Kent

August 4th found us in London. Did you know it was actually started by the Romans? That's what the guide on our river boat tour up and down the Thames told us. So it has to be true.



Our day started out at the Globe, a re-creation of Shakespear's original theater. It's very impressive.

He was quite a playwriter and as it turns out quite a businessman. His theater held thousands (hope I remember that right).






While we were waiting for our tour Bobby Coyle, from the Kossa Dancers, gave everyone laugh after laugh when he was the guinea pig for showing how ladies dressed. He had fun and it was also a great relaxer for everyone.











The floor in front of the stage was not the most expensive seat (actually there were no seats on the floor) in the house.

There were no bathroom/toilet facilites and the floor recieved any and all recycled beer and food.

Okay, that's not the greatest thing to know, but it's interesting in the fact that the Globe was across the river on the rough side of town, so to speak. As a result
it might not always have the highest in society viewing the plays.

The Globe was rebuit some time ago and actors, citizens, companies and groups contributed funds. One of the most interesting things was I looked down and I was standing on the sqaure with the name: Roswell, NM (New Mexico) Shakespear Society.

I grew up in Roswell and had no idea there was such a society. Apparently I grew up on the other side of town but was pleasantly suprised to see Roswell, NM right where I was standing. Made me proud.

Our arrival at Kent Jamboree found us without our host, as she had to leave just about the time we got there. She had made all the arrangements for our sleeping and eating and no one knew what, when or where.





Thankfully the managed to find us lodging and food. We have come to depend upon those two things, among many others. Such as a coach (bus to all us in Texas), rain, humidty (we thought we had humidty in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex before we left), but we didn't compared to what we've had on our tour.



If my memory is right, we've only had one day that it didn't rain a lot or most of the day. Guess we're doing a rain dance and not knowing it.









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We had to be taken from our sleeping (tents) and eating area to where we would perform. Try moving sixty folks, 40 plus dressed in regalia, some time. They did and did a great job of it.

The crowd was wonderful. We do a friendship dance where we ask people in the crowd to dance with us. More often than not they're shy and it's not uncommon for some of our dancers not to have partners.







But not here! Constantly we hear: "ME! ME!" and had the most enthusthic dancers, all full of smiles, laughing and having as good a time as we've had on our tour.

After another short night, we're up early, packing, eating breakfeast, loading up and off again (or as Willie Nelson once sang) "On The Road Again,"

Charles refers to it as "herding" and we've done it so many times we're getting pretty good at it.





On our way to Camp Fryland's Wood we rode the London Eye. It's a giant wheel over the river that towers over more landscape than you can see unless you're in a airplane. It moves very slow, so slow in fact that you don't realize it, unless you're looking at the landscape, which is the whole idea behind it.

It starts out with you stepping on to it as it moves. Yes, it's moving and you're stepping onto it.

Sort of a dizzying feeling grabs you as you go from a solid platform to a moving glass bubble.

The mechanics of it are fantiastic. You start out with your glass bubble on the bottom and as you rotate up, your bubble stays level but changes with the angle of the wheel. By the time you're on top, your bubble is on top and nothing but blue sky is above you.

I don't do ferris wheels well and did my best to suck it up to step into that bubble. The view is awesome and you can see into next week or last week, I think.

After the London Eye we got on the London Eye sightseeing boat, another great experience. We rode up and down the Thames River. Our guide told us about points of interest than our brains could absorb.

We also had the opportunity to do a little more shopping.

Just what we needed, to buy more stuff to try and find a place or way to pack for home. Being the troopers we are, some of us reached deep down into our wallets and managed to contribute some cash to the London economy.









Our hosts at Fryland's were Barry and Penny Warden. They were great and we enjoyed our time with them. Especially since we had buildings, with beds, bathrooms and showers.

Talk about luxury touring...beds, bathrooms and showers are on top of the list. No matter their age or condition, they're inside and that really makes a difference.

That evening, our performance was in a small grassy scenic area, located in a kind of bowl with the crowd sitting on the ground above us.

Mother nature gave us a break from the rain, the evening was very pleasant,and the crowd (while small) was very appreciative.

They fed us a wonderful supper, then breakfeast and wished us well on our way. They're a very nice couple with a beautiful baby.

Today we spent more time in the London area by touring the Windsor Castle. It's where the Queen spends most of her time.

If the flag is flying she's there. Not today.





It's a sureal experience this display of royalty, splender, luxury, tradition, history, the pride of the English people. The royal family rooms are so elegant.

Armor, history, art, and beauty fill every room, hall and knock.

You could spend weeks there and never see everything.

If you ever get the chance to come to England, Windsor Palace is a must see.

It's another addition to our bucket list.

Prior to our tour of the castle we checked in at the Wings 2009 Jamboree. It's much bigger than the Kent Jamboree. From the stage you are suppose to be able to see the castle. It was cloudy so we couldn't.

Our performance was the main event for the evening. They had a huge stage and it rained.

Still we performed and the crowd (standing in the rain most of the time) were very appreciative.

At all of our performances we liked to meet the crowd, visit and spend time with them. Unfortunately we couldnt' this time due to the rain.

Back in tents again! Another early morning coming up. We then loaded up on three buses and its off again.

Tomorrow is the last day of our "Black Pearl" as Charles calls the bus. Our bus has to go to the shop.

As a result we're getting two buses to haul us around untill we board the train for Paris.

Tomorrow we visit Buckingham Palace, see the changing of the guards, and go to Radlette for our last performance at the Radlette Center, We'll be lodging at the Wellend Campsite. Don't know if that means tents or not.

We are constantly making new friends.



Check out David Sanders doing his airborne routine.



Every group/tribe/association has it valued elders.





I don't know if we'll get another chance to update, but if we do, I will. I want to thank Site Services for the use of their computer, their internet. Without them it wouldn't have happened, but then, on the other hand I would have gotten several hours more sleep.

I will update more photos when we get home, as I've only taken a little over 3,000 so far. The ones from tonight are different as we were on a stage with limited room to dance and lots of back lighting.

Personally I think they're some of the most interesting, but that's just the artist in me.

A couple of interesting things we've noticed are:

When our coach is traveling on one of the many very narrow roads, traffic must stop, pull over and let us pass.

This seems to be very difficult for those drivers to comprehend, as they continue to speed towards us. They can't pass (due to our transports size) but once they are on us,, it is too late and they have to stop and back up.




Another oddity is we've only seen one troop of scouts in a uniform.
A neckerchief seems to surfice for a uniform. They wear it with shorts, campo pants, and anything else.



As Kwahadi Dancers sometimes we have to make do with what we have. It makes us stronger as it teaches us to value the little things. Such as dressing rooms.



As a Harley-Davidson rider I've found a lot more "wanta be" bikers on this tour than any where in the USA. Total Harley riders has been fifteen.



This has been a once in a life time experience and I've enjoyed it to the fullest. My aging body on the other hand is still undecided.

I know I can speak for the other "gray hairs" (as Charles refers to us) thatt we are feeling the effects of our long tour.

Don't tell him but he's one too.

Hope you enjoy our blog, tell others, think about inviting us to perform for you. Contact Charles Ritchie at Kwahadi.com.

John Madden