Pleasanton California Highland Games

[Panache]

The Caledonia Club were pleased tp present the U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band- 29 Palms. There were really great, at least Xena seemed to think so:



All in all a fun day. We listened to some great music, watched some dancing, saw the heavy atheletics, and ate some lovely food (I got finally try Haggis!). I resisted many highland attire temptations while the F-H.CA.G. was able to get a pair of dancing ghillies. The kids loved watching the sheep dog trials (Quick summary: Border Collies are very smart, sheep are very, very stupid), the Scottish Highland Cattle, the great display of Birds of Prey, the mighty Clydesdale horses, and Xena got to play with a friendly goat!

The sole gentleman at the Clan MacNicol tent was very happy to see Sinbad in his MacNicol tartan. Again all we X Markers are thankful for the generous hospitality of the Clan McNaughton. Gene and Ruth embody the friendship and goodwill that the Games are meant to foster.

And of course we always look forward to seeing all our frinds among the Bay Area Kilted Kontingent of X Marks the Scot!


One last image for you to ponder, The Halloween Pinup Kilt:



Unique and cool? Or a Kilt Don't? You decide.

Cheers

[Rex_Tremende]

One last image for you to ponder, The Halloween Pinup Kilt [...] Unique and cool? Or a Kilt Don't? You decide.

Seeing as how it's pleated to the pin-up, I'd say that someone took a lot of care to engineer that thing. What good is a thing if you can't enjoy it?

I enjoyed all the pictures - thanks for sharing them.

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

[Streetcar]

It looks like it was a spectacular event!

I can't believe I wasn't able to attend any games this year!

[Mike1]

Looks as if you had a great day. Thanks to everyone for the great images.

(I got finally try Haggis!)

But you neglected to tell us what you thought if it.

[Riverkilt]

Great pics, thanks.

Another cop in a kilt pic for the Kilted Photo Gallery.

Was more taken by the leather dress to the left of the halloween kilt....

Great to see so many kilted at the games...

Ron

[Panache]

Looks as if you had a great day. Thanks to everyone for the great images.


But you neglected to tell us what you thought if it.

I liked it! I had it with gravy and later at the Clan MacNaughton tent plain. I like oatmeal, I like lamb, I like sausage, therefore I liked haggis. I was actually surprised that it didn't have a stronger more distinct flavor. I was envisioning the experience would be more like my first taste of scotch ( "Whoa that's a bit strong flavored! Hmmm let's try that again... )

Cheers

[Alan H]

I spent 2/3rds of my time at the MacNaughton tent, visited with the Halls and the MacNicols and MacFarlanes, and met Elsie Struemeyer...co-author of our famed kilt-making book with Barb Tewksbury, an X-Marks member. Elsie was very kind and had some good comments about my MacNicol kilt that I did for "practice". I took that kilt by the MacNicol tent, where it got an enthusiastic reception, as the guys there had never seen a kilt in one of the "modern, red" variants of the tartan.

The Pleasanton Games are so huge that you simply can NOT see it all, so I concentrated on "Clans" this time. Maybe next time I'll get out and see more music. I DID manage to get an budget basket-hilt claymore in the vendors hall, though. It's not a "real" sword but it's something bright and shiny to carry in the Clan Parade and hang on the wall. Besides, there's nothing like a flame-haired goddess with a sword, eh?

It was great to see everyone, 'specially Bill, whom we've missed at our Bay Area Beer and Kilt nights. It was also excellent to meet Bill's Dad and Damaris's Dad, up from Guatemala.

I *finally* saw a Stillwater Nightstalker kilt, and I gotta say, I'm tempted.

Arrrgh, I volunteered to be the Clan Hall Association webmaster, and to be the #2 dude for the Clan MacNaughton Association website, too. Eeeek! These Games are dangerous!

Great pics, Panache and WalkerK!

[Mike1]

Alan, help me out here. I always thought basket-hilts and claymores were two different types of swords. Can you post an image of your new acquisition, so I can see what it looks like?

[Bob C]

Guys, that is an outstanding display of kilted fun. It's great that so many of you were able to get together. Your games are clearly a bigger event than any of the games I've been to here in upstate New York. I'm jealous!

Thanks for sharing your pics and stories.