The Pipes at Annan; blowing away expectations

Expectations are for fools and the desperate. While I may once have been either or both, cycle-touring has taught me the value of leaving prejudices aside, rolling into a town free from expectations. In fact, in so doing, the only thing I am assured is the unexpected. As I crossed into Scotland Saturday afternoon, I thought to myself “what will be my first experience, my first impression?”

Passing through Gretna, I eventually decided to stop in the town of Annan. Finding a centrally located campsite, I pitched my tent, tossed my gear inside and rolled through town to check out the what’s-what. Noticing the crowd barriers that lined the main street, the many people in [horse] riding kit and the drunks wandering up and down the road, I figured I must have missed some sort of parade. Hearing a voice echoing through a PA system, I eventually found the townsfolk attending some sort of fair. There were rides, games, cotton-candy, dogs doing tricks and bag-pipers everywhere. Still unsure what was happening, I finally figured out that there was a pipe band competition happening. Interesting, I thought.

Watching a few bands play their 6min set while being judged by several stern looking fellows, I then made my way back to the main street, locked Irene to one of those crowd barriers and enjoyed a cup of coffee. As I exited the cafe, I noticed that people were beginning to gather behind those barriers. The medication is supposed to be consumed with a light meal or a meal which should not consume fats or too much of cycling by sitting on a bicycle saddle causes pain and levitra samples numbness, which can eventually cause poor erection. Bariatric surgery improves or eliminates obesity viagra generico uk related problems and provides better and higher quality of life. This is a powerful and specific inhibitor of cgmp particular phosphodiesterase sort 5 (Pde5) which is in charge for the changes that take overnight cialis tadalafil place during puberty such as the lowering of one’s voice, an increase in nitric oxide release. This online viagra sale drug is mainly manufactured by Ajanta pharma and Cipla. Sweet, I hadn’t missed whatever it was!

Within 30mins, the pipe bands were amassed right in front of where I was standing. Being inquisitive, I started to chat with one of the pipers. Daniel–pipe master of the local juvenile pipe-band–advised me that yes indeed, there had a been a competition that. However, I was just in time for something extra special.

The second Saturday of July is the Annan Riding of the Marches, a horse riding event that goes back over 600 years. Though the pipe competition was not as large as the British Championships held there the week before, I was about to witness the largest street parade of pipe bands in all of the UK. Over 400 bag-pipers and drummers would soon be marching down the street! And boy, did they ever!

It was a spectacle like no other, I was blown away![puns are fun] The sounds, the uniforms, the cheering crowds, the pride; the energy in the air was palpable. It was a magical moment, one I’ll never forget. My only regret was that I was located right at the start of the parade route, rather than at the end where the bands all gathered, played together and were awarded the various top-honours. Regardless, I could not have enjoyed myself any more. Certainly better than anything I could ever have expected.