Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!

Subject: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 19 May 04 - 05:44 PM

As some of you may know, the last time I was in Ireland I had three wrecks with rental cars. None of them were my fault; in all cases the victims (the van, the sign post and the sheep) darted out into the road. But I come again; prior notice is given!

My summer season has started early. This weekend I will be playing at Tamarack, (the Cultural Arts Center of West Virginia outside of Beckley, WV) with the venerable Sam Rizzetta (one of the Gods of the Hammered Dulcimer) and a group of musicians assembled from the regular players at the O'Hurleys jam on Thursday nights. We have decided to name our group, Deer In The Headlights, as most of us are just part-time musicians, and this is one of our first really big gigs. Sam has played at the jam for years, and when he asked us to accompany him; we were honored to do so. Maddie McNeil, who is also on the Dulcimer "A" list, will play with the group.

Then I am going to Ireland, arriving June 22 to play at the Cork Dulcimer Festival (June 25 to 27) with the Martin Family Band. The other band playing there is No Strings Attached, whom I highly recommend. A week later, we are up at the Ulster American Park outside of Omagh, playing at the American Independence Celebration on July 2-4th. Hence back to West Virginia, if I'm allowed to board with a rental car agent wrapped around my neck...

Fionn, Fibula, Ella, lets see if we can't meet somewhere…

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Amos
Date: 20 May 04 - 01:51 PM

Just watch out for those leaping sheep...

A

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: KateG
Date: 20 May 04 - 02:33 PM

It's not the sheep, it's the signposts... They'll get you every time BG!.

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Noreen
Date: 20 May 04 - 05:59 PM

Have fun, Claymore- wish I could get there to sing with you again :0)

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: CarolC
Date: 20 May 04 - 06:19 PM

Feel free to use these pictures for your Deer in the Headlights logo if you want, Don. This is what was left of our Forrester after it was hit by a very large flying buck deer.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/104464966/104480833GKfEYd

http://community.webshots.com/photo/104464966/104475892SZrNyG

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 May 04 - 09:27 PM

Damn, Carol. Everytime I see that picture, I realize how easy it is to lose people that one really likes. Thank God, that you and Jack weren't injured. Can't say the same for the Forrester, though.

Mick

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: CarolC
Date: 20 May 04 - 09:47 PM

Thanks Mick. We're mighty glad none of us was injured too. I miss the Forrester, but I can laugh now when I look at the pictures and think of how bizarre it is to get hit by a flying deer. Sometimes I wish I had a vehicle with a deer catcher on the front of it, though.

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 21 May 04 - 12:32 AM

Mmm maybe you should try this site before you get to Ireland. I am pretty sure that this would not suffer too much when a leaping sheep or a tree jumps into your way.

http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 21 May 04 - 03:15 AM

Carol...

It's okay, the Irish sheep are not that big, maybe a bit tougher than the average sheep, with an unnerving liking to frighten the hell out of unwary tourists. (They can spot a hire car from 40miles away). Like going in to a bad 'hood' area, the local sheep population are worldly wise, and it is advised not to stray away from the tourist areas. There are roaming packs of rebel sheep waiting to attack.

Claymore... I'll probably be in Eire later on this year (everything permitting). Have had to curtail the many trips over due to our new (old) house, which is taking up a lot of our time to do up at the moment (not to mention its a money pit). So will probably not be there whilst you are there... and it's not because you are the most car hire accidental prone fella I've ever known! (;-)

Have a fab time in Cork and Ulster - enjoy the drive up... but remember the locals are wild (this is the car drivers now) and the speed a wee bit mad. Pull over to the left into that white line space if there is anyone hassling you to get past, and watch out for the loonies on the roads. Oh and the tractors!

Cork to Ulster will be a lovely drive - don't get lost in Dublin if you go up that way - if you are going mid country enjoy the scenery! Have fun, and will catch you again hopefully...

ps... have you thought about hiring a tractor... nice and big, slow and EVERYONE can see you! (the sheep also have respec' for tractors, and the locals will wave and tip you a nod.

Have fun

Cheers

Ella

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 May 04 - 09:34 AM

Strange thread, where is this land, I live in Ireland and Deer are about as scarce as sense on this thread.

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 21 May 04 - 09:39 AM

Sorry I won't see you this time Claymore - I'll be in Sweden on those dates. Have a great time and remember, stay on the left and that'll be right!

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 21 May 04 - 10:28 AM

ard...

I think Carol was relating hitting deer to hitting sheep....

Claymore knows that even Irish sheep arn't THAT big - he's had personal experience...hem hem! (From a person in Wales with more sheep than you can shake a stick at).

you are more likely to run into a tractor than a deer... especially out with the culchies... teee hee... ;-)

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 24 May 04 - 06:06 PM

Back from Tamarack; this was a gig in which every thing clicked way past our expectations, and they want us back around Xmas.

CarolC, that was a hell of a deer to hit; he cleared your hood and other than the right side headlights and a groove along the Rt fender everything was above the wipers.

You remember me telling you of the deer I hit during a vehicle pursuit along old Route 7 above Dulles. That destroyed my brand new (less than 1,000 miles) Chevy Caprice cruiser. I hit him at over 90 miles an hour, and the deer vaporized, as did most of the front end of the cruiser. After I climbed out the window ( the front fenders had displaced rearward to cover and jam my doors) my Sgt. arrived and asked me "What the hell did you hit?". After looking around at the bits of blood and fur, I responded, " I donno; I think it was a little old lady in a fur coat".

I will write more tomorrow about the impending trip.

Subject: RE: Claymore to Ireland; No Rental Car Safe!
From: Inükshük
Date: 25 May 04 - 11:53 AM

Hey Don!
So good to see you doing what we all love best. We sent you a PM.
Neil and Carole