Piping Live - Day 7

 Another sleep in day as I think we are getting fully acclimatized to the time zone. 

We plan to walk up and get our Piping Live Festival Pass and all our events sorted out and venue checked. We will be spending a lot of time here as this is the place to be leading up to the Worlds on the weekend. This year they are doing a festival style setup with a pass getting you into the general stage, food and beverage areas and then further ticketing to special events within the facility.

Once Kelly was ready, we headed up Buchanan Street towards the Piping Center. Once there, we checked in & received our festival bracelet pass and scoped out the general area.  Kelly immediately found the merchandise booth and found some shirts that she wanted. 

We then went over to Cathedral Park to catch the morning North Stratton band practice. It was a 20 minute walk but mostly flat. The band was hard at it and we enjoyed the music. Following the practice, we talked with Kyle, one of the band drummers, and got the details on a certain scotch shop and a couple food recommendations for us.    

We then took Cody to lunch.... finally!! We went to Bar Home and talked all things band lol.  After lunch we went back to Collegelands to watch the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band's practice. Always great to hear this grade 1 band. 

SFU Drum Section

SFU Pipe Section

SFU Full band

Following their practice session, we walked back towards the Piping Live venue to the Good Spirits Company and checked out a suggested scotch. Easily found it but didn’t have room in my backpack.... so I’ll grab it another day. 

 

Building artwork

More art!

Off to the Piping Live venue where The Royal Air Force of Oman was playing a set. Very entertaining with bongo drums and a whistle joining in. We grabbed a beverage and then went up to the main auditorium for the March, Strathspey and Reel competition. We were early so lots of good seats available but it did fill up quickly. 

Alan Bevan and Jack Lee from SFU along with Bruce Gandy were the folks we knew in the competition. Some great piping ensued and I am glad I am not a judge!  

Bruce Gandy

Jack Lee

We watched all 20 players and then awaited the results…. 1) Bruce Gandy  2) Roddy MacLeod  3) Connor Sinclair

Overall winner was Alan Bevan (includes results from the earlier piobaireachd  contest). With this win, he gets to attend the famous Glenfiddich Piping Championship at Blair Castle in October. 

 

We wandered back towards the hotel and stopped at the Blue Lagoon Chippers for a late dinner. Back at the hotel, we relaxed and finished up this blog.

I have also been following the Canadian F3A Team (and a bunch of others) at the World Championships taking place in Muncie, IND USA. Always happy to see people getting to fly!! 

Weather was broken cloud with temps in the mid 20ºc range.... very nice for Scotland!   

Steps: 13,475 

Tomorrow's agenda: Still in flux... North Stratton will practice on Glasgow Green at 11 a.m. so we will probably take that in.  Buy scotch :-)