Thursday, July 07, 2005
Grandfather Mountain delayed
Well, looks like Tropical Storm (now depression) Claire has delayed my weekend plans. I'd expected to head out to Grandfather Mountain this morning at around 3 AM, get there by 10:30 AM, and have the rest of the day to have fun. But the National Weather Service predicted 24 hours of nonstop rain starting sometime yesterday, not clearing up until very early tomorrow morning. So I'll leave tomorrow morning early instead, drive through the storm (which is headed for DC, albeit weakened), and get there in time for opening ceremonies. I hope the friends I'll be camping with aren't too worried about me! Bill and Brenda were expecting me this afternoon, and Michelle thought I might try to come up yesterday evening! I'm sure I'll get the obligatory "where the hell were you?", to which I will reply, "Someplace dry".
I'm still totally unready for the fiddle competition. My intonation (especially on the air) is sounding very good, but I'm still not up to snuff. Lots of practice the next three nights, I guess. The pipes are good, I guess.
I did get my new hide bag up and running for my period pipes. The reed I'm using while I buy a new batch of MacShannons isn't too terribly bad. The intonation is fairly good (436 Hz), but I get some gurgle on the E. I may need to push it in more, and then tape the high hand. Or get better pressure control, as the E only goes wonky when I overpressure it a bit.
This weekend's concert w/ Julie Gorka at Potomac Overlook Regional Park went well. Not ever a big audience, but enough to justify it. Gerry Orvis from the Appins came out and watched too. Speaking of Gerry, he helped me make more belts (pistol, sporran, and waist) for my kit. Once Phil Cromwell makes my sporran cantle, I'll have a complete kit (w/ Gerry's borrowed Waistcoat & Jacket). Still need to get my own waistcoat & jacket from Kim, and buy a slightly more accurate bonnet, but I'm getting close. I also have some more work to do on my dirk handle (carving knotwork, for example), and longer term, replace the basket on my sword. But I'm looking very accurate now.
I'm still totally unready for the fiddle competition. My intonation (especially on the air) is sounding very good, but I'm still not up to snuff. Lots of practice the next three nights, I guess. The pipes are good, I guess.
I did get my new hide bag up and running for my period pipes. The reed I'm using while I buy a new batch of MacShannons isn't too terribly bad. The intonation is fairly good (436 Hz), but I get some gurgle on the E. I may need to push it in more, and then tape the high hand. Or get better pressure control, as the E only goes wonky when I overpressure it a bit.
This weekend's concert w/ Julie Gorka at Potomac Overlook Regional Park went well. Not ever a big audience, but enough to justify it. Gerry Orvis from the Appins came out and watched too. Speaking of Gerry, he helped me make more belts (pistol, sporran, and waist) for my kit. Once Phil Cromwell makes my sporran cantle, I'll have a complete kit (w/ Gerry's borrowed Waistcoat & Jacket). Still need to get my own waistcoat & jacket from Kim, and buy a slightly more accurate bonnet, but I'm getting close. I also have some more work to do on my dirk handle (carving knotwork, for example), and longer term, replace the basket on my sword. But I'm looking very accurate now.
# posted by Peter @ 7:06 AM 
