Photos

Okay,finally got it figured out, I think.

Here are some photos after Belfast, Ireland.

Look for the beautiful handicapped angel we were blessed to meet.

















John Madden

Prudhoe

Since our last update we've traveled many a mile, seen lots of folks, danced and traveled from dawn to dusk.

We left Northern Ireland via a ferry across the Irish Sea and then on to Galway, England. To do this we had to rise and shine at 4AM to be at the port by 5:30AM. The ferry left at 7:30AM and it took a couple of hours.

To say it was a BIG ferry is an understatement. It was huge. Once the bus was aboard we had to depart, as it was against safety rules to stay on it while on the sea.

We had the opportunity to eat breakfeast. I've never eaten where you were limited to the number of things you put on your plate, but we were limited to seven items. Must have had something to do with a group eating.

We met other scouters, including Big Ted Jensen with Big Teds's Real American Cookies. Big Ted was big, about 6'8" I think. He's lived in Northern Ireland for twenty years and recently got involved in the Scouts. He'an assistant and the scouts were on their way to a jamboree.

Many of us used part of the time to catch up on sleep. We've learned to catch a few winks when ever we can. Kind of a survial thing.

After landing we bused to Galway,England for an evening performance at Ratlingate Scout Campsite, thanks to our host Don McCutheon.

A side note about the scouter/gentleman Don McCutheon: one of our dancers was visiting with him, last night, and Don asked him about the leather bound book he had. Our Kwahadi told him he was an artist, he had gotten the book in Edinburgh so he could do some sketching.

Don asked to see his sketches and was told, "I haven't done any yet because I don't have anything to sketch with."

This morning Don presented the Kwahadi with an artist package of pencils and such. Our Kwahadi was taken back, offered to pay for them and Don told him his mother (I think) was an art teacher and wanted him to have them as a gift.

Such kindness and given.

Thank you Don and your mother for giving of your time, consideration, encouragement and the gift, not only of the art supplies, but the gift of thought.

We have been blessed to meet so many wonderful and friendly people.

At our evening performance we blessed with meeting a handicaped young angel. She's beautiful and gave us a smile and laugh that filled our hearts with happiness and at the same time thankful for meeting her.

Her grandmother asked if we would mind if they took pictures of us with her, so that someday she might be able to see and here about the evening?

We were honored and seveal of us got to hold her. At first she started to cry but when we talked to her and rocked her in our arms she relaxed, smiled and laughed.

I don't have her name with me as I write, but will give it later when I post her photo. At that and now, please take a moment to say a prayer for her.

As of that performance we have performed before 1,001 people, with more to add to that tonight.

At Ratlingate we were fortunate to stay in another building, with showers, bathrooms (toilets as they're called here) and in a few cases beds. The older we get the more those little things increase in appreciation, especially beds.

Sunday, July 26th we had a day of rest, touring for fun and we went to Edinburgh, Scotland to see the Edinburgh Castle. Words pale in trying to descibe the castle. It sits on a volcano in the middle of town and towers over all below it as if it were a Giant Lion watching over his pride.

The views from it are magnificent. We only had a few hours and it would be easy to spend days just trying to see and take it all in. It's powerful, majectic, strong, overwhelming, inviting, cold, warm, forbiden, welcoming, and it seems to wrap it's self into your being like a protective parent. You feel secure,protected, confident, and a part of history all at the same time.

It's one of the most magnificent structures I've ever seen or been in and I've traveled all over the world. Put it on your "bucket list." If you don't know what a bucket list is, it's a list of things you want to do before you can't do things anymore.

Several of the Kwahadis bought kilts and put them on over their clohtes. They looked good, cameras appeared like magic, and the gents modeled with great pride their new atire.

The evening we returned our Kwahadi and the English Scouts in camp played "rounders."

For those who play or know baseball, it's sort of like it but not
really. Each person gets to hit or swing at a pitch (slow pitch) and no matter if the ball is hit or not the person runs after swinging and or hitting the ball. There is a home plate, where the hitter stands, first, second, third and a fourth base, not home plate (where they run to score a run). The hitter/or not runs to first and the other team tries to put a runner out. If a ball is hit and caught by one hand, the whole team is out, if it is caught with both hands, only the hitter is out.

It was great watching so many have so much fun. Sharing, laughing, having fun and enjoying each other, isn't that what we're all suppose to be about?

Today we stopped at two places to see Hadrian's Wall.

At the wall I met a couple of old English Scouters. They're not active anymore, but as all Scouters we shared stories and wished each other good times, safe travel and great adventure.

Another interesting observation: people travel with their dogs a lot and being a dog lover I really enjoy that as I/we got/get to pet and know them as well as their owners. Dogs are great conversation makers.

Part of Scouting that is great is meeting other scouters from all around the world. No matter what country we're all one big family and the Kwahadi Dancers are Boy and Girl Scout Ambassadors that represent our home of Amarillo, Texas, the Texas Panhandle, as well as Ulvalde, Texas and Lake Charles, Lousiana in the best way, spreading Scouting and friendship.

As I write we're in Prudhoe, England at the Youth Center and Sue Charlesworth is our host. The Mayor, Jennifer McGee, is presenting us a plague. The newspaper is here photographing the Kawhadis and local scouts.

They had a BBQ ready for us, a place to stay, with showers, electricty, and internet!

Tonight we perform at the Community High School.

Tomorrow we depart for Hessle and a visit to the Deep Subqquarium before an evening performance at the town hall. Our host there is Keith O'Brien. We will stay at the Raywell Scout Activity Center in Cottingham.

Our adventure continues and we have learned to grab a few minutes or longer of sleep when ever and where ever can. Who knew a bus (called a coach over here)would not only be great transportation, but also a great mobile bed.

I'm going to try and upload more photos. Word of caution. Due to lack of WifiI have not been able to update and/or upload photos, so when I get the opportunity the photos may be without explanation just to be able to get some on.

Then, when and if I'll try to ID the photos with places at least.

Thank you for checking out our blog. Keep the faith and we'll update when and where ever we can.

The photos below below to the previous post called "Update."

John Madden


Posted by John Madden at 11:24:00 AM 0 Comments

Update

It's been a few days and we just now have internet access. We're spending a very short night at the National Scout Campsite near Crawforsburn, outside Belfast, Ireland.

First, it's late 12:50 PM and if I make any spelling or grammer errors, maybe you'll understand. Second, so far I've taken over 800 photos and there is no way I can upload all of them, put ones of family or all Kwahadi Dancers in, so I try to find photos that show us, what we're doing and going.

That's my discalmer as far as trying to show all.

We left Galway and headed for Dungarvan, a mere 130 miles. However the highways are not four lane, folks drive on both sides, often they're not wide enough for two vehicles to meet and pass, so one has to give way to the other (which they do very well), they have lots of "roundabouts - a circle where you enter, and either go 1/4,1/2 or 3/4 around to the road you want and did I tell you the roads are NARROW?

A 130 mile is an outing! Do not figure what we would normally drive 130 miles in Texas or the USA as a standard. Add an hour or two and you might be closer.

The people we have met, have been wonderful, outstanding, happy to see us, anxious to learn about our program, American Scouting and how it's compares to theirs, full of energy, and treated us like royality. We can not say enough or thank them enough for our receptions.

We had to pass up on the Blarney Castle as we had to recover two ladies bags, Janet being one of them.







Where we stayed at Mount Melleary was a school at one time and in 1976 the Scouts of Ireland took it over on an long term lease. We had BEDS and showers!
The food was good and our hosts were, well great just doesn't cover it.
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Our host was the most wonderful Brain Mulvihill. He was full of life, funny, a talker, wanted to show us more than we had time for. I sort of got in the dog house with Charles,as I became a "hurd breaker" - you know like being a part of a hurd and needing to stay together. Well, Brian asked me if I wanted to see the monistary and he said, "It'd be a shame to be this close and not see it", plus he was the host and I am a photographer.

The photographer and being a polite scout I couldn't say no. I left with him and took a few dozen photos.



In the morning we boarded up and headed for Dublin One hundred and thirty-five miles later, not sure of how long in minutes and hours, we arrived.



What a city, it's a port and water was such a pleasant sight for our eyes. Oh, did I mention it's rained EVERY day to some degree or the other? But a body of water, now that's different.

We've seen so many beaautiful sights, places and things, that there is no way I can tell you about all of them, except to say. I think most of us would agree we'll like to come back and visit, tour and take more time to enjoy the
beauty of Ireland it's people.

I'm going to try and upload quite a few photos and let them do the talking for me.

After our performance at their Scout Hut we left foe Riverdance.

We were running a little late and they held the show for us. That was very good of them and we greatly appreciated it.

WOW...what a show!

It's a must if you haven't seen it.

I've seen it twice, once when it came to Amarillo and not in Dublin. Hands down Dublin is best. The theater is awesome and it makes their show even more powerful.

Today we left and headed north to Belfast, 140 miles. We stopped to see Bru' na Ba, eat lunch their after buying the makings on the way, slight delay due to traffic and next thing you know it took us 6 hours.

Our host is Dr. David Hutchinson, the first response Charles had about 2 years ago when he put out an inquiry on the internet about this tour.

The Belfast Opera House is so beautiful, old, massive, very colorful, and we had the most room to dress yet. That's a big deal, believe me.

We're at camp, all tucked in (cept me) getting a few hours of sleep before we get up at 4 AM (it's 1:30 AM now, think I'll skip sleep tonight or should I say today, till later),we to leave be at the Belfast Stranraer Ferry by 6:30 AM to cross the Irish Sea to Troon, Scotland at 7:30 AM. It's a two hour trip.
Sleep time!

Enough, time to try and upload photos.

Hope you enjoy, keep checking our blog, they tell us more places, to get internet, lay ahead.

However, I was told...no problem, internet access is everywhere. I don't know where everywhere is, but I know where it hasn't been.

Amarillo and area, we're suppose to have a interview with KVII Monday afternoon and we hope it'll be via Skype so they can show it.

John Madden

We’re flying high to Shannon Ireland.

Well not just yet, as the first leg was a “Road Trip” (in our bus) to
Camp Wisdom. it’s right in the big middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.



The first thing that we got was the unwelcome and uninvited reality of humidity Texas style. It embraced us with its heavy arms of “Hello welcome to my den” around us and started to wring the dry West Texas out of us. It worked on me.

In no time I looked a drowned rat.

Most of the others faired much better or at least their t-shirts didn’t look like a they had just come out of the wash.

After a night in the humidity den we boarded our bus and headed for McD’s and breakfeast. Coffee was on most of the adults minds and we needed it to kick start our hearts.

As 99% of the youth I’ve ever been privileged to work with ours, took everything in stirde and never missed a lick. These kids are the cream of the crop and all their parents should be extremely proud of them.

On a personal note, my brother and sister-in-laws, Bill Don and Vicki came by to see me, give me a hug and wish us goodbye and a wonderful trip. Family is wonderful.

We procceded to DFW and our search for Continential Airlines. After circling the roadways,we decided we had missed ours and headed back where we came from. Don't know if we There were more suitcases, backpacks, duffle bags and such than most armies travel with.

Making our way up the escalator holding on to our bags was a test in human determination, at least for me.

The unwanted humidity found us, again, and we had to pay homage to its demands. So much mositure esaping just doesn’t look good on me, especially when it bleeds through my new gift-travel t-shirt from Kristi Russell, Virgina Garland and Linda Wilson. “Dancing Our Way Across the UK” with every ones names on it. How cool is that? Thank you Ladies!




“Passports, give me your passports" Dustin said and we did. So they could start processing our tickets.

Hey, hey, this is about to be real.

We passed inspection and all were passed on into the inter sanctom of the airport. Our gate, #8, was right in front of us and all we had to do was wait. This four letter word will get a lot use before this tour is over.

Food, some wanted and found food. Some stood around knowing sitting was going to be our mode of travel for many a day. Others had things to read, games to play, people to watch and time to wait.

We boarded our flight, pilot got the okay to taxi, we moved into line to wait our turn. Before too long the roar of our jet threw us into the air as if we had been shot out of a giant sling shot.

It’s interesting that when you’ve done something many times you forget the thrill of the first time. I had the opportunity to sit with Ryan and Colin on their first flight. It was neat seeing them so full of excitement, wonder, and enjoyment as we flew.

Everything was new. When was the last time you saw that in someones eyes or felt that feeling yourself? It made, no gave me, the opportunity to enjoy the flight even more.

As we flew into Newark, NJ we saw the skyline of New York City, the Empire State building and the Statute of Liberty. What a picture and I was as transfixed as everyone. My camera was resting below my seat! I’m a photographer and suppose to capture moments like that. I did, but only in my memory.

Two gates later we boarded and started our long flight across the Atlantic. It was dark when we flew over it and games, movies, sleep and no sleep keep every one busy.

Ireland....we landed. This is real!

It is so beautiful and I'll post more photos later. This is the first time
we've had internet and thanks to Philip Sheeran it's happening, from his house. Thank you Philip.

Tony is our bus driver and after some anxious times he finds us about the same timed we find him. What a bus. A double-decker and it has air conditioning.

We saw the cliffs of Moher and they are fantastic. It started to rain, not much but enough to round up our herd and head them back to the bus.



The Renmore Scout hut is in sight.

We unloaded, they feed us, we changed into our regalia (the weather was a concern--as we've learned it rains in Ireland).

A man told Mike "This is a passing shower, but it may take a day or two to pass." Tis true.


The Spanish Arch, which is 500 years old, on the bank of the Corrib River was the site of our first performance. It was as they say, "a grand show" of over 200 plus people of all ages.

All the tired, lack of sleep and jet lag didn't keep the Kwahadis from giving more than 100% and the crowd loved them. People stayed and visited, Kwahadi Dancers handed out collector photo cards, thanks to the Big Red, and many an autograph was asked for and given.

Another great step in people knowing the Kwahadi Dancers.

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It was a great way to start our tour. The crowd was wonderful, the Kwahadi put their all into it and friends were made, fans were made and photos were taken.

What a great day, we're tired, got some showers and most are asleep as I write.

Tomorrow we kiss the Blarney Stone and put on another show. If we can find access, we'll post, if not we'll have to wait to find a place like now.

Hope you enjoyed our days, our travels and tell others about us. We love to be talked about.

Dancing for Food we go forth.

John Madden