St. Patrick's Day at Zion Canyon National Park

[Riverkilt]

Wore my USA Kilts saffron semi-trad to work Thursday (never too early to celebrate). Wore my Ireland's National semi-trad to work Friday. Then wore it for a weekend over at Zion National Park...drove over in it Saturday and hiked in it Saturday, wore it again today...packed light, just one kilt.

Most common reaction was "Happy St. Patrick's Day"...with the usual "Were you in the band?" and two " There's a man in a skirt".

My responses were always genial, "Its a kilt laddie."

One guy on the trail to the Emerald Ponds just said, "There's one!" and shook my hand.

A young man of about twenty said, "I love it!" as we were checking in.

My favorite was at the Checkerboard Mesa viewpoint a boy about two or three said, "Mommy, why is that man wearing a dress?" Before she could answer I said gently to him, "Its a kilt - a manly garment laddie. And when you're older you'll wear one with pride and enjoy the FREEDOM!"

We stayed in a lovely cabin at the Zion National Resort which not only has a herd of bison, they serve bison in their restaurant...a succulent filet it was. Ironically, not from their herd. The Utah food handling laws don't allow restaurants to serve "fresh" bison meat so they have to import it from Canada.

Anyhow, here's a couple pics.



At the buffalo ranch.



At the Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Zion. Pleats after three days wear.



North Fork of the Virgin River in Zion Canyon. The Virgin River is a tributary of the Colorado River.

So a really positive weekend and St. Patrick's Day. Even the two guys with the skirt comments got very apologetic and said they were teasing after I responded with polite firmness that it was a kilt.

And of course, after three weeks away from my lady it was very nice to spend time with her when I wasn't sounding like Doc Holliday and coughing my lungs up.

Ron