Capris to Kilts

Last weekend my dear friend Katy came to visit me, ie help her grandma at the Highland Games in Phoenix.  I'm not sure what I expected my first Scottish festival to be like, but IT. WAS. AWESOME.  This may be due, in part, to the fact that I have done very few things in AZ for my own pure enjoyment.  Working in addition to my internship and taking classes has put a damper on my free spirit, so it was awesome to just relax.

There are a few essential parts to a ligit Highland games:

1. Representing your Clan

Katy is Clan Rose, and I therefore, also consider myself Clan Rose.  They are awesome.

2. Tartan

There are something like 5000 different clan tartan patterns.  That's just crazy.

3. Bag Pipes

They are not as loud as one might think, but their sound carries FOR-E-VER.  There were about 4 different groups and they were all good as far as I'm concerned.  AND, Katy bought a canter, the part of the pipe your fingers go on to make notes.  She will become an expert shortly.

4. And more bag pipes

5. Yummy Food

Go to the longest line with the most kilts and the food WILL be good.  We were rewarded with meat pies.

6. Caber Tossing

This was our favorite part.  They basically pick up this HUGE log, balance it for a while, and then attempt to toss it so it rotates in the air vertically and lands in a perfectly straight line.  If you don't get it all the way around, your score is measured in degrees, representing the highest angle your achieved.  If you do, your score is measured by the way it lands.  A perfect toss is a 12 o'clock.

This caber, Stewart Travel, was the big kahuna.  It was something like 18' 6" and 130 pounds.  Apparently, it has been around for 5 years and has never been tossed.  There is $300 prize for the first man who tosses it and the cash keeps accumulating from year to year until someone does.

This guy was in the light weight competition.  Not bad.  He turned it, but didn't get it to land straight.  

7. Throwing Other Heavy Things

This has to be dangerous.  They basically toss this VERY heavy weight directly over their heads and try to get it over the high bar.  I'm pretty sure that hiking up your kilt is essential to a good toss.

8. Good Friends

If you want to jump on the Scottish band wagon, might I suggest:

http://www.gmhg.org/

http://www.caledonian.org/

http://www.ceresgames.co.uk/

http://www.braemargathering.org/index.html