The Quaich at the Kingston Scottish Festival or Do you have the Quaich?

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 05:25 AM

It was an early day for me as I woke up at 5 a.m. to meet up with Nathan in Ajax On. to take the ride to Kingston for the Scottish Festival. We had a wonderful drive and conversation it made the drive seem quicker than it really was. Arriving at our destination we unpacked the Quaich and met up with Farmer Jones and Crash, as it was nigh on 10:30 the Quaich was promptly pressed into service.

The intrepid crew From Left to Right Crash, Farmer Jones, Myself and Nathan

Getting ready for the first dram

Farmer Jones Nathan and Crash with the Quaich

Nathan and I

The caber toss such as it was.

There was of course Highland dancing as well.

And pipe bands

The next post will start our adventure in Kingston itself. As Kingston Ontario has such a rich history it was Nathan who suggested we take the Quaich to the statue of Sir John A MacDonald, Canada's First Prime Minister.

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 05:27 AM

Sir John

Nathan the Quaich and myself with Sir John

Nathan the Quaich and Sir John A MacDonald

A wee dram to toast Sir John

Toasting our first Prime Minister.

From the Quaich's perspective

More to come...

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 05:40 AM

A few more of Sir John A MacDonald

I just had to climb the cannon.

We then went off to find other adventures in Kingston, and came across some interesting finds. As we were driving Nathan spotted a Celtic Cross and we thought this must be investigated.

With the mist coming in off the water it was a wonderful scene.

Nathan and I

There were some Japanese tourists who requested photos, this young girl was fascinated by our sporrans especially Nathans full mask.

On the way to the Marine Museum of Kingston and the Great Lakes we found this ships wheel so we went inside to investigate

On closer inspection we found we had walked into the lobby of a condo or apartment building. The wheel was from Edinburgh.

More to come...

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 05:48 AM

At the Marine Museum of Kingston and The Great Lakes

The guest book signed for the Quaich by Nathan.

It was then off to find some souvenirs of Kingston, we found a red police box, well in a situation such as this what would you do? We decided more photos were in order

Nathan and the Quaich with the Spirit of Sir John A

Myself with both as well

More to come...

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 05:57 AM

Inside the Kingston Tourist Centre

Then it was onto Fort Henry

Overlooking Kingston from in front of the fort.

Nathan with David the 10th, for information on David check this link
http://www.forthenry.com/index.cfm/e...avid-the-goat/

David enjoying the Quaich

More photos from the fort to come...

**Father Bill** · 25th May 14, 06:07 AM

An absolutely marvellous tour you've given our Quaich, and photos to match! Well done, lads!

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 06:20 AM

Nathan and I discovered that if you walk around in a kilt like you belong then people let you get away with a ton of stuff. As we had been in a muddy field for most of the morning Nathan asked if there was any boot black we could avail ourselves of, we were shown to the boot polish directly and although it did not completely set our muddy brogues straight it was a step in the right direction. Here is Nathan with the charming woman who helped us out though I can not recall her name

Some more from the fort on the way...

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 06:50 AM

Myself with the leather worker in the lower fort, we were able to get to the lower fort with a combination of moxie and nonchalance again if you walk with purpose in a kilt people let you in most any door.

We then found the wine room

I decided to try something new dubbed the Quaichy-Hamish

Nathan Laird of the sunscreen doing the Quaichy-Hamish

On exiting the fort we saw one of Kingston's Finest and decided we needed to get a photo with him.

As it turns out the constables last name was Scott and he is of Scottish decent.

More to come...

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 07:23 AM

Then it was back to the games

As yet another storm was coming in and the food vendors were closed up we decided to go to the Sir John A MacDonald pub, this wee pub was once his law offices.

Here is Amanda our lovely waitress and temporary keeper of the Quaich more of that in a minute.

Nathan Laird of the Sunscreen with the Quaich

There were some free calendars on Decembers page Sir John is seen wearing his pocket watch in an interesting way which Nathan decided to take up as we were there, the verdict was that though it may have been good enough for our first Prime Minister it was not the look either of us would like to emulate again any time soon.

As were leaving we again tried to fix Nathans Barbour jacket, the zipper of which was stuck, it never got fixed as far as I know. I said to Nathan while getting everything together “We cant forget this” grabbing the Quaich I placed it on the table then I picked up my Balmoral and draped my Inverness cape over my arm. Once we got mack to the car I looked at Nathan and said “Do you have the Quaich?” to which he replied “I thought you had it”. After an expletive or two I ran back to the pub as Nathan got the car to come and collect us. I ran into the front door and found the Quaich sitting on our table where I left it. Amanda reassured me that she was watching it as she assumed we went out for a minute and would be right back.

Once everything was sorted we were off to Toronto. Just a few more photos from the final leg of our journey to come.

**McMurdo** · 25th May 14, 07:39 AM

We decided as we were in Toronto we went to The Caledonian for a nightcap. Donna our gracious host was taken with the story of the Quaich and offered us 2 drams from her bottle 15 yr Glenfiddich if I remember correctly.

Donna having a taste

Nathan having another

Lisa showed up and so she needed to join in and have a wee sip.

It was a wonderful day with the Quaich and Nathan. The photos do not convey the laughter and camaraderie that we experienced during the day, it was the highlight of my week. It was great to meet Farmer Jones and Crash as well. One thing I love about Xmarks is that the Quaich brings to the front of my mind is that I have met some of the best people in the world through this forum.

More adventures of the Quaichs visit to Toronto to come.