look dead. I hope the museum didn't lose money on this year's event.

I liked the new location for a couple of reasons. First, the convenience of the hotel right next door, with about a 1-minute walk between them. Second, there is plenty of parking for guests and plenty of room for everything, especially being able to spread out the music tents so they're not trying to play over each other. But on the down side, I didn't like how the athletics were way over on the other side of the parking area, out of view. I'm betting they had a pretty small audience, and most visitors likely didn't even know the games were going on over there. They also had the military vehicle display off in the distance, out of the main area. But they had a huge open field separating the vendors and clan tents from the food, with nothing going on there. So it was quite a hike to get food. That was an odd choice, and didn't work very well. I was so exhausted from the walk that I ended up dropping half a cup of Guinness on the ground by the time I made it back over to the clan side!

They also seriously needed some picnic benches or something around the food vendor area. It's impossible to juggle food and a drink while standing in a field.

Good looking group. Too bad is was such a windy weekend.
BTW Tobus, love your jacket, does it have a matching waistcoat?

No, unfortunately, it's just the jacket. It's a vintage one I found on eBay. For some reason, most of the vintage jackets (especially the ones with interesting patterns) don't have waistcoats with them.

I did get lots of compliments on that jacket, as well as various other parts of my outfit. And tons of photo requests from passersby.

[CMcG]

You know how you can tell this isn't in Scotland? Sunglasses

ShaunMaxwell, thanks for posting that pic and you're looking sharp. I always like to see a bunch of Xmarkers kilting up. Tobus, you're sporting a look that should make even the Auldest of Crabbits proud

[Tobus]

Ha, Colin, I noticed that too. I usually try to remember to take my sunglasses off for photos, since it's definitely not a "traditional" accessory with a kilt. Looks like we all had on sunglasses except for Super8mm, who was wearing regular glasses. I can tell you that we all ended up with "raccoon eyes" by the end of the day. That, too, is definitely not a traditional Scottish look!

[eagle43172]

I got there as the group was breaking up after the picture, but it was nice to see everybody and talk for a while. The wind was a bit of a problem, and things were a bit spread out but there was ample parking. I pushed myself a bit more than the wife liked (this being my first real outing since surgery, but I enjoyed it all.

[chewse]

I was a bit surprised also that so many clans packed up and left Saturday. We stopped by the site mid-morning Sunday and the place was nearly vacant. Too bad.

Although I have to say I was NOT happy with the new location. It was just too spread-out, dirty/dusty, no seating areas and no shade. Also, very few vendors showed up this year which was a disappointment. However, I liked that the Calling and Tattoo continued to be held on college hill.

If I understand it correctly, it was the city that forced the organizers to change the venue this year. Maybe the city will reconsider their decision after what appeared to be poor attendance this year.

[bdkilted]

We may have been wearing sunglasses, but at least they all were the same tint.
Sunday was very disappointing, I went the kirking, then set up a table (after having taken my tent home). The two vendors who stayed were doing well Sunday as they always had someone in their tents. Hopefully they will listen to advise and either move back to the community center, or move us closer to the tree line so the wind won't be such a problem next year.