The Caledonian Society of Arizona

Word has just reached us that our friends in the Prescott Area Celtic Society have been forced to cancel their Highland Games, due to take place on 25 and 26 September.

A statement from the Society read, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of the Prescott Highland Games and Celtic Faire scheduled to take place on September 25th and 26th, 2021. Due to the ever-present danger of COVID and the risk potential for all our participants and visitors, the Prescott Area Celtic Society Board feels that it is not in the best interest to move forward with the games.

“We cannot in good conscience put our Celtic family at risk, and you ARE our family!. The board deliberated and weighed all factors in this matter and did not come to this decision lightly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause anyone, but PACS feels that we always want to put on the best games possible. With this ever-present danger, we feel this will affect our games negatively this year, and games in the future.”

Four Peaks Brewery Tour

Those who attended the Society's tour of Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe enjoyed a treat - and not just the tasty fish and chips.

Four Peaks touor

Carter Nacke Four Peaks and its flagship Kilt Lifter Ale is a well-established city business, having opened in 1996 on a site that was once home to a creamery and ice factory.

Our host Carter Nacke was a fount of knowledge about the history of the site, first developed by Borden Milk Company in 1892, as well as something of an expert on all the in-house beers.

As well as Kilt Lifter, the company's other brews include Peach Ale, Winter Wobbler, Leroy Brown, and Pumpkin Porter (which is in season and went down well with the Society members).

Carter made sure we were well topped up with a "wee refreshment" but he made it clear that if you are afraid of ghosts then steer clear of the place. There seem to be dozens of them and if you don’t believe him just ask the old gentleman with the well-ironed white shirt - if he makes an appearance

Four Peaks are the most recent sponsors of our annual Scottish Games and it's always a pleasure to link up with them.

Phoenix Scottish Games

Plans are under way in the hopes of organizing a Scottish Games in the early part of 2022. However, there are difficulties involved given the issues arising from Covid.

President David McBee said, "The Board is concerned about the rise in cases caused by the Delta variant of the Covid virus. Several other outdoor events planned for this fall in the Valley have been cancelled. We are continuing to look at our options for a 2022 event and hope to make an announcement soon."

Scotland's Hidden Gems - Public Transport
Iain Lundy, Editor

It is something that shocks every visitor who makes it from America to Scotland. You really don't have to hire a car to get around, strange as it may seem.

Here's a statistic that will raise an eyebrow or two. The distance between Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, and Edinburgh, the Capital, is just short of 50 miles. Glasgow has a population of around 1.1 million. The city boasts in the region of 95 railway stations, taking into account the mainline, underground and overground network.

There are six different rail routes between the two cities with a total of 458 trains on any given weekday. They are filled with captains of industry, government ministers, high-ranking church ministers, as well as working-class men and women, schoolchildren, and shoppers - anyone who needs to make the commute.

Aviemore station

Scotland's railway network seems to go into every corner of the country, from the major cities to small towns, ferry ports, and villages with only a handful of houses. It comes as a shock to visitors from a country now dependent on the car.

Glenfinnan viaduct Travelling by train is one of the joys of a trip in Scotland. A rail journey from the Central Belt to Oban, Fort William or Inverness passes through some incredible scenery. So do the "inter-Highland" lines that service Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh and Thurso. The east coast services to Aberdeen that traverse Speyside and hug the North Sea coast offer equally stunning views.

And of course, you can sit in relative comfort, lap up the scenery, have a beer or a glass of wine, read the paper, do the crossword - all without having to stress about driving on Scotland's narrow country roads.

Island ferrt

If you want to visit one of the many islands, then just hop on a ferry and enjoy the crossing. But it's the train that is really the enormous difference between the two countries. Take Phoenix, a metropolitan area of more than 4,000,000 people. Not a single commuter train runs between Phoenix and Tucson. The light rail service is extremely limited.

ScotRail

So next time you take a trip to Scotland, don't think it necessary to rush to the car hire center - grab some train timetables instead and enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your seat. As an old British Rail slogan said, "Let the train take the strain".

NC500 - the North Coast 500

You might have noticed the hoopla and marketing glitz that heralded the launch a few years ago of Scotland’s so-called North Coast 500 (or NC500 as it’s known).

The plan was to entice thousands of motorists along the quiet and quaint little roads of the north of Scotland. The marketeers were warned from the get-go that it wasn’t a great idea but pressed ahead anyway. This article by a local resident reveals just how much of a disaster the experiment has been.

welliesontheschoolrun.com

Flowers of the Field - Linda Maschino

The Society is saddened to learn of the death of Linda Maschino, for many years a member of the Lady Claire Lodge Daughters of Scotia.

Linda was born in San Francisco snd made her home in Arizona. She was a business owner and especially enjoyed cooking. At the recent Burns Suppers in Chandler when the CSA has partnered with the Daughters of Scotia, Linda was the driving force in the kitchen and ensured that everyone had a good plate of haggis - or a preferred alternative.

Her daughter Kari runs the Kari Maschino School of Highland Dance and her young dancers have entertained us at Society meetings over the years.

Snippets from Scotland

Snippet from The BBC

It's amazing what three new houses will do to the Scottish island of Eigg, just off the west coast. If the accommodation is built and occupied, it will double the population, currently standing at 15.

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7pg995pwdwo

Snippet from The Scotsman

There really is a group called Witches of Scotland. They are calling for the pardoning of women who died as witches in Scotland centuries ago. Not as well known as Salem but equally as brutal.

www.scotsman.com/news/people/witches-of-scotland-petition-calls-for-scottish-parliament-to-pardon-those-accused-and-killed-as-witches-3364316

Snippet from The Herald of Scotland

Feisty Scottish celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay - host of Kitchen Nightmares - has opened a new restaurant in central Edinburgh, part of his Bread Street Kitchen chain. Worth a visit if you don't mind being shouted at.

www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/19548882.gordon-ramsay-edinburgh-restaurant-location-revealed/

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