in Spring 2006 primarily to participate in the Marlboro Morris Ale
We travelled via Iceland and flew past Greenland on 25 May, landing at Boston and picking up three MPVs for transport during the tour
The next day some took a walk to Mount Holyoke then chilled out with a few beers at Rhett Krause's house in Massachusetts before travelling up to the Marlboro Morris Ale site, Marlboro College, Vermont
Our first dance was Feathers, during the morning procession on the Saturday, 27 May. There are photos on the web taken by Sarah Strong of Juggler Meadow morris; and a video from Tony Barrand's Digital Video Research Archive at Boston University.
In a closely fought game we wrested the Aunt Sally World Championship from Marlboro Morris Men
In the afternoon there were tours of nearby Brattleboro with Marlboro Morris and B.F. Harridans
Finishing with a big display of all the teams in Brattleboro. We danced Shambles followed by Jockey; there is a video from Tony Barrand's Digital Video Research Archive at Boston University.
The excellent feast that night involved the youngsters seizing Eynsham hats and tankards..
an impromptu substitution of Dave Russell by Mat from Marlboro...
and a cocktail party dance from Muddy River
The next day we danced with Orion Sword and Marlboro Morris and Sword at Putney Town Hall
And on to the massed display at Newfane Common (Jack in the Green Morris performing above)
C.J. Leake of JitG Morris caught a particularly hot moment in Maid of the Mill... or you can now see a complete video of the dance, afgain courtesy of Tony Barrand's Digital Video Research Archive at Boston University.
...leaving John Slatter the worse for wear.
A high spot was the massed Orion Sword
On to New York, hosted very kindly by three morris families, and after a day's sightseeing, a performance with all of New York's morris and sword teams at Brooklyn Heights, overlooking Manhattan. There are videos and photos available from Jeffrey Bary here
The Bouwerie Boys, With Michael Gorin, one of our hosts, front right
New Moon Sword, one of the bright new young teams
The following day we visited the Hill-Stead Museum at Farmington Connecticut, to see a painting by William Nicholson of the team dancing at Blenheim Palace around 1906, and to dance there.
On to Boston, where some of us were lucky enough to stay in an 18th-century farmhouse, home of the concertina player Tom Kruskal (and the others were also put up by several hospitable Pinewoods men)
We danced in Copley Square with Muddy River and the Pinewoods Men
Information provider:Mike Heaney
Rev 12 November 2007