Bournemouth

Wow, internet access, a big room to work in, real chair, lots of lights, only two days since the last update and it's much earlier than other updates.

Life is good!

The Catherdral Cloister is beyond belief. In case you don't know part of Harry Potter was filmed there. Go see the movies if you haven't and you'll get a glimpse of the majestic catherdral, which really won't give you a real feeling for it's grandueur. However, it's better than not having that glimpse.

As a writer, how do you start writing about one of the most magnificent places/buildings you've ever seen?

As Charles Ritchie would say, "get er done." something he got that from American icon.
LARRY THE CABLE GUY!

Our hosts Neil Harden, Mark Stapleton and the Forest of Dean Explorer Scouts met us and guided us to the cathedral.

When you turn the corner and first see it, it actually takes your breath away.

It's so big, the design is from a fairy tale you read about as a child, you expect to see Knights of old, clergy in their black robes with their belts being rope, the clamor of armour, the people milling about from shop to shop, horns in the distance calling men to arms, dragons flying overhead, dragon slayers scanning the sky for an opportunity to put a notch on their weapon of choice and more mental illusions from your childhood readings - all in front of you.

The halls are long, high ceilings and I know I heard singing/chansting (in fact a choir was practicing but I didn't know it at the time) and the floors were worn stone from thousands of footsteps walking before you. The floors were uneven from all the wear and it felt like you were in another time.

The stain glass windows...WOW. I love windows, especially stained glass ones. Each has a story, a history and you could spend days just trying to read, look at and absorb each. They were a museum within themselves.

The marble for it came from the quarries near Bournemouth, where we're at tonight. During the 1100 to 1400 century the "Purbeck Marble" was shipped all over Europe for catherdals.

Red shirts, kacki pants/shorts, red coats and Kwahadi Dancers were everywhere. We only had a few hours to inhale a week of not being able to see everything. Time passed faster than allowed and everyone who entered left different, even if the didn't know it.

It has that effect on you. It reaches out, touches you, embraces you, fills you with the history of it and allows you to walk away a changed person. You have walked where history lived, was made and grows.

It's on my bucket list.











































We performed at the Wilderness Center before a very apprecitive crowd. It was the smallest place we've had to perform and I think it was one of our best shows.

Why you ask?

The smallness made it necessary for us to put on a shorter show but at the same time we were extremely close to the crowd. Charles was able to walk up and down the twenty or 30 feet, maybe 6 feet wide and that afforded him the opportunity to get the crowd, especially the children, more into the performance.

He invited several to come up and learn how to dance. As is always the case, some came, many were shy and one adult stood up to be counted. They learned some basic dance steps, our dancers use, and recieved a reward of applause from those in attandance.

This was an especially good performace for me, as two English scouts, Timothy and Simon Brain, who had stayed at our home ten years ago, in Weatherford, Texas came with their family. Their uncle, David and his ever beautiful partner, Linda, whom we
had spent time with in Texas were also there, as were their parents and Simon's girlfriend.

I was waiting for a ride up to the Wilderness Center, when I hear Dennis say, "John you're in trouble now." When I turned around this stout young man was marching towards me in a very determined manner.

What had I done? I was just standing there and it appeared I had done something wrong. When he was a few feet away, he said "Simon" and my concern went to happy in a mili-second.

But wait, that little scout was bigger and taller than me!

He said "Tim" is in the car and out popped another giant.

Before to long the entire party was around and hugs were given out like candy at a celebration.

Scouting gives us so much: skills, opportunities and friends.

How blessed we are and it's up to us to pass those blessings on to other scouts.

As usual the food was good, there is something about ham, sasuage, and bread that seems to be a staple in every breakfeast we've had.

Eggs show up on occasion and are gulped up as quick as they are placed in front of us.

Coffee is always a must. It's made a lot STRONGER over here. Tea is becoming a valuable part of our meals too.

Today we rode and rode then rode some more to Bournemouth. The weather was not our friend, as it rained too much for our tastes.

Dr. Harrison remarked, "this is the only place you've wear a wetsuit to get a suntan." His reference was actually in refernece to all the people that were suppose to be going to the beach for sun and fun.

There was no sun, there was no fun in the sun and rain ruled the day.

Because of that the roads were jammed with traffic, at one point we figured we were averaging thirty miles an hour. Most minimum speed limits back home start at 55 mph and in some places 75 is crusing speed.

The rain took care us out of seeing Corfe Castle, and riding a steam train to Swanage.

Our host is Alistair Henderson and we are very grateful for a wonderful place to rest our bodies, take showers, sleep on beds (with sheets, they don't want us to se our sleepiing bags...talk about first class for Scouts) and get a good nights sleep.

We were scheduled to do two shows today and it looked like the rain was putting a damper on both of them.

At the last moment we loaded up, after unloading, riding into Swanage and putting on a short show at the Fair. It was our biggest stage, so to speak as it was outdoors, and our largest crowd.

Have you ever tried to count poeple watching something at a fair? I lost or gave up at five hundred and twenty.

After that we loaded up and returne to the nightly port in any storm, so to speak. We were given a BBQ supper, which was very good and greatly apprecited.

The dancers burn up a lot of energy so refilling their systems is critical.

Especially tonight as we put on another performace before calling it a day. Two in a day is a lot of dancing. Our mocs are wet, leggings are wet and anything that hit or touched the ground is wet.

However, the Kwahadis take it all in stride, we dry out what we can, get some sleep, pack up, load up and head out every morning with a new mission. Sharing our dances with those we haven't meet.

Tomorrow we vist Brownsea Island, the original campsite Baden Powell started scouting at and memorial with a talk by a Baden Powell expert. We'll be ferried to and from Brownsea Island by the Tsunami Explorer Scouts in thir own flotilla and attend church at St. Mary's Church.

We'll visit the Mayflower steps on the Barby in Plymouth and then put on a performance at Mount Tamar School, were we'll also spend the night.

Sounds like another full day.

We have some really interesting people in our Kwahadi dance group.

Eric Henderson, from the Kossa Dancers in Lousiana, loves to pursue and embrass whomever doesn't want to dance. He'll tell them, "I'm going to follow you, you can't get away from me." Once they give in and after the dance he gives them a braclet he made and thanks them for the dance. It's all in good fun and they wear their new gift with a blushful pride.

We're on a buddy system and my buddy is a 74 year young grandmother, five foot nothing named Billie Joe Pettigrew (she's quick to tell you it's a Scottish name).
Like my Judy, Billie talks to everyone and anything about everything and nothing. If I have her energy when I get her youthful age, I'll be happy. Oh, one other thing about her, she's nearly always the last one on the coach, which gives me the opportunity to stand up, again.

A slight detour in thought....many of the bananas we've gotten and or seen must come from a premature sorce, as they are so small.

It's getting late, no it is late and I still have to download photos from my camera to notebook, sort through them to find some to download, put them on a memory stick and transfer them to the computer I'm using.

Why...it's that WiFi is everywhere thing again. It's not so we make do and hope they download faster.

Enjoy our tour, spread the word, invite us to dance for you and share with others.

A BIG thank you to Steve Douglas (my friend, fellow photographer, writer, web designer and jack of many trades), back in Amarillo, Texas. None of this blog would have been possible without him, his input, ideas and work. He also checks for all my mistakes and tries to make me sound like I'm the writer I think I am. Since it's 12:01 PM it'll be tomorrow before he takes his magical computer white out and does his best to give you readable updates. Thank you Steve.

John Madden

PS: What a great newspaper article from Prudhoe. Thank everyone at Prudhoe, you were so good to us and now what a great review. Our first!

Newspaper Article

Hi Steve

Thought you might like to see this and possibly upload? Its from our local Northumbrian newspaper, The Hexham Courant http://www.prudhoelocal.co.uk/american_indian_troupe_camps_out_in_prudhoe_1_592503?referrerPath=home/search_results_2_4942

Regards

Carol

Prudhoe Local
American Indian troupe camps out in Prudhoe

By ROBERT GIBSON robert.gibson@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated 09:48, Friday, 31 July 2009

AS TEXAN dance troupe, The Kwahadi Dancers, continue on their UK tour, it’s unlikely they’ll get a repeat of the glowing reception they received in Prudhoe.

Before their stunning performance at the town’s high school had even begun, they were made to feel at home with a barbecue and welcome from town mayor Jennifer McGee.

Prudhoe’s youth club The East Centre also helped out with proceedings, allowing the 63 dancers and support staff to camp in the charming, if smallish, building.

Naturally ‘elfin safety’ requirements – possibly not a big deal in Amarillo – had to be rigorously enforced, but youth worker Carol Quinn said it was worth it.

“It’s the first time we’ve had a sleep-over here, but we thought it was a really good opportunity for our young people to meet those from another culture,” she said.

The Kwahadi Dancers, who present a pageant of song, dance and stories of the American Indian, originated in the 1940s, when a group of Scouts put on what was supposed to be a single performance.

It proved a hit, however, and a whole movement grew out of it, sparking 4,000 further shows and making the group known throughout the world.

On organising the tour, the dancers contacted Scout groups throughout the UK to see any if any were interested in hosting them.

Leader of 1st Prudhoe Scouts Sue Charlesworth certainly was – and it’s unlikely she’s regretting her decision.

Taking over not only the stage, but the majority of the main hall at the high school, the dancers provided a memorable evening for which the term ‘something different’ does not quite suffice.

They certainly looked the part, for a start, with elaborate, colourful costumes and headdresses, composed of everything from hide to feathers to the ancient, mystical...CDs, it seemed.

With vibrant expressions, notably lacking the faintest trace of cynicism, the young people dazzled the audience with complex moves that were not only visually beautiful but rich in history and meaning.

We had the Old-style Ladies’ Traditional Dance, which the females traditionally performed in a circle outside the men, and the more modern Fancy Shawl Dance, which is essentially as close to feminist empowerment as American Indian culture comes.

Other delights included the Old Time Sneak-up Dance, in celebration of the skilled hunter, and the Friendship Dance, which saw members of the public making a mess of the simple act of shuffling.

The most inspiring aspect of the show, however, was the story-telling and words of wisdom passed on to local young people from tour organiser, Charles Ritchie. He has the rare gift of transmitting moral teachings without drifting into moralising, and of addressing young people’s concerns without being tempted to preach or patronise.

On paper, the themes read like cliches – being yourself, learning from mistakes, making the most of freedom – but he was able to a bring a freshness to them that made one stop and think.

Mr Ritchie was also consistently humorous, which – whether in Amarillo or Prudhoe – always helps to keep an audience.

And the Kwahadi Dancers certainly did that.

Manchester

Rain, did I mention it rains in England?

Did I mention there are three cycles to the day?
No rain....raining.....going to rain.

We last left off at Prudhoe and our wonderful host Sue Charlesworth.

What a wonderful bunch of people. In fact we have been treated so
good by everyone and we can never say thank you enough.

We visited the "Deep" a "sub" aquarium that gives you a eye to eye view of marine life and its beauty.

If you get the chance to go to a subaquarium, go and see this amazing world of beauty.

That night we camped at the Raywell Scout Acitivty Center.

I hate to admit this but I'm beginning to forget the many names of our lodgings are as we spending so little time in them.


They have all been good with the most important things being the showers and beds. You'd be surprised how much a hot shower and a bed can give you the energy we need to carry on, but still, the reality of this long tour is beginning to take it's toll.

Lack of sleep is a constant, and as a result everything becomes a blur. N We go too bed late, get up early,, throw down some breakfast (usually some cereal) load the bus, get on and then most of us go back to sleep while going from one gig to another.

Charles did send everyone an email tilted: "Can I talk you out of going"?
He talked about how hard trip like this is and he was right. It's one of those things that brings out the truth in "when the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Here a a few more photos for you to enjoy:

























































We passed up on touring the Leeds Armor (time is either your friend or not) and today, it was not our friend.

On this tour the old, "hurry up and wait" adage has it't truth, as we hurry up there is always the wait part usually due to traffic,
weather, or some other time-consuming obstacle placed in our path.

As a result we seem to always be a step or two behind the plan.

The Davyhulme Scout Hut was our next point of hibernation.

Bob Spoora was our host and we greatly appreciate him, his staff and all their help.

We just can't say enough about how wonderful everyone has been to us.

We're deeply appreciative of their kindness and consideration.

The Imperial War Museum was on our schedule today and if only more people would visit places like that, see the horror and trauma of war, maybe we could learn from history and stop repeating the cycle of madness.

It's a magnificent museum with many things to see, absorb, reflect on and gain an awareness of the insanity of war.

Our performance tonight was at a Maoonic Hall. This was especially meaningful to Mac, Tim and I as we are all three Masons. The crowd was great and for the second night we got to see, hear and enjoy the 3rd Davyhulme Scoutg and Guide Band of Manchester.

I've downloaded abut 700 photos from the last few days and picking just a few to upload is difficult.

Again I have ben blessed with a Scouter who has Internet access enabling to make my rather limited posts.

My host just went to bed (it's 2:55 AM) so I'm going to stop this feeble attempt of writng, try to upload some photos and hope for some sleep before we have to get up this morning, way too early.

Tomorrow we head to Gloucester and I'm really looking forward to it.

If I rememberw right, two young English scouts (Timothy and Simon) who stayed with my Judy and I, when we lived in Weatherford, Texas will be at our performance.

Their uncle David and other members of their family (including their parents) will also be there. It's been at least five years and I have a feeling they've grown.

Remember if you'd like to have the Kwahadi Dancers come your way, contact Charles Ritchie at Kwahadi.com.

Now off to bed - at least for a short while.

John Madden

PS: The internet connections we have been able to make are extremely slow, so a lot
of the photos I wanted to post never made it. Sleep thrumped photos.