CHAPTER 1. LAUNDRY LIST OR WHAT TO PACK |
What better place
to begin with than what to pack for your trip to scenic Lochaber, the
heart of “Cameron Country?” Outside
of the variables, such as where one might be traveling from, where they
plan on lodging or how long their 2009 Gathering visit might last, there
are a number of must have items, outside of the typical “laundry
list.” - Lochaber-Wear: Scotland’s
majestic West Highlands are green – actually, they’re greener than
green. This is due to the
routine rains they receive, which are often little more than a misting
or heavy fog in consistency. At
the last International Gathering, in 2001, the weather was remarkably
clear during the majority of planned events, but travelers must come
prepared nonetheless. While
summer in the Highlands may see daytime highs in the 75 Fahrenheit / 24
Celsius range, the evenings will certainly cool down considerably.
The old adage, of dressing in layers, is a wise suggestion in
Lochaber. Plan on packing a
sweatshirt or sweater, along with a dependable slicker or raincoat.
It really depends on what visitors are planning on doing with
their time. Those setting
aside time for climbing a few of the notable mountain peaks or glen
hiking should also bring along a day pack and some hardier rainwear.
Hiking boots or water-proof footwear, while inconvenient to include in
one's suitcase, are also a must. Fortunately,
there are many clothing stores and small specialty shops along High
Street in Fort William that may be used to supplement what items were
overlooked during packing.
- Highland-Wear: While not all
members of the Clan Cameron Association have their own kilt or kilted
skirt, there is sufficient time to order one!
There are a number of well regarded companies to contact,
including: Geoffrey Tailor (www.geoffreykilts.co.uk), J. Higgins (www.jhiggins.net)
and Cairngorm Scottish/formerly Hector Russell, Canada (www.kiltscanada.com).
Whichever company is chosen, please remember to only order the basic
Clan Cameron Tartan (red, green and yellow), Cameron of Erracht or
Cameron Hunting; the Cameron of Lochiel tartan is reserved for the
Chief and his immediate family.
In addition to kilts, other Gathering Guests have come adorned in
tartan sashes, shirts or in various tweeds.
Regardless of how guests dress, they should feel free to adorn
themselves in anything related to Clan Cameron – this is the best and
greatest occasion to do so! - Cameras: With digital and
film cameras both viable options, most Gathering Guests will bring
something to document this generational event.
However, there are a number of important caveats to consider.
As aforementioned, the West Highlands may prove to be damp at
times. As such, it would be
advisable to bring a dependable waterproof camera case or pouch, for
when the sun isn’t shining. Digital
camera batteries may need to be charged, and for that an electrical
adapter will be needed. These
may be found on the internet, at many department stores and also at most
airports. For those
traveling overseas for the first time, electrical outlets in England,
Ireland and Scotland have different sized wall outlets; thus the need
for an adapter. Those
needing additional photographic supplies or even one-hour film
processing should visit The Highland Camera Company, located between
Monzie Square and Gordon Square, on Fort William’s High Street.
- Cell Phones: There’s good
news and bad news here. Gathering
Guests’ cell phones may or may not operate in Lochaber.
Signal strength isn’t always the reason (though there are areas
near Achnacarry that have little or no reception) but rather the type of
phone utilized. A positive
trend is that many cellular providers offer international phone coverage
(either through expanded service plans or rentals).
Some offer GSM (Global Service for Mobile Communications) phones
and provide international service via roaming plans.
It is advisable to check with each cell provider, and if they
cannot lend a hand there are other viable options.
Many companies sell or rent SIM Cell GSM phones, which operate on
universal frequencies in more than 160 countries, including Scotland. Others
offer satellite phones, which are advisable in remote, wide-flung areas.
Prices vary greatly, and may prove to be quite expensive
(dollars, rather than cents, per minute) but a number of companies may
be found on the internet. If all
else fails, there are red public telephone boxes at both Achnacarry
(quite near the Clan Cameron Museum) and at Gairlochy, just across the
Caledonian Canal bridge. - Shipping Keepsakes Back Home: Many tourists
consider shipping their extra souvenirs and items back overseas, to save
on checked package space or weight.
While there are Royal Mail Post Offices (www.royalmail.com) in
both Spean Bridge and Fort William, this is an expensive alternative and
should only be considered in extreme situations.
As an example, 10 KG (about 22 pounds) package sent from Scotland
to North America via “International Economy” (delivery in
approximately one month) will run well over 100 dollars.
Rather than considering this option, check with your airline as
to the allowable number and weight of checked bags. It is usually
cheaper to pay the extra charge for overweight baggage than to ship
extras home via the post. One
airline suggests placing disposable items (toiletries, replaceable
clothing…) into a separate bag within checked passenger luggage.
If the bag exceeds the maximum weight it is a simple matter of
opening the case and discarding the assorted disposable items. What better way to embrace the legendary Clan Cameron generosity and mix with international clansfolk than to bring along small items to exchange? Many Gathering Guests have actively traded enamel pins (Clan Cameron themed or village/city/state/province/regional) and others have exchanged tokens of friendship in the past. Other suggestions include bringing non-business cards (personal business cards, typically printed on a home computer) to trade addresses with new friends. This saves the eternal struggle to find a pen, something to write on and the time involved. Perhaps each member of the family might create their own unique non-business card, which, in addition to being convenient to trade with others, may be converted into a personalized lanyard or pin name tag during the Gathering. After all, with upwards of 1000 members of Clan Cameron attending the International Gathering, it will be difficult to keep everyone’s names straight. |