Quote: Originally Posted by bethandlouis (original)
Bought our tickets for the Highland Games. We can only go on Saturday and Louis is not going to be happy to wake up so early. Want to meet up?
Sure, I'll be there all weekend, heading over Thursday night or Friday morning (got a friend with a big-ass ski condo in Lincoln). For the clan parade and opening ceremony on Saturday, I'll probably be luxuriating in the exclusivity of the "members tent" (ooooh, swanky) since that gets me a better view of things, but before and after that I'll be out and about with my peeps. Just look for the half Spanish half Scottish guy with the shaved head, goatee, and red Grant tartan kilt. Can't miss me. I'll be there all day, I'm sure we can figure a time/place to meet up, show you the sights and such. I'll PM you my cell number, hopefully it will work up there.
Some thoughts/things to consider:
Non-members (i.e. people who just buy a ticket and don't give them a bunch of money!) have to park off site. There will be signs for where to park, the main lots are off Exit 32 (Hobo RR and up behind the Timbermill) and Exit 33 (Clark's Trading Post, Whale's Tale Waterpark). School buses run back and forth up to the site at Loon. Account for that in your travel time! Everyone seems to get to the parking lots at 11:15am thinking that will give them plenty of time to get to the Opening Ceremony hoo-hah at noon, then they discover that 10,000 other people had the same exact thought. Also, no pets, even tiny little dogs, unless you can convince them you are blind and have a very small guide dog.
There's all kinds of stuff to see, of course. A few highlights I'd try not to miss; The Massed Bands & Opening Ceremonies on the Parade Ground at noon. One of the signature events, all the participating pipe bands march in, then collectively play a few tunes, which is pretty cool when it's several hundred pipers and drummers. This particular event is always popular so the choice viewing spots around the parade ground get occupied quickly. Sure, there's another massed band performance at 5pm, but it's just not as good as the noon one. Also, try to catch a performance by Albannach, one of the bands playing there. Four drummers and a piper making an absurd amount of noise, it's good clean fun. They are doing short (25 minute or so) shows at 11am, 12:30pm, and 3pm around the site. And, of course, there's big burly men in kilts throwing large random objects around on the athletic field. Can't miss that. That will be going on all day.
The whole sched (still curiously lacking an online version of the map they mailed out) is at:
2006 NHHG Schedule - NH Highland Games
What are the odds of getting Louis to try haggis?
-Ricardo
