150th SF Caledonian Scottish Games @ Pleasanton, CA

**California Highlander** · 7th September 15, 02:27 PM

Pretty amazing two days for my first time at the SF Caledonian Games in Pleasanton. It's the 150th, so I figured I needed to go after trying for the last few years and always having a labor day weekend conflict.

I did not make it to any XMarks get together, but did see a few of the rabble including Jamie and Starr, OC Richard. Also saw Hafthor Bjornsson (the Mountain from Game of Thrones on RV), many pipe bands, all manner of kilts (only one worn backward!) some fun music, whisky!, a bit of the heavy weights and caber, and the usual vendors and outrageous food lines.

I saw more tartan kilts that utility style both days. Everything from wool tanks to acrylic and "PVs" or PAs (Poly acetate) with the PV/PAs leading the way and too long on most guys. It was 91ish degrees on Sunday and I saw at least 3 men in full 8 yard wool kilts, tweed jackets, and ties. They looked pretty melted and these were guys in their 30s/40s, so not an old guy like me. More men in boots or sandals with kilts. I went with regular hose and brogues day 1, brogue boots day two and a 4 yd 16oz wool casual kilt. Both days started with a collared shirt be got down to a tee shirt by 10:30am.

Winnepeg Police pipe band wore doublets with feather bonnets out in 91 degree heat...and sounded so cool....

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Albannach had great crowds of enthusiastic fans. I didn't get many shots of their kilts. The tartan was created with Rocky of USA Kilts.

Albannach by len gilbert, on Flickr

More traditional music.

Alasdair Fraser San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers

A familiar face in the 600 pipers at the massed bands on day one!

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XMarks sponsor Celtic Croft

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Hafthor Bjornsson

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Wildcat Tartan at Clan Mackintosh tent. I was at the Mackintosh tent in the Clan Chattan area quite a bit. We had several people who were interested in the wildcat tartan, so we sent them home with flyers and a link to the FB page for additional info and ordering. I also had brought back some wildcat postcards from Scotland and we had them at the Mackintosh, Clan Chattan USA, and Macpherson tents to hand out.

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Full photo album on Flickr includes more shots of the pipe bands to see all the uniforms and kilts. More shots of the live music events, clan tents, etc.

@the-celtic-croft @OCRichard @Panache @AlanH @McMurdo

**Thekiltedmohawk** · 7th September 15, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by California Highlander

Hafthor Bjornsson

He also acts as Gregor "Mountain" Clegane in the popular HBO tv show, "Game of Thrones."

That shows you how big he is!

OP, great pics, and glad you had great time at the game.

**California Highlander** · 7th September 15, 06:32 PM

Yes, the Mountain! Sorry, that must have dropped off my post in trying to get some of the more "Xmarksy" pics in there. Thanks for adding in the reference for those who wouldn't know who he is.

Not sure how many people came to the games because of him, but attendance seemed strong and the massed pipe bands playing together was majorly impressive.

I'm sure Alan, Jamie, Richard, and crew will have different perspectives on it all. So much to see and do that it's going to be different for everyone.

**OC Richard** · 8th September 15, 04:11 AM

Nice pics! I'm looking rather grumpy there at Massed Bands. Actually I'm feeling the effects of several Black & Blues.

I'm a huge Game Of Thrones fan and it was awesome seeing The Mountain. That guy is huge! And he posed for a load of pics and signed autographs and so forth, very nice.

Our band had a good run on Saturday, got 1st place, here we are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6JbvuiHbnA

Not as good a view here, for one thing it's a wiggly camera, for another my backside is front-and-centre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3FeEwJtWZo

**sailortats** · 8th September 15, 05:08 AM

@ OC Richard
I tried a couple of times to catch up with you but you were never at the band site. Best weather in years on Saturday, not too hot and a nice little breeze.