Kilted Carolina Vacation

**Mael Coluim** · 16th July 10, 06:18 PM

Monday, I head for the Scottish Tartans Museum. It was a pleasant drive from Asheville and beautiful scenery to be seen. Mac Guinea Pig has her own dandelion!

I arrive in Franklin; find Matt and a number of people touring the museum and the gift shop. I get the obligatory shot in front of the museum under the museum sign with Matt. We really need to start a collage of these pix. I have three box pleats tailored by Matt of the following tartans; XMarks, St. Patrick and St. Columba. I wasn’t a hard decision which one to wear as both Matt and I bear the name of this Irish evangelist saint to Scotland.
As you can see Matt wore his St. Columba tartan kilt, tool

The nice thing about this tartan it lends itself to many color combinations of hose and garters!

**Mael Coluim** · 16th July 10, 06:37 PM

The museum has many interesting exhibits on the history of the kilt and tartan. There is an excellent film which tells the story of the kilt and tartan.

There area a number of exhibits on Scots in North Carolina. My Great grandfather, Henry Jefferson Malcolm came to Virginia at the turn of the 20th century from North Carolina.

**Mael Coluim** · 16th July 10, 06:46 PM

As I go through the exhibits I find a display entitled the Malcolm Kilt! The tartan is not named, but quite beautiful, The kilt has a matching vest.

Matt confirms for me that Don Malcolm is of Atlanta. Don was President of Clan MacCallum Malcolm Society when I joined.

Next to the Malcolm Kilt there is this beaut, the Mac Duff kilt, the olderst known civilian kilt in existence!

**Mael Coluim** · 16th July 10, 06:54 PM

Display of tartans

I find the tartans of my clan

**Ryan Ross** · 16th July 10, 07:45 PM

Awesome pictures, Ern! Looks like a good time was had by all!

**Ryan Ross** · 17th July 10, 11:29 AM

Ah, looks like you met Hana at the Rath, and I'm glad to hear that Belhaven is still on tap there!

...hopefully it still will be next week, when I get up there. ;)

**Kiltman** · 17th July 10, 08:16 PM

Thanks for taking me along on the trip by way of the photographs.

**Mael Coluim** · 23rd July 10, 08:07 PM

Work has a way of interrupting life. I now resume the rest of my story.
Piperdbh, (David Hensley) when learning I would be in the area invited to hike with him to see a gorgeous waterfall. An offer not to turn down. I was also anxious to meet David as we had corresponded through XMarks for a couple of years, now.

Conveniently, meeting David at the local Walmart in Marion, we headed for the mountain. On another thread, about this upcoming trip, when I wonder what kilts to pack, David has responded a Carolina tartan kilt. Well, I don’t have that one in my wardrobe, but I do have a Caledonia tartan, which is a USAK casual kilt a perfect choice for hiking. So, I wore it for this hike.

It wasn’t a far hike from the trail head to the falls.

**Mael Coluim** · 23rd July 10, 08:09 PM

David cools off in the water!

The flower of this tree has a sticky substance for trapping insects. Or in David’s case sticking on your ears as the mountain girls would do!

Nearby is an abandoned mica mine.

Afterwards, David took me for a tour of Marion. I think David must be associated with the local Chamber of Commerce. I was so impressed with Marion due to David’s tour I decided to re-locate my business to Marion. But then I realized, I don’t have a business! Thanks, David for the great hike and tour!

**Mael Coluim** · 23rd July 10, 08:53 PM

After lunch with David, I got my provisions for camping out the next four days on Grandfather’s Mountain.
A quick trip from Marion, I was soon there and make camp with the Gordons.

The next day, I hiked Grandfather’s Mountain.

I decided, again to wear my Caledonia tartan USAK casual. A winner for hiking and admiring glances from the ladies.
I don’t think I’ve been asked what tartan is that from so many ladies!