Stone Mountain Highland Games

**AlabamaCelticLass** · 15th October 15, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kanati

Regrettably, I will not be able to make it after all. Last years meet-up and games were great.

It is too close to my Edinburg-grand-baby trip. My wife is leaving in a few weeks and I will follow soon after.

I am too busy getting things done around the house and saving my beans for the trip.

I did make Glasgow Ky, Grand Father Mountain and Middle Tennessee. All were a outstanding.

I will make it next year after all of the new babies are born.

Congrats on the new grand babies, best wishes for the mom, hope her labor is gentle and painless as possible. I think it's great that you're able to go!

**tripleblessed** · 15th October 15, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by AlabamaCelticLass

In case any of you veteran SMHG attendees would like to know, I just noticed on the website that the front gate has been moved. Don't know how much difference this actually makes as I've never been, but I thought it might be useful knowledge.

http://www.smhg.org/index.html

For all returning visitors, no worries on the gate move. It's about fifty yards to the left of where you're used to, but well within sight and no major change in approach pattern. The next event will be moving in on Tuesday, and they asked the games to consider a common entrance point and to split the cost of the required tents. Both save, easier transition. Have
been at the mountain this week helping set up, so checked it out. See everyone at the Tavern or at the games.

**Creag** · 17th October 15, 02:08 PM

A lot of people came to the games today, so not everyone made it by 1:00 pm - much traffic, parking at faraway lots, etc. But I got one decent photo of myself to post. :-)

If you note that it doesn't appear very crowded, we can credit Photoshop for that.

And Thomas's babies are adorable.

**MacEanruig** · 17th October 15, 05:40 PM

Looking very smart, Creag.

**Wareyin** · 17th October 15, 06:25 PM

I made it to the games, but missed the meet. The gentleman Manning the Clan Buchanan tent and I were chatting and I lost track of time. I'll have to get pictures from my wife's phone.

We had a fun time, even if I never met the rabble.

**thescot** · 18th October 15, 07:55 AM

It took me about an hour to get from the park entrance gate to the gate into the games. So . . . I was very late for the meet up with others.

But I did want to prove that I had made it.

Only Lamar Britt was still around the place.

And I can tell you, if they don't change things to make parking and getting there easier, I won't be back. A chimpanzee could have organized things better, but, apparently, they have such a large turnout (thousands!), they don't feel any need to improve. And there I was, just like the rest of the lemmings, dutifully standing in interminable lines for the privilege or handing over my filthy lucre. I passed up the shuttle bus (what a joke) and walked the half mile or so--uphill!--back to my vehicle.

I predict a smaller turnout next year. It seems that someone else is in charge and decided to change things.

It didn't work well! Simply adding four more entrance folks to collect the $25 at the east gate would have cut the lines in half. And two more little girls with ipads would have cut the entrance lines in half.

Just sayin'.

**thescot** · 18th October 15, 07:57 AM

Now that I have that off my chest, let me say how very nice it was to meet the folks at the Celtic Firday evening.

Especially our new friends, Alabama Celtic Lass and her husband.

**MacEanruig** · 18th October 15, 09:50 AM

Long lines seem to be normal at many larger games, and that is simply due to last-minute planning, organization, and logistics.

**AlabamaCelticLass** · 18th October 15, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by thescot

Now that I have that off my chest, let me say how very nice it was to meet the folks at the Celtic Firday evening.

Especially our new friends, Alabama Celtic Lass and her husband.

Thank you all so much for your hospitality! We both had a blast. Jim, we looked for you yesterday & today but missed you. I'm trying to get photos resized to attach.

**EagleJCS** · 18th October 15, 03:57 PM

Creag and Chainsaw02, it was a pleasure meeting with both of you. Sorry I couldn't hang around, visit longer and meet up with the latecomers, but pipe bands are awfully demanding of one's time. (Do I HAVE to be back at 13:30 to start tuning my pipes for our competition at 14:45? Can't it wait until, like, 14:30?

)

BTW, the Louisville Pipe Band got 5th out of 13 bands in grade 5. We're pretty happy with that.