150th SF Caledonian Scottish Games @ Pleasanton, CA

[California Highlander]

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