Pleasanton Scottish Highland Gathering and Games

[Baeau]

....Will there be an XMarkers gathering? At least for a photo shoot?

It's tough being stuck with the pipe band stuff but happily at Pleasanton we have no Opening Ceremonies to do so we're free in the morning...

We have the week to plan a gathering. We intend to get there early.

Richard, the brood sent a photo (taken today, about 10:00am), from somewhere on your patch. Kilted individual.

[Baeau]

Anyone care to arrange a time/place for an XMTS gathering? Went to the fairgrounds years ago, so I'm no help. Just ask my wife & daughters, they will agree.

[OC Richard]

Staying at the vintage Tri Valley Lodge (think Bates Motel) and it's a bit of heaven- two Indian restaurants just steps away.

At the Host Hotel (San Ramon Mariott) yesterday we listened to the Professional Piobaireachd in one of the ballrooms and outside heard Great Lakes Pipe Band rehearsing.

The buzz amongst us pipe band people is the unusually large Grade Two presence- nine bands:

North Stratton (Edmonton, Alberta)
Robert Malcolm Memorial (Burnaby, British Columbia)
Portland Metro (Oregon)
Winnipeg Police
Cameron Highlanders (San Diego)
Atlanta
Wasatch & District (Utah)
Prince Charles (San Francisco)
Great Lakes (Cleveland, Ohio)

Many times here at Pleasanton there has only been one Grade Two band with no-one to compete against, and having to play up in Grade One.

And some of the buzz is about the Grade Two band that isn't here, the Los Angeles Scottish, who recently went to Grade Two after over twenty years in Grade One. Pleasanton is in their back yard so to speak, it's a contest they nearly always attend, and they're usually the Guest Band... hence the buzz. However they were just in Scotland for the Worlds two weeks ago, and perhaps doing two trips back to back was too difficult to schedule.

Another thing, the festival grounds have been reconfigured this year, after over 20 years of being more or less the same. The Clan Tents have been moved from their usual spot, and the pipe bands have pitched their tents in the old Clan area. I'm not sure where the Clan Tents are now.

The bands will now approach the competition area from the opposite direction, putting the spectators in the same orientation vis-à-vis the sun as at the Costa Mesa Games.

[YOJiMBO20]

Staying at the vintage Tri Valley Lodge (think Bates Motel) and it's a bit of heaven- two Indian restaurants just steps away.

At the Host Hotel (San Ramon Mariott) yesterday we listened to the Professional Piobaireachd in one of the ballrooms and outside heard Great Lakes Pipe Band rehearsing.

The buzz amongst us pipe band people is the unusually large Grade Two presence- nine bands:

North Stratton (Edmonton, Alberta)
Robert Malcolm Memorial (Burnaby, British Columbia)
Portland Metro (Oregon)
Winnipeg Police
Cameron Highlanders (San Diego)
Atlanta
Wasatch & District (Utah)
Prince Charles (San Francisco)
Great Lakes (Cleveland, Ohio)

Many times here at Pleasanton there has only been one Grade Two band with no-one to compete against, and having to play up in Grade One.

And some of the buzz is about the Grade Two band that isn't here, the Los Angeles Scottish, who recently went to Grade Two after over twenty years in Grade One. Pleasanton is in their back yard so to speak, it's a contest they nearly always attend, and they're usually the Guest Band... hence the buzz. However they were just in Scotland for the Worlds two weeks ago, and perhaps doing two trips back to back was too difficult to schedule.

Another thing, the festival grounds have been reconfigured this year, after over 20 years of being more or less the same. The Clan Tents have been moved from their usual spot, and the pipe bands have pitched their tents in the old Clan area. I'm not sure where the Clan Tents are now.

The bands will now approach the competition area from the opposite direction, putting the spectators in the same orientation vis-à-vis the sun as at the Costa Mesa Games.

Hmm...didn't know we were marching into the comp area from the other direction now. I knew the Aux circle moved, but I thought the main was still the same.

Also, due to (I believe) personnel issues, the Cameron G2 won't be there. The G4 will be the only representatives of the organization present.

[OC Richard]

due to (I believe) personnel issues, the Cameron G2 won't be there.

Yes it was unfortunate to not have them there.

They had a wonderful band going, loads of top talent, beautiful sounding.


Anyhow the weekend is over. I had a great time! Due to the Clan Tents being moved we pipe band people were able to pitch our Band Tents right in the middle of where everything was happening, unlike in the past when we were way over in a corner. It was wonderful to have the Final Tuning area right in front of our tent. (You hear bands best when they're doing their final tuning, many of us feel.)

Got to meet some nice XMarkers over the weekend! Thanks for coming by our tent to say "hi"!

[Baeau]

Richard, it was great to meet you. Enjoyed the art conversation. SWMBO & the NALTD were intrigued with the construction/design of bagpipes. The offspring even enjoyed the, previously called, noise.

[OC Richard]

That is so cool!

Here's our intrepid little band this weekend...

[YOJiMBO20]

Was a good weekend, overall.

Band took 2nd and 3rd Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Got to hear some great G2 bands. Massed bands was actually in the shade. Saw a few X-markers out and about, but didn't get a chance to talk to any of them, other than OC Richard for a few minutes while another band was in final tuning.

Wish I could have stayed for the ceilidh on Sunday night, but had to miss out on massed bands to catch my flight home.

[California Highlander]

Great to chat with you O.C. Richard. My girl's had already been to your niece's Cubside Creamery in Oakland (I told you we were an "ice cream-centric" family!) so now I'll have to get by and have a scoop since the rest of the family went without me!

Thanks for your sporran and band kilt insights as well!

[Baeau]

I keep reading, "If there isn't a photo, it didn't happen". No photo of me, but I managed one of OC Richard.


And, we have had an epiphiney in our dwelling. The NALTD was listening to Albannach, last pm!