Kicking it "Old School"

Been getting emails from friends and coworkers lately, asking me how Mr Wonderful is (did I give him that name?), or 2-fer-1 couples deals that are so cool they're nearly impossible to pass up (tours, scuba diving, etc). Oof, argh...Valentines Day is approaching, that's why I'm getting all the caring, sappy emails. Ah, I think I'll ignore it this year. Besides, if you're in love (or not), any day could be Valentines or a day of giving to others to show your appreciation for them.

Anywho...aside from that awkwardness, onto a recap of another reenactment.

Friday: I attended "The School of the 16th Century" at Fort Caroline in Jacksonville this past weekend. Hosted by the Men of Menendez (most are also with the Searles Buccaneers), it took place for the public on Saturday and part of Sunday, and was meant to show them a glimpse of Floridian life in the late 1500's. Friday was our set up day, and I managed to be the fourth or fifth person at the park (Timucuan Preserve). We left our cars in the park the majority of the first day so we could haul tents, goods and such out and not have to carry it all a great distance, as the main parking areas were up a hill a half mile or so.

** The Timucuan Preserve is a northern section of the Fort Caroline National Memorial park. The section we were in was part forest and open park. The forest surrounded a visitors center and wound down a hill to a grass covered, tree strewn park that nestled up against the St Johns River and a small beach, as well as a redux of the original Fort. A few hiking trails cut across the area, and one lead out to a dock that stretched fifty yards or so into the river, providing a death defying view of ships as they passed by (and by that, I mean wobbly).

I met up with willie wobble first (from Pirates in Paradise, aka PiP) who introduced me to crewmates Jeff, Brian, Lynn and Lid. We took turns pulling items out of one of the trailers (pikes, flags, tent poles) and putting them off to the side, and had Jeff's van playing melodious tunes in the background. Then, finally I got to help them put up a few tents (canvas types are new to me). I learned how to properly set one up and not have it fall on you in the middle of the process. The key is to keep the uprights "upright" until the majority of the stakes are driven into the ground. We got to my tent and it posed a bit of a challenge. Hmm...how to piece two portions of 2x4's together (from separate lengths) to form a solid ridge pole for the top. We came up with a plan, and used four long, flat metal brackets I bought to connect the pieces. After that, up went my six foot high a-frame tent, and in followed the floor (tarp and sodcloth) and the few accoutrements I had to add inside next to my cot. I was picked on just a little (in good humor) for not having more, but then again gents, I AM just getting started on this. Some of y'all have been doing this for decades and have the neatest swag. :)

I met more of the crew as the day wore on (a couple of PiPsters again too); Helena, the cook for the evening with her teenage son Mark, a couple who brought a really cool teepee and tent fly whose names I cannot recall (darned memory), William and gf, Doug and son William, Jeff's wife Melissa (the head cook), and many others. Melissa, myself and a few ladies unloaded mounds of groceries for meals and organized them for her table setup and tent pantry before we stepped aside for Helena and her dinner preparations. Our meal that evening consisted of cabbage and sliced sausage, chickpeas and rice, with bread and butter on the side. There was a pastry dessert too, but I passed on that.

To keep me warm, I took every offer of sips of whiskey and rum, cups of "apple pie" or beers that I could get, and spent time at each of the two campfires that were tentside. When it got late and I could no longer converse nor listen coherently (3am or so), I decided to retire for the night. One of the gents kindly offered to warm up my tent with a portable heater. That felt great for about five minutes. Then the warmth disappeared and bone chilling cold took over. I learned one lesson well - get into my reenactment clothes right away to prevent turning into a human popsicle. I was still in jeans and a t-shirt and even had a jacket, socks, shoes, gloves and a hat on and that did nothing for me in the near freezing temperatures. I ended up out of the cot and sleeping bag an hour later, teeth chattering away. I made way from the kitchen bonfire (to note my future whereabouts) up the hill in the dead of night to my car to thaw out and get a few z's.

Note: It was so cold we had icicles! Ok, I kid...we had frost, but no icicles. Just a lantern with really cool wax-cicles that a few of us enibriated goobers took pictures of that night.

Saturday: I was awake four hours later with car "pillow face" (thanks for pointing that out willie). Now I was clad in my kit (two skirts, bloomers, a long chemise, a pair of pockets tied around my waist, a bodice, two pairs of socks, a kerchief, apron and comfy ropas).

I headed over to the kitchen as I had offered my assistance to Melissa who was cooking lunch (I forget what breakfast was), and met up with several other ladies. Melissa made use of us right away as sous chefs, doling the chopping and mixing and cooking duties out left and right. I sliced up and cooked butternut squash over the fire, and also mixed up and ground a few spices to include in the the main dish. I forget what we actually had (it's on the tip of my tongue), and can only remember we had to say "----- magic" every time we added something to it, the dashes being the actual name of the dish. I ended up skipping dinner, except for a few bites of steak and asparagus. Despite lunch being delicious, something didn't agree with me, and I had to seek rest after that.

Aside from the meals that day, alot of activities took place across the encampment that drew in many a spectator and participant. Kit clad or not, folks were welcome to learn about an Indian (Timucuan) setup at the front of the park. They could also peruse the main camp and ask questions about the food and items that were set out. A sewing and embroidery class took place, and folks also could try their hand at firing off a crossbow after receiving proper instruction. Some of the clad attendees and campers joined in on a pike drill and march out of Fort Caroline, and some learned about the proper use of firing weapons (matchlocks I believe, and canons) and they later watched or tried them out at the coastline. Some of the echoing canon fire induced a bellow of a whistle blow from a passing carrier ship. A few of those firings and the return "hello" woke me up my nap, kicking my behind out of bed for Saturday evening.

Prior to dinner the public visitors cleared out, giving me a moment to enjoy a little book reading while everyone else ate (I was a naughty woman, educating myself). After I had grabbed a few bites to tide me over, I joined a few folks at a campfire where we talked, passed around drinks and stories. A couple of the kids joined us too (three boys - seeking out sugar, and Gretchen, our lone teenage gal). They got a few of their elders jonesing for white chocolate and swedish fish. I had grabbed a few extra jackets from my car that morning just in case the evening would get chilly again. Had my "Steven Segal" fluffy jacket on that kept me pretty warm. Warm enough that at some point, I took it off and carried it to another fire with Lid accompanying me.

We ended up at a beach bonfire with a few crewmates and a visiting couple (Mandy and her bf, who were very funny). A few of the gals tried my mixed drink (Rum Runners - not an uber "fruity" mix), and I guess getting to the "bottom of barrel" wasn't such a good idea as it didn't taste as good. While they drank and grimaced, Lid, Mandy, Mandy's bf, willie and I cracked each other up with random conversation. There were recollections of online viral animation (Badger, Badger, Badger), singing very odd songs and scratching our heads over astrology readings from Lid who used sand, a stick and bits of trash to tell us...something very strange. Dunno how that turned out. I just want to know how we went from willie (in the sand interpretation) climbing up a mountain to find his sole (erm...soul?) to pastafarianism (flying spaghetti monster...with boobies). Not exactly the stuff of polite 16th century conversation, but who cares. It was fun!

Lid and I headed back to camp and sat down at one of the fires, and we continued our discussion with others about the pressing need for white chocolate and swedish fish, along with more beer, although we were still well stocked. We did end up with candy (long story short - the kids got candy, and so did we). Willie made it back before us (Where's Lid's beer...Willie?!) and proceeded to turn on his SUV and play techno music, much to the shagrin of others. After a boogying down for a moment, he gave in and changed to more period accurate music, and we started singing songs and goofing off. William arrived sans gf (one of many who turned in semi-early), and he proceeded to point out that Lid was yet another crewmate who was "let out of the hospital for this occasion". "Just like Doug?" I asked, recalling he planted the same story on poor Douglas back at PiP. Apparently so.

From then on, it was a bit more singing of old tunes and new (including Baby Got Back), a mentioning of naked dancing around a bonfire (nuh uh...not til Searles), cajoling one crewmate into belly dancing wearing only my coin covered scarf (alas, he did not submit) and then I headed to bed. Willie and Lid followed me in, as they wanted to warm up my tent with their heaters. After a few minutes of talking and laughing in Chez Sophia's, I think a few others got curious as to what we were doing. They scratched on the tent walls and poked their head in while spouting silly comments. "Hey, the more the merrier," I said. A few more joined in for a minute or two, and then kindly piled out and bid me pleasant dreams.

** And the tent stayed warm! Thanks to an extra wool blanket from willie, heat brought to me by a group of strapping men and my period accurate clothes, I slept pretty darned well.

Sunday: Our last day at camp was a bit of a muddle, as noone could tell me exactly when the event was over with (and when we would begin packing up). I woke up around 8am and met up with our resident crossbow Mistress (name?), Helena, Craig and Lynn for a little coffee and chat around the kitchen fire. We talked about where some of the us came from (ancestors and their history) and our drinking mugs. I mentioned looking forward to Searles and dressing up as a man for part of it, to which I got a few frowns and "no's". I asked why, and a few of them said that I'm too pretty to pass as a man. (insert twilight zone theme here) But, they noted if I could pull it off (and they mentioned a few other beauties that have), more power to me (damn skippy!).

** Thanks to tips from other reenactors, I think I'll have the "guy look" and mannerisms set for March.

Willie woke up and stumbled over to us, bleary eyed and searching for caffeine. He got the last bit of Lynn's concoction (a french/jamaican blend...it was yummy), made a new pot at the fire and then began working on breakfast. Potatoes, onions, peppers, bacon and sausage were chopped up and tossed into a sizzling pan before us. The results were spicy breakfast burritos (I had one sans tortilla), and that got us energized for the morning.

Some folks began taking down their tents, while others talked to the public as a few trickled in. It seemed that that was it, so I headed into my tent, changed into mundane clothes and walked around the camp talking to folks. I had to find out who would be at the next event (The Sacking of St Augustine), and come to find out most folks would be, including a few new recruits. An hour or so later, I took my tent down (rather quickly), proceeded with goodbye hugs and "see yah laters", and headed out, back down to Portlando.

A few key things I take from this event was the feeling of slight trepidation I had over whether or not my clothes would work. I was pleased to get some instruction during the weekend on little things I could do to my outfits to make them more period accurate. I also thought it was cool that some of the heads of the event (park and Men of Menendez) checked in with me and other newbies to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. It just goes to show that they care about their group and the event, and want us to return in the future (I know I will). I didn't learn minute details about the Fort, but that is something I have read a bit about beforehand, and plan on continuing my studies on in the future. Lastly, I'm thankful to a few folks for their help on my kit and tent. Thanks go out to Cpt William for pointing me towards a few pieces for my man kit, along with eating implements. Thanks also to willie wobble and Sgt Jeff for info on this event, and to willie for putting up with my questions on my tent setup. The frame turned out well, and I have you and a few of your crewmates to thank for it.

And, thanks to the rangers of the park including Craig, whom I first spoke with only a few days beforehand. I could sense the excitement and pride in your voice over this event. Indeed, it is something to be proud of.

That's it for this recap. It was a bit of a history lesson, and a bit of having fun with folks too. A link to pictures is noted below.

Jacksonville Pics: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/trinsghost/JAX2009/