Gatlinburg TN

[HeathBar]

This is going to be a great weekend. Everyone have a safe journey there. And kudos to KCW for making the long journey. Se ya there!

[Barclay]

Hey Phinz, I figure the camera embedded in your eye and the large orange sticker on your forehead would be plenty to identify you by!

And I have almost decided what to wear. It will either be the Ireland's National or Scottish National or weathered Lamont, unless I bag it all and go with a PK or UK. Hmmh, guess I am taking more kilts with me than I thought...

OK, so maybe I haven't decided. I will be wearing black boots, black nylon SWK sporran, and black belt!

I'll be in a khaki canvas 4 yard casual, brown belt and brown Rob Roy sporran, a t-shirt from the Triad Highland Games, and since Pour1Malt has shown me the errors of my ways ... no ball cap. (Wouldn't wanna look like a numpty, now, would I? LOL )

I stopped by the tartan museum yesterday, and the other nice lad that works there (who's name escapes me at the moment) said that he and Matt will be at Gatlinburg tonight, so look for them, too.

[Mike1]

I spoke with KCW, early this afternoon. He got a later start than he had originally hoped, but he was hoping to be in Gatlinburg sometime around 10:00 - 10:30 this evening.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Hey guys,

I made it in, it is 12:30AM EST now, and what am I doing, checking XMarks! Is there an addiction here beyond kilt wearing?

Anyway, I made it in around 8:30EST to Knoxville, and stopped to see some old friends (pretty good time all things considered, 8.5 hours for 600 miles!). Got into the G'Burg hotel around 11:00EST after visiting with my friends. They will be showing up for the Games tomorrow and he will be in a kilt for the first time! I had an SK that was too large for me, and offered it to him. Being a fine son of the Robertson clan, he jumped at the chance. He will not be completely traditionally attired, it is an SK, but he will be kilted, wearing a sport sporran from SK, and matching gray hose. He will cut a fine figure. And for those attending, he is a great guy, as is his wife.

Now I must go, as it is starting to thunder and lightning here (go away soon!), and I am on a dial-up connection tonight.

[Mike1]

You made it! And leaving the trailer behind let you make good time, as well.

I hope the rain clears out and that there will be blue skies for the weekend.

One question - what's this dial-up that you mentioned?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

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[Mike1]

That was me, hoping to find a report on how the day went.

C'mon KCW, how was Albannach? Hmmmm...

[Pour1Malt]

I'll be in a khaki canvas 4 yard casual, brown belt and brown Rob Roy sporran, a t-shirt from the Triad Highland Games, and since Pour1Malt has shown me the errors of my ways ... no ball cap. (Wouldn't wanna look like a numpty, now, would I? LOL )

I stopped by the tartan museum yesterday, and the other nice lad that works there (who's name escapes me at the moment) said that he and Matt will be at Gatlinburg tonight, so look for them, too.

slainte Barky! guid oan ya!

how did it gae?

[phinz]

Albannach was *incredible!*

Mizzphinz wasn't feeling well, so I had to bolt out pretty early, but Albannach was so popular that those of us who are height-challenged were lucky to see anything. If it hadn't been so muddy I would have been dancing up a storm. I don't believe I've ever heard anything as infectious. I bought their album, as well as a shirt, and I've already listened to the album a half dozen times.

The Games themselves were crowded. More so than usual, and I'm glad, though the mud was thick, the weather was humid and the vendors sparse. I was supremely disappointed that I couldn't find my clan tent as well. I did a complete lap through the swamp and nothing.

KCW and Heathbar.... I'm sorry I didn't call before leaving. Mizzphinz was not feeling well (she doesn't take heat/humidity all that well) so we cut our losses and headed out about 2 or so.

[HeathBar]

To sum it all up in one word...MUD! It was a nice setting an and picturesque location with the mountain backdrop, but the mud kinda ruined the atmosphere. It was great meeting everyone. KCW, Barclay, Phinz, and Matt. Phinz, you didn't miss much after you left, it started raining an hour or so later. Thats when we ducked out.

Sunday, the weather was nicer, but because of the extra rain, the mud was worse. My only reason for going back on Sunday was to hear Matt's lecture. If anyone ever gets a chance to hear him speak....go, he's good. My wife on the other hand, wasn't really as into it. But, I thanked her for enduring for my sake. It was a small group at the lecture, and Matt could probably tell she wasn't too interested. But she did laugh at his description of the guy he had seen in dinosaur slippers.

I'll try to post some pics tonight in the pics section. It was good to meet everyone, and I hope you all made it back safely.