Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

[Scottish Chi]

I met Mark Simmons at the Clan Fraser tent and left the XMarks sign-up sheet there (only three of us total for the day, and I never did find Scottish Chi). We spent most of the day at the music venues.

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We just pulled into the drive about 15 minutes ago. We decided to leave about 3:30 and got in about 12:30am. Pretty tired from the long drive after a great time. Sorry I missed you. I signed up at the Fraser tent and went by a couple of other times but my timing was poor. I was hoping that folks were going to meet at the BBQ as suggested but no one showed. I did get a chance to meet Macmoose and Kiltedmusiclover while I was there. It's nice to have a face to put with a name. My wife and I camped from Wednesday until Sunday afternoon and had a great time. We usually try to find a site away from the crowd but that is not possible there. What we did find was a friendly and courtious group of campers. It was one of the best camping experiences we have had so we are already making plans for next year.
Right now I got to get some sleep.

Cheers! Bill

[smaughazard]

Sorry I missed you Saturday, Bill. My wife and I caught the last shuttle to the parking lot in Linville- and we didn't get back to the meadow until about 5:45. I kept looking for the frog kilt pin!

[Big Paul]

Very nice pics! I like the 12th pic! The drummer on the right is so into it he is in mid-air!!

[smaughazard]

Very nice pics! I like the 12th pic! The drummer on the right is so into it he is in mid-air!!

Aye, that's Jamesie- I don't think he could play if you made him stand still! I talked with him several times during the day; the band is pretty heavily booked through the fall, but he said that they are going to try to get back into the studio in late November to record the next CD. I've never heard (or seen!) a higher-energy group- Donnie is the only one who ever stands still (I guess it would be really hard to bounce around while playing the pipes that fast!), and Ed Miller, who followed them on the stage, commented that there were so many drops of perspiration that it looked like it had been raining!

[Barclay]

Great photos! I wish I had been there this year.

[David Dalglish]

Great photos-- Hope everyones ok after the deer incident

[Scottish Chi]

I kept looking for the frog kilt pin!

The frog was there and was quite pleased with being able to attend the games along with my wife and I. At first I was a little self conscious when folks were pointing and looking down in the general area. Then they mentioned the frog.

While we were there Lois and I had the honor to march with the Bell Clan on Sunday morning in the parade of the tartans. We were a small group of of 5 and I was given the tartan banner to carry. Although not a Bell my mother was a Biles (a sept of the clan). We just found out the connection while at the games thanks to the Tartan Authority. She also has ties with the Little Clan but they are also a small group and not represented at Grandfather Mt. Next year we hope to march with the Ferguson Clan out of respect for my father. In the future I may have to buy a few more kilts in addition to the Ferguson to cover all bases. The only name that eludes me now is Outen. We can't find it anywhere so it just may be a misspelling, Irish, or English. In any event the frog held up proudly although clearly outnumbered.

Cheers! Bill

[MacMoose]

Good to meet you, Chi...sorry I missed the sign up and such, serves me right for not checking in before the Games. It was one busy weekend for me, had wanted to stop by your campsite to say hello!

[macsim]

Maybe we can try again at Waxhaw. I'm not at all sure I'll represent the clan at the Triad games in Greensboro. It was so bloody hot last year! I did enjoy meeting Smaughazard and Scottish Chi. I especially enjoyed the cool weather! I had to buy a sweatshirt after walking out without my jacket. Grandfather is always fun but always tiring for those of us who go to work the tents. The frog was definitely cool.

[Scottish Chi]

It was great to meet you folks at the games. I only wish there had been more opportunity to gather together.

The weather was a little cool for us one evening. My wife and I figured it would be warm enough to camp with just a sheet and blanket instead of sleeping bags. Didn't plan on the Thursday night cold snap. Wore most of our clothes to sleep in and even used the towel for cover. Brrrrr! But the days were perfect. Looking forward to next year. Lois is now talking about getting a camper like A-Liner instead tent camping if we are going to be attending more games. Well, maybe in a couple of years. She also wants me to look into buying her a kilt skirt made properly. Oh Gawd what did I start. It all began when I wanted to buy just one Ferguson kilt for myself in the first place.

Cheers! Bill