| AFTER ACTION REPORTS |
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| Sunday morning dawned in the high 50�s. We got our fire rekindled & Clifton Gorden prepared us a sumptuous breakfast of bacon & eggs. After breakfast, we spent time photographing members of the clan. The afternoon was once again spent talking to visitors & demonstrating our musket drill. We broke camp about 3:30 p.m. and were on the road toward home a couple of hours later. Organizers said 3000 to 4000 people attended Sunday�s festivities. We had our largest turnout ever for Blairsville & one of our all-time largest turnouts for any event, with 10 clansmen & one camp follower. Thanks to each of you for making the effort to be there.
TASTE OF SCOTLAND Clann Nan Con was graciously welcomed to A Taste of Scotland in Franklin, NC on Saturday, June 16. Representatives of the event discovered our clan at Blairsville in 2006. Britt Brinson, Neil Fitzgibbons & Ed Lunderman arrived in Franklin on Friday afternoon about 4 p.m. Not knowing where to set up, we stopped by the Scottish Tartans Museum. The museum staff members hooked us up with event staff members who directed us to our campsite and invited us to the Celeidh. After touring the museum, we set up camp. Just as we finished setting up the tents, we were joined by Michael Ramsey & Jeremy Crouse. After taking time out to greet each other, we continued to tidy up the camp, then climbed into our Highland attire & went down to the Celeidh. Since we missed the barbecue, we didn�t stay long. We went out to eat, then out to find straw and other essentials. Before we could return to camp, a heavy rain drenched the area. Upon our return, we used to straw to fix up our bedding, and then spent time in fellowship. Intermittent rain continued throughout the night. The temperature was in the low sixties. All slept soundly. We rose early to get our camp ready for the visitors� arrival and to prepare our breakfast. The first visitors began to arrive around 9 am. A steady stream passed through camp throughout the day. A number stopped to visit. The clan marched in the parade. Skin Neal, along with his friend Rachel & dog Bertrina, arrived before noon. The afternoon was spent talking to visitors & conducting musket demonstrations. Our public activities ended shortly after 4 p.m. We walked down to the square for supper & listened to the entertainment for a couple of hours, then returned to camp. More people stopped by our camp, up until about dark. After dark, a fealty ceremony was held to induct Crouse into the clan. Fellowship continued up until about midnight. It was a beautiful evening, with temperatures in the low sixties. We rose early on Sunday and began to break camp. We said our goodbyes and were on the road before 10 a.m. "LONE DOG� LYNCH RETIRES Submitted by Neil Fitzgibbons By report of the Bard, beer ye, beer ye, Larry �Lone Dog� Lynch has ceased to be a savant of His Imperial Majesty George Bush II, His Highness and our Commander In Chief. This occasion was celebrated as Lone Dog Lynch�s RetirementFest and Fort King George Fundraiser. Reenactors in attendance included Neil �Bard Dog� Fitzgibbons, Clifton �Sea Dog� and Nan Gorden, Cathy Lanier, William Temple, Steve Smith and very special guests and entertainers Jamie McKenna & the Highland Ranger Artillery (The Really Big Gun). Mistress Nan and Neil outfitted the officers quarters for the duration while Lone Dog and his lady resided at the Infirmary. Folks started to arrive before 5pm and parked themselves comfortably close to the keg of Guinness and kitchen. Bard Dog Neil played a little background music, airing oot the mostly pre-1800s Scots songs, ably supported on drums and vocals by the esteemed likes of William Temple, Randie Whisenant and Dalton Smith. Now talk about taking to the music! That lad is a farce to be reckoned with (Dalton Smith). Mistress Nan has threatened Steve and Shannon to provide him with a drum of his very own. Well did we eat? We did, impressively. Without a doubt, the best low country boil and fish fry I have ever �sperienced. The cool barley pop made it possible to fit in more than one might expect. Jamie and the Rangers gave us a short artillery drill and then a round of songs and merriment. (We also had a bit of an artillery contest, thunder mugs at 20 paces, with the Rangers and the combined Infantry/HIC.) The Clancy Brothers would �plaud frae the grave and probably did so, to see and hear the gusto put into such selections as �Finnegan�s Wake�, �I�ll Tell Me Ma,� and �The Wild Rover.� Then came time for the roasting. Lone Dog was proclamated and sauced by his directors and given a �company� coin and a commemorative wall plaque, and a genuine actually ticking watch. Gifts were exchanges as well as compliments and ribaldry. Suitable donations were given for kilt inspections to occur. More details from Larry �give�em a Braveheart� Lynch. Mistress Sharon pretty much had the last �he�s mine now� word until Lone Dog gave her the diamond ring (good thought) and she put away the sword with a smile (without drawing blood). A raffle was held with all sorts of delicacies, weapons and even Wm. Temple�s artwork with ample amounts of food and beverage left over. The Highland Rangers then gave us an amplified concert joining the group for some more contemporary selections. Between the ticket sales and raffle, over $700 was raised for the Garrison Friends. The official end of the RetirementFest was firing the cannon which was touched off by an auld cigar-smoking friend of the Lone Dog, Paul Creary. Oh, the consumption that went on, the ravishing of the shrimps and fishes, the tackling of sausages, the cabbaging of cakes! I�ll say that the culinary efforts were not wasted on the ravening crowd. Lulled to sleep by the mockingbirds, Nan, Clifton, Larry, Sharon and Neil made it through the night in the Officers Quarters and Infirmary. The Thermacell technology appeared to completely drive the skeeters from the OQs. First good summer sleep at FKG. Note also that Steve Smith had bug-fogged the fort on before the event, for which we all thank him. There were some good lessons for future events, and it will indeed be a challenge to top the Lone Dog event. We all had a marvelous time and recommend that Lone Dog retire again, as often as possible, with similar results. |