A short look at Longs Peak 2012

**LitTrog** · 11th September 12, 03:33 AM

Here are a few pictures from the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Festival in Estes Park, Colorado:

Saturday morning, the festivities got under way with the traditional parade, as the Clans and bands filed through Estes Park en route to the fairgrounds to start the day.

The 1st battalion Marine Corps band okiwen saw arriving earlier in the week. Sharp and crisp and impressive. Big surprise, that.

A quick bit of refreshment at Cooper's after the parade to let the crowd thin out

before executing our own little parade up to the festival grounds.

We stopped off on our way to the X marks meet-up to let littleman check out the slingers. A extraordinarily sweet and patient young man gave Vaughan some instructions and even let him take a few throws/slings.

Amazingly, all his stones went forward. Not very far, but at least nobody was killed.

At the McLea/Livingstone tent for the Rabble meet up, L to R: Tyler (LitTrog), Greg (Livingston), Brooke (MacMillan's son), The Glorious Connie, and Tom (A_Hay!). Brooke and Connie traveled from California, Tom from Michigan. Very cool to see some outlanders there!

Livingston's face as it hits him that my wife is with me voluntarily. I am shocked at how often I've seen that same expression over the last 4 years...

A sincere "Thank You!" to Greg for letting us crash his tent without previous permission. He was a fine host, although he repeatedly brandished cold steel at my various body parts. I can never tell if he likes me or wants to kill me. I suspect he's not quite sure, either.

The jousting was a pretty cool event: the thundering hooves (houves?) and the crack of splintering lances! These people were honestly going full-tilt.

**LitTrog** · 11th September 12, 03:36 AM

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see as much of the athletics as I would have liked to, but I did see something I hope the Rabble Heavies can clarify for me. The WOB throws I've seen in the past have all been the "crouch, gather, explode" style where the weight starts between the athlete's legs. This guy had a spinning approach where the weight stayed off to one side of his body. Is that just another perfectly acceptable (but perhaps more difficult to master) method? The attempt pictured here saw the 56-pound weight clearing 18 feet!

The highlight of the weekend for me was Saturday night, as my family joined Brooke and Connie for dinner at the Crags Hotel. The food was delicious, but getting to know these two truly wonderful and impressive people was the real treat. Before I embarrass MacMillan's son too badly, I'll plug the gushing. But, really, I can't say enough how much we enjoyed their company.

At least the kid was smart enough to wear sunscreen that day...

Before anyone asks, yes--we planned our hose/garter combos so we could look like reverse twinsies!

Brooke, rocks./ Brooke rocks!
A true statement regardless of one's punctuational proclivities!

The next day we were going to return to the festival, but we had some pressing issues calling us back down the hill. So, we kicked around the town for a couple hours and let a bronze faerie suck the brains from my child.

We will definitely be going back next year. I do hope they fix the beer situation...two beer tents, thousands of thirsty attendees, 45-minute lines for a single beer...poor planning. Or maybe it was extremely shrewd planning.

Anyone else have some pics to add?