[Dixielandjazz] Fw: [TPIN] Hiking and playing music in Ireland, Scotland and England this Summer

[Bob Romans]

Hi Jazzer's...this is from the TPIN...can anyone help Karen? She's a very 
FINE cornet player!!
Warm regards,
Bob Romans
Cell Block 7 Jazz Band
1617 Lakeshore Dr.
Lodi, Ca. 95242
209-339-4676
www.cellblockseven2002.net
Cell 209-747-1148
Because I play trumpet, I envy no one.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karen Elizabeth Stober" <kstober at skyweb.net>
To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>; <chile-heads at globalgarden.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 1:24 PM
Subject: [TPIN] Hiking and playing music in Ireland, Scotland and England 
this Summer


>I am planning a hiking trip to Ireland, Scotland and England this July and
> August.  I'm only an artist and a musician and I live on a shoestring
> budget.  I would like to sit in with bands/orchestras along the way.  Paid
> would be nice but unpaid is OK.  I'm not a soloist or a cornet 1
> player.  I'll play any style though I'm best at classical music.  I like
> meeting people from around the world. If anybody has a cafe/pub and needs 
> a
> hand I would love to help for a day or night for a couple
> dollars/pounds/euros.  I will not have a car and will rely entirely on
> public transportation.  I am also big on chile peppers and any spicy 
> foods,
> so what are good spicy places to eat at?  I would love to meet with as 
> many
> of you as I can.
>
> Anybody familiar with the areas I am talking about please email me at
> "kstober at skyweb.net".
>
> Can anyone recommend places I can ride a horse on a trail, English hunt
> seat.  I don't mean the expensive pony trekking where one goes from inn to
> inn.  I am very interested in Celtic sites and standing stones.
>
> What I want to know are any helpful hints about local customs, like I know
> The Isle Of Lewis totally shuts down on Sundays so don't go there or be
> there on a Sunday.  I can only afford hostels and campgrounds.  I am using
> the Lonely Planet Guides.  The YHA hostels,
> "http://www.yha.org.uk/Home/Home_Page/index.html", don't have an age
> limit.  How many hostels and campgrounds take credit cards or should I
> exchange lots of money?  I think YHA does.
>
> I really want to see the Giants Causeway,
> "http://www.irelandunveiled.com/home.cgi".  So I may fly New York City to
> Belfast.  Stay one night in Belfast then go North.  What is the best way 
> to
> get to The Giants Causeway?  I wont have a car.  I came across mention of 
> a
> hostel nearby, Sheep Island View Hostel, "http://www.sheepislandview.com",
> that has a free shuttle service to the Causeway.
>
> However, I really want to take the ferry from Ireland to Scotland.  They
> only leave from North Ireland.  It may be better for me to fly into Dublin
> and end my tour of Ireland in Belfast.  It is also cheaper to do so from
> New Jersey, as the limo is half the cost and I think I can get a flight 
> out
> of Newark.  The Lonely Planet Guide shows that there are flights from
> several cities in Ireland, to Glasgow and Edinburgh, to the Isle Of Lewis,
> where I plan to see the Callinish Standing Stones.  This could be a
> terrific timesaver, even though it will cost more.  My only concern is 
> that
> these may be small puddlejumper planes and my large backpack will be too
> big and heavy for them.
>
> Has anyone stayed at Trinity College, "http://www.tcd.ie/"?  The guide 
> says
> it is doable but expensive, 55 Euros.  How much is that in US $s?  It
> sounds like a wonderful unique experience though.  I would stay three 
> days,
> four nights in Dublin. The Guide recommends the Mary Gibbons tour of Bru 
> na
> Boinne, which take in the whole of the Byne Valley, including the passage
> tombs, NewGrange and The Hill Of Tara.  Can I make reservations over the
> Internet?  I must see the Book Of Kells.  Then I would go off to Connemara
> or Galway.
>
> I have a drawing on my website, "Epona The Celtic Goddess Of The Horse",
> "http://www.skyweb.net/~kstober/epona.htm".  In doing the research for 
> this
> illustration, I found that the Connemara Pony is the closest living
> relative of the ancient Celtic horse.  Near Clifden in County Connemara is
> the Errislannan Equestrian Centre.  They have Connemara ponies for hire 
> and
> lessons.  Of course I must try to get there and ride one.  How I get there
> is the challenge.
>
> While in Ireland, I would like to buy a real Irish wool cloak. 
> Renaissance
> style so I can wear it for my Renfaire fanfare trumpet role.  Are there 
> any
> thrift/charity shops where I can get a used cloak inexpensively?  How do I
> find them in the city?  I doubt there are phone books at Trinity College,
> but they may have some information for visitors.  I would like to see the
> National Museum in Dublin.  I would like to see Londonderry then swing 
> down
> (or up, depending on where I start) to Limerick and The River Shannon.  I
> would like to hike the Burren.  There are buses that run from Limerick to
> The Burren and back.  I read that The Burren, The Giants Causeway and the
> Cliffs Of Moher are crowded with tourists in the Summer.  A hostel in the
> Burren area, Carraigliath in Kilfenora, is run by a family where they all
> play traditional Irish music.  Think I can get a lesson on how to play my
> bodhran?  I wont have that with me though, just the trumpet.  Is there any
> Irish trumpet sheet music and CDs?
>
> I would also like to go to the Prehistoric Music Ireland
> "http://homepage.eircom.net/~bronzeagehorns/", in Crimlin, Corr na Mona,
> County Galway.  Even though I do play didjeridoo, I doubt they would let 
> me
> touch one of these.  They are played like a didjeridoo.
>
> I doubt I will get to Skellig Michael, Ring Of Kerry, because only about
> 200 tourists are allowed to visit a day.  I can't make reservations in
> advance because I don't know what day I will make it there.
>
> I figure Ireland will take two weeks.  I plan to take a ferry from Ireland
> to Scotland. There are several companies.  I would be "foot passenger
> only".  In Scotland,  "http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/scotland.htm", 
> I
> want to go to the Isle Of Lewis, "http://www.isle-of-lewis.com/", and see
> the Callanish Standing Stone Circle,
> "http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/stones.htm", and
> "http://www.stonesofwonder.com/wesindex.htm".  Then I plan to go on to
> Stirling and Loch Lomond, which is near Glasgow. I want to see William
> "Braveheart" Wallace's Sword,
> "http://www.instirling.com/sight/wallace.htm".  I will need to get someone
> to snap a photo of me next to Bravehearts sword,
> "http://www.scottravel.org/tours/pics/Jim%20n%20Wallace's%20sword.jpg". 
> Is
> there a place I can leave my pack, trumpet and camera bag safely?
>
> I read that Stirling is about a three hour bus ride from Edinburgh.  Are
> there any stables where I can go on a trail ride around the Loch,
> "http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org" ?  I sent away for a freee booklet
> from the local tourist agency requesting horseback riding places.  I hope
> it doesn't get lost in the mail.  I think I need to read up on "Rob Roy"
> before I leave, too.  Can anybody recommend a web site, book I can get
> accurate information from?  The guides note that Loch Lomond is the second
> most popular Loch in Scotland (Loch Ness is the first) and is loaded with
> jet skis and motor boats.
>
> What are the best ways to get to where I want to go in Scotland?  And from
> Stirling to Hadrian's Wall in England?  And how long will it take?  The
> ferries from Ireland will drop me off in the lower part of Scotland.  The
> Isle Of Lewis is in the far northwest and Stirling is in the far 
> southeast.
>
> Then I want to make my way south to Hadrians Wall,
> "http://www.hadrians-wall.org/".  Where is the best section to hike to see
> Roman Ruins?  After that I want to go to Cresswell Crags,
> "http://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/", the largest collection of stone age
> cave man art in the world.  Nearby will be my longest hike, at 105 miles,
> The Robin Hood Way Trail, "http://www.robinhoodway.co.uk" and
> "http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/robinhood.html".  I read in the
> guide that nearby is the grave of Little John of Robin Hood fame,
> "http://www.outdooryorkshire.com/exec/137469/8516/PROFILE=", and
> "http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walksv0/vw048.shtml".  I think it
> may be a little too far for me, and, the grave is empty anyhow.  Has
> anybody done this and the 95 mile trail, The West Highland Way,
> "http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/",  that runs vertically through
> Scotland?  Which do you feel is time better spent?
>
>  The trail begins in Nottinghamshire.  Nottingham Castle was destroyed
> during a civil war and the building there now is said to have a nice Robin
> Hood museum.  It ends at Edwinstowe Church.  Meandering through Sherwood
> Forest, one comes face to face with Major Oak.  I could even pick up the
> trail at Creswell Crags and hike through Sherwood Forest to the end.  And
> just visit Nottinghamshire if I so desire.  What is a definitive book on
> Robin Hood?  Yes I have seen the Kevin Costner movie but I am sure that
> isn't historically accurate.
>
> It appears this is near Birmingham, where I will need to be for the 
> Tolkien
> conference, as per my previous "Gig Alert" email.  I'll be in Birmingham
> for sure August 10 through August 16.  If I wind up with like a week or
> maybe even three days to spare before the conference I will try to get to
> Sutton Hoo or Tintagel Castle.  What is the best way to get from
> Nottinghamshire or the end of the Robin Hood Way trail, or Birmingham to
> Sutton Hoo?  Or to Tintagel?
>
> I would like to see the Viking Ship burial at Sutton Hoo,
> "http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/places/suttonhoo/index.html", but that is
> in the far southeastern side of England.  Tintegal Castle is in Cornwall,
> the far southwestern part of England.   The legendary birthplace of King
> Arthur.  Another tourist trap I read.  I would also love to see one of the
> chalk horses on the hillside.
>
> I really hope that I can splurge one or two nights and stay at the B & B 
> on
> the grounds of Sutton Hoo.  Being that it is Summer, I doubt there will be
> rooms available.  Has anybody stayed there?
>
> I would like to stay in London a couple of days.  I would like to catch 
> the
> LSO and spend a day at The British Museum.  Is Handel buried at the
> Westminster Cathedral, along with the kings he wrote music for?
>
> Where are good stores to get local trumpet sheet music from?  And CDs of
> local trumpet music?
>
> And, picking up the latest "Harry Potter" at the airport (UK has alternate
> covers from the US editions), fly home from London.
>
> Cheers
>
> Karen
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://tpin.okcu.edu/mailman/listinfo/tpin
>