Day 602: Steve's 67th Birthday

For Steve's 67th birthday, Mary and I took him to the Celtic Festival in Mayville.  Bagpipe bands from all over the region performed and athletes participated in traditional events like caber tossing, sheep throwing, stone and hammer throwing.  No real sheep were harmed!  Athletes stabbed stuffed sacks with pitchforks and then threw the sack over a high bar behind them.  The caber tossing was fascinating.  The twelve foot long pole weighed 110 pounds and the athlete had to throw it so that it tumbled end over end.

We enjoyed a piping hot fish and chips lunch along beautiful Chautauqua Lake.  Mr. Franklin was there making his kettle corn.  He used to come to the Colonial Days that Steve ran when he was still teaching 7th grade.  Steve loves the sweet and salty crunch.

Steve and Mary's mom Betty was a Hall so this is one of their clans.  

They also have ancestors from the Elliott and Masterton clans.

My maternal great grandfather was Chester Menzies so this is my clan.  

A drum major in training

One of the drum majors all decked out in formal garb. 

Tomorrow, we are heading to NYC for a few days to see our family.  We can't wait to see them!  I swam 250 lengths today for a total of 56 miles this summer!  Just one more mile to tie the 2012 total.  It's probably a good idea to take a break from swimming cause my shoulders and elbows are very sore. When we return on Wednesday, I will only need 200 lengths to complete the goal.