Kilts in the Smokies

**davedove** · 5th October 05, 06:46 AM

My regular day off on Friday happened to coincide with Columbus Day, so I've got a four day weekend. I'm planning to drive down and go through Smoky Mountain National Park and plan to be kilted a good part of the time. Since I'll be fairly close, I'll stop in and check out the Scottish Tartans Museum. I'm just wondering what the people of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee will think of the kilt. They'll probably think I'm a Scottish tourist!

**cavscout** · 5th October 05, 07:03 AM

I'll be in Cherokee, NC this weekend with my family. If you see a Gordon Modern running around, that's me.

Have a great trip.

**davedove** · 5th October 05, 07:22 AM

Hey, if I even see another kilt, it will probably be you!

I'll probably be passing through there on Saturday.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 5th October 05, 08:14 AM

Stop by the museum while you are in the area! Our weekend staff this weeking are Jim and Kathie Akins, members of clan Gordon, so Jim should have one of his Gordon kilts on. He has an ancient Gordon kilt that Lochcarron made for him a few years ago, and then I just finished for him a box pleated kilt in modern Gordon, made from an old regimental piper's plaid.

I wear the kilt in the Smokies all the time and never get anything but a good reaction. In fact, you might get somebody asking if you work here at the museum!

Matt

**Andrew Breecher** · 5th October 05, 08:34 AM

I wore a kilt through the Smokies (literally through them, on the Appalachian Trail). I got good reactions everywhere I went. When I was in Hiawassee, GA, I was told about the museum in Franklin, but I didn't get a chance to stop by when I got to the Nantahala River.

I went to see a bluegrass show in the tiny town of Hartford, TN, and the locals loved it. As one gentleman put it, everyone in that area is "either Scots-Irish, or Irish-Scots."

Andrew.

**davedove** · 6th October 05, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Stop by the museum while you are in the area! Our weekend staff this weeking are Jim and Kathie Akins, members of clan Gordon, so Jim should have one of his Gordon kilts on. He has an ancient Gordon kilt that Lochcarron made for him a few years ago, and then I just finished for him a box pleated kilt in modern Gordon, made from an old regimental piper's plaid.

I wear the kilt in the Smokies all the time and never get anything but a good reaction. In fact, you might get somebody asking if you work here at the museum!

Matt

I'll be there on Saturday, Matt. It's a shame I won't meet you, maybe next time. I do have the lunch recommendations you sent me, thanks.

**davedove** · 10th October 05, 05:16 PM

I got up Saturday and strapped on my MacIan kilt before going out for the day. No comments from the hotel staff when I checked out. My first stop was for breakfast (biscuits and gravy, I was in the South). The waitresses asked if there were some highland games going on, and I just told them I felt like wearing the kilt. One waitress asked about the tartan and said there was a Scotsman in the back, but he wasn't wearing a kilt. He waved to me as I was leaving.

I stopped at the visitors center before going into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. While in there, an elderly lady asked if I was a true Scotsman. This time it wasn't "the question"; this lady was actually from Scotland. She asked about the tartan and told me I had the length right since it hit at my knee. She did ask about a sgian dubh, and I told her I don't normally wear one. I don't feel the need to wear one casually. She then said I looked good.

It wasn't the best day for sightseeing in the park. Because of the rain that had gone through, there were a lot of low lying clouds. I went to the top of Clingman's Dome and couldn't see a thing. Four or five people came up to me to ask about the tartan and told me their own affiliations. Of course, none of them were kilted.

Drove down to Franklin and went through the museum and chatted briefly with the people there. Of course there were no comments on the kilt there!

Got back in the car and drove up to Mt Mitchell, the high point of North Carolina, and the highest point in the eastern US. A couple of people saw my kilt and said they wished they had worn theirs.

All in all, a good day in the kilt. The only bad thing was the time I spent in the car, which was hell on the pleats. They seem to be coming out okay from just hanging, but may need a brief touch up with the iron.