highland games

All the pipe bands proceeding together across the big field.


Caber toss


Shotput


Haggis throw


The amazing caber toss...right before lift off
The log has to go up and flip over, then land in a 12 o'clock position from where the thrower is standing.

We enjoyed ourselves immensely at the Bellingham Highland Games on Saturday. I loved the cultural experience, for me as well as the kids to see...the kilts, the bagpipes, the knives tucked into the boot-tops. Highland dancing has been known to bring a tear to my eye, and my heart swells at the sound of the bagpipes. That's my roots showing...my great-grandmother's family was of the Stuart clan of Scotland, which makes me 1/8th Scottish.
My kids loved the day as well. They got to climb up in a stone tower, jump in a bouncy castle, listen to hundreds of instruments playing in a pipe band procession, see dancing and rugby and participate in authentic highland games themselves. The older 2 both came home with ribbons for throwing discus (a big rock) and haggis (don't ask!) Nu, as I mentioned in the previous post, had a great time too, and shocked a large crowd when he successfully lifted, balanced and tossed a caber (a big log) high in the sky, flipping it in just the right way! Before him, we watched an entire young, muscle-bound rugby team go up one by one, and each one fail the task. I was so proud! And he didn't even hurt himself and have to endure a long ride back to Abbotsford Hospital! He proceeded on to the final round with one other man, and they gave the title to the big Scot, because they couldn't bear to have a foreigner win the caber toss (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). It was a noble feat, and Nu honored the victor with a haka, much to the crowd's enjoyment.
So, what a day! Lots of memories were made, enjoyable company was had with my Mom and Dad, and it may just become a tradition.