Radlette

Today we get to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. This is history with a capital "H". The Buckingham Palace!

This is the royalty of England and the British Empire.

Tony, our driver who is family, dropped us off fairly close on the side of the palace. All around it is a rock, wired, camera searching and very guarded wall. As you come around it you see trees, lots of trees. Must be a beautiful back yard with flower gardens and places to sit. All we can do is let our minds wonder into a vision of wonderment as to what it looks like.

There were some places you could buy tickets and go into this wonder world, but as usual our time was limited and that just wasn't an option. Unless you didn't want to see the changing of the guards.

We walk, actually work our way through a maze of people to the front of the palace and are met by an impressive fenced and gated view of the front of the palace.

When we finally found the front, we saw a sea of people across the street waiting for a glimpse into history as were we.



Malinda, Billie and I had teamed up to keep an eye on each other most of the trip, so we started out together. Somewhere along the way Malinda got separated. Most of the time it was Billie who would talk to anyone, anywhere and always.

Looking for a viewing place we saw and visited with some German Scouts. This was extremely neat to me, as I grew up in Germany and did a lot of my early scouting there.



Billie and I happened upon a man, named Michael, who told us "stand here, you won't see everything, but you'll see eighty percent." It was behind a guard rail and he told us "they'll make everyone move if they're not behind a rail."



He was right and police constantly worked at keeping the "public access" (a sidewalk) that runs the length of the palace clear. At first it was just walking police but after a time it was walking and mounted pressing the stubborn (I do mean subborn as 90% tried to go where they were not allowed, wanted to stop and take photos or just try to stay where they stood-mostly people who you could tell were from foreign countries)crowd to clear the sidewalk.







Micheal was a walking-talking-breathing history channel of the British.

He was 78, had been one of those evacuated from London during World War II, didn't have or ever need a car, had a new TV that it took him a month to figure out how to turn off (he unplugged it till he learned how to turn it off on the set), someone had given him a cell phone some time ago and he had no idea where it was, loved the royalty, a deeply routed pasifist saying "all we need to do is talk to each other" (life is wonderful in a bubble with rose colored glasses--reality is there are and will always be those who are just evil and want what others have), was very proud of it and told us more history than a tape recorded could have keep up with.

He was an interesting and enjoyable person to meet and he made our multiple hour wait behind the railing very enjoyable.

Finally the bands started coming from the barracks. Then marching and mounted guards. One thing for sure...they sure know how to put on a show with regal flair and ceremony. It was thrilling for this elder to stand there, take photos, live the event, and bask in the breathtaking drama taking place.





Once inside the majestic gate the band played, new and unknown songs. No matter what they played I was lifted up by their sound and walked around on their notes. It was so cool (I know I use this word a lot, but I'm a 60's person and John Denver fan so that word and phrase are a part of me - and as my sons say in jest - "deal with it.")







We watched the pom and pargetory play out behind the gate as the guards where changed and ready to leave the palace. Then the enormous gates were opened and the last act of the drama began to march out in front of us.



Bands, marching guards, mounted guards and history passed in front of us.

Far out!

You know you can read about something, watch it on the history channel or local news but nothing prepares you for the real thing. Nothing!

Let my photos speak their best.











We loaded the coach and were off again. Our destination was the Radlette Center for a performance and lodging at Wellend Campsite. Our host was Verify MacLachian and a
team of outstanding helpers.

If my memory is correct and if not please let me know. We visited the Tower Of London that day. Not to long into the tour I lost track of what day it was and it just roller coaster after that.

I had always thought the Tower was one of the two towers, at either end of the bridge over the river. I was wrong. It's a castle with a history of its own. We toured the Tower and again were blown away by all the history, buildings, and grandeur of England.







All through our tour we have seen the most beautiful stained glass, in churches, castles and even places to eat.

This one is in one of the towers in the Tower of London.



How many years of history have walked on these stones, this walk way in the Tower of London? Sort of makes one feel like a speck in time.



The herd waiting for all to be accounted for after the Tower of London. "Never be the last one" as Charles said more than once.



As we left the tower we came up period players about the share history with the crowd. Our time didn't allow us to watch it but I did get a shot of them.



They fed us a wonderful meal at the Girl Guides hut. They have a signed photo of Lord Baden Powell and Lady Powell. WOW. I worked at getting as good of a photo of it as possible.









What a piece of history and it was just hanging on a nail, covered with dust and almost to high for most to see.



Clean up, as always found Charles washing dishes, Jerry, David, Dennis (one of the strongest links in this chain), Neal (one of the finest young men many of us have ever had the opportunity to met) and a host of others pitching in.



Our performance at the Radlette Center was one of our most difficult.

Why?

We had time (that golden thing everyone takes for granted) to dress, not just 15-30 minutes, but over an HOUR. We had a nice room with chairs or things to sit on, vs standing or hooping around on one leg. We had some type of circulating air, not just the heavy hammer of humidity that makes the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex humidity seem like childs play, laying on us from all sides like a elephant. We had several toilets near by, not a race or sprint away. We had a stage, big enough for all dancers to stand on without having to hold their breathe so everyone could be a part of the show.

Time, room, toilets, space...never take what you have for granted.

The crowd was great and they spent considerable time meeting, visiting with, taking photos with and enjoying the dancers.

Yea, it was a difficult performance. NOT.

Here come the Kwahadi.



We dance for food.



All the dancers in the Eagle dance are either Eagle Scouts from the Boy Scouts or Gold Award holders from the Girl Scouts. As an Eagle Scout myself, this is one of my favorite dances.



Comanche dance.



Challenge dance.



Hoop dance.



Fancy shawl dance.



Young warrior dance.



Sneak up dance.



Artistic blur. Have to keep trying different things to keep ones mind sharp.



The chiefs.



Airborne fancy dancer.



Catching a dancer airborne is a neat trick. It takes lots of tries with more failures than successes. The trick is to keep on trying. Like Charles says, "Never stop trying."

This is David Sanders on the way down at an earlier performance.



Every performance ends with the captured Eagle dance. Dustin Sanders, the Head Chief of the Kwahadi has the privilege of dancing as the captured eagle and he gives the crowd a dance to remember.



The chiefs made a presentation to Charles, thanking him for everything he's done. Folks this man is awesome. I've known him for some 30 years and have wanted to be a part of the Kwahadi Dancers for many years. He's totally dedicated to these kids, their lives, experiences, and future. He never wants the limelight, attention or glory. He's always fades into the woodwork, so to speak, and wants all the attention to be 100% on the kids.

I'm proud to know him and to finally be a small cog in the Kwahadi Dancers.



We want to thank our driver, friend and family member Tony. He make our trip more than just a tour, he made it enjoyable, educational, an experience, and an adventure. We are extremely thankful we were blessed with "Backup" Tony.







At the end of our performance I noticed people looking at the stage, with their cameras, and turned to see why. In the middle of the stage was a pair of mocs. Sitting there all alone.

They belonged to Eric.

Eric at a friendship dance at Mount Tamar School. He was always very gracious to make sure whom ever he was dancing with looked at my camera and got a good photo taken. You could tell he loved dancing and sharing the experience with as many as possible.




He had left them there as a way of saying this was his last dance. His last dance!

Eric is a outstanding grassdancer, young man, married to a wonderful and beautiful lady, very well respected by all the dancers, full of life and humor, a strong presence and a vital human being.

I've Pow Wowed all over and this was my first real experience with a dance/performance/tour so I've never seen anything like this. It was a somber moment that reached out and touch every heart in attendance.

They sat there like one of the many majestic statues we had viewed on our tour. They represent a young man and his contributions to entertainment, education, dance, awareness, dedication, and character.



Thank you Eric from all who have seen you, who know you and personally for the opportunity to know you.

When we arrived at Wellend Campsite we were happy. Some cots, showers, food, and no stairs. Will talk more about stairs in another update.

It was time to figure out what we needed, what we could do without and how we were going to get all the things we had bought into our allotted suitcases. For me it was time to leave my sleeping bag, camper pillow, some clothes, European plugs that never worked and anything else just to see if I could get everything home.

Everyday of our tour I had been looking for a place that had golf things, like golf balls, nice golf shirts and anything that spoke of golf. My very good and dear friend Kenneth Poole (KP) had gotten me into golf. I've played about 12 rounds and enjoy it more everytime. So I wanted to find him a golf "thank you."

The husband of our host, Verify, told me he'd take me to his golf club after our performance and when we got set for the night. That happened to be around midnight and it never happened.

Golf started in Scotland and that had been my goal, to get us both a nice golf shirt from Scotland. Did I mention no one wanted us in Scotland?

Anyway that's something for another time. No hard feeling Scotland, even if some of my ancestors came from there.

Okay enough about not getting anything golf.

Tomorrow we would head for the train, early, very early, and venture to Paris. I was excited and looking forward to photographing Paris.

We are an exceptional group of young kids, talented dancers, outstanding Boy and Girl Scouts and if you would like to have us come your way, contact Charles Ritchie a Kwahadi.com

Still more to come.

John Madden

PS: If I haven't gotten photos of your son or daughter in the blog, it's not on purpose. It's a matter of positioning. I had no boom to get me over the dancers, didn't think it would be fair, right or smart to get in the middle of their performances or get in front of the crowd anymore than for a moment. Hence I could not get photos in the middle or back, so the vast majority are of the dancers up front.

If you think some dancers got more exposure than others, you're probably right, again...up front and position.

Best I could do.