Seaside Ventura 2014

[OC Richard]

I didn't see a Seaside thread so here goes. Hopefully others can add to it. I was so busy running around doing the Pipe Band thing and communing with all the old friends I only see at Games that I didn't take many pics.

Greeting people as they arrive at the grounds was this dapper gent



Another dapper gent at the Clan Cochrane booth. He was very knowledgeable about a certain Captain Cochrane, who was the model for Captain Horatio Hornblower, Captain Jack Aubrey, and Captain James Kirk. (Note the brown ghillies and tartan hose.)



Solo piping in the morning. This competitor is elegant in brown ghillies, a beautiful kilt, and a tweed waistcoat. This pic shows the nice grounds, with hills on one side and the sea on the other.



OK, I'm a kilt geek. I had to get a pic of this piper's kilt's wonderful pleating



Later in the day I cornered this guy (literally) and he happily posed for a pic. He's Cameron Tillery, owner of Blandford & Son Scottish Imports. Impressively turned out, and notice his sporran, made out of an actual official NFL football



Here are The Salt Lake Scots tuning up their pipe corps. Typical with pipe bands is to choose a particular colour scheme (in this case claret and grey) and do shirts, neckties, hose, flashes, etc to match. This is a lovely bespoke tartan and the kilts are beautifully pleated.



Lastly this guy watching us march by (yes I took the pic from the parade route!)
My persnickety eye for Highland uniform is jarred by the mixing of elements of various regiments... I just have that re-enactor's eye built into me.

[sydnie7]

We missed seeing you, Richard! Kept an eye out, but we didn't spend much time in the piping area (Clan Donnachaidh tent was right across from Beaton stage, so we got a ringside seat for massed bands etc.). We did meet up with Alan H and Elizabeth, and I caught a glimpse of another XMarker but no chance to connect. Here are a few more snaps of the weekend. I have lots more of the massed bands from Sunday if folks are interested.
Bob and Sydnie at the Friday night dinner. There are more pix of Bob's new Dutch Friendship kilt in the Kilt Kamp picture thread (once I get them uploaded)

Highland coos! We heard that one of them went walkabout overnight, just took the fencing with her and was found halfway down the main fairgrounds way.


Some sweet Chevys, including one that went so well with the Dutch Friendship

Drum majors

Massed bands

XMarks meet-up: Alan H, Elizabeth, and Bob

And Alan at the sheaf

[Alan H]

Oooh, great sheaf shot!!. It was fun to meet up with sydnie and Bob and meet Elizabeth. Turns out that on Sunday, I harangue'd Mr. Elizabeth at the Athletics, getting him to hoist the 56 pound weight!

Here are a few shot of XMTS Athletes...

Moi, hanging out with Wee Lass and Masters class winner, Rachel S..



hanging out with the lads...that's RogerWS76 on the far right.



And winding up in the sheaf...



RogerWS76 rockin' the pink (Breast Cancer Awareness) and ready to uncork a stone throw...



and throwing

[Alan H]

AZwildcat pulling in weight over bar...



RogerWS76 putting a 28 pound weight throw out there....50+ feet!



GGGP stabs the sheaf bag...



Mrs. AZ wildcat throws her caber while RogerWS76 judges...

[Alan H]

GGGP builds some separation in the light weight throw...



Yours Truly, 28 weight for Distance....



AZwildcat lines up with the caber....



a slightly fuzzy AZ wildcat hitting in in weight over bar..

[Alan H]

Yours Truly and RogerWS76 show our best sides...



The lasses lightweight class struttin' their stuff....that's GGGP on the far left.



and an old action shot of GGGP, actually at the Vista Games, in San Diego, but what the heck.

[MacEanruig]

Fantastic photographs from OC Richard, Sydnie7, and Alan H. Xmarks was well represented.

[Dughlas mor]

Great pics, all three of you. Nice to get three different perspectives of the same event. The lasses lightweight class is most impressive!

[Stitchwiz]

Highland coos! We heard that one of them went walkabout overnight, just took the fencing with her and was found halfway down the main fairgrounds way.

Ah, she just wanted to have a different view.

With she horns like that, she can go where she wants. Even an electric fence is not a deterrent.

Good fences make good neighbours; but horns on cattle can mean that you may have no fences. That's why we dehorned our cattle.

[azwildcat96]

It was a good two days on the field. Thanks for sharing the pictures Alan.