madPete
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Turbocharged!
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Looks Great! Have you named your crew yet?
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untilThis walk has stairs and cobbles. Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand) Guided by: Dan Parry Find your sea-legs and sail into the past! Beneath the eerie cry of the gulls, we walk along the river from Dead Man’s Hole to Execution Dock, via ancient smugglers’ taverns where press-gangs dragged men off to sea. Exploring a salt-encrusted, maritime world that was the making of Britain’s empire, we step off the beaten track to discover a long-forgotten way of life – a time when rum-soaked buccaneers chased Spanish treasure ships, and Royal Navy crews fought criminal captains in the Golden Age of Piracy. Venturing through streets they knew and perhaps glimpsing the ghosts that still linger to this day, we walk from Tower Hill to St Katherine’s Dock. Then following the Thames, we eventually finish at London’s oldest riverside pub, where you’ll be able to enjoy a drink in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings. A family-friendly stroll – guided by Dan Parry, former BBC documentaries producer and author of the National Maritime Museum’s biography of Blackbeard – this is the most authentic pirates walk in London! In the beginning, there were stories of gold. Daring men, who lived, drank and fought beside London’s crowded wharves, sailed to the Caribbean in search of treasure. For some of them, we know their names, where they lived and what they seized along the way. Sailing as buccaneers, they had royal approval for their attacks on ships and towns. They included men like John Limbrey, who inspired the likes of Captain Morgan and later Blackbeard, and who commanded the Merchant Royal, laden with gold and silver that today would be worth $1.5 billion…if it were ever rediscovered. Later, such men were outlawed by the state and regarded as pirates. Captain Kidd, seized in Boston, was dragged back to London to be hanged at low tide on the banks of the river. We’ll take a look at Execution Dock, where Kidd met his end, as did many others, and where his body was swamped by three high tides before it was cut down. Other thieves stole riches closer to home. Before secure docks were built, ships lined up on the Thames waiting to unload. By 1800, thousands of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, scuffle-hunters and mud larks were routinely raiding whatever they could find. We’ll take a spy-glass glance at all these renegades. We’ll discover how they became pirates, we’ll look at the risks they took, and encounter the people who pursued them. Along the way, we’ll meet the only man who stole the crown jewels, and maybe witness the ghost of the sinister Hanging Judge Jeffreys. Join us, and discover the dark side of the empire…! https://www.walks.com/our-walks/pirates-press-gangs-and-execution-dock/ -
untilThis walk has stairs and cobbles. Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand) Guided by: Dan Parry Find your sea-legs and sail into the past! Beneath the eerie cry of the gulls, we walk along the river from Dead Man’s Hole to Execution Dock, via ancient smugglers’ taverns where press-gangs dragged men off to sea. Exploring a salt-encrusted, maritime world that was the making of Britain’s empire, we step off the beaten track to discover a long-forgotten way of life – a time when rum-soaked buccaneers chased Spanish treasure ships, and Royal Navy crews fought criminal captains in the Golden Age of Piracy. Venturing through streets they knew and perhaps glimpsing the ghosts that still linger to this day, we walk from Tower Hill to St Katherine’s Dock. Then following the Thames, we eventually finish at London’s oldest riverside pub, where you’ll be able to enjoy a drink in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings. A family-friendly stroll – guided by Dan Parry, former BBC documentaries producer and author of the National Maritime Museum’s biography of Blackbeard – this is the most authentic pirates walk in London! In the beginning, there were stories of gold. Daring men, who lived, drank and fought beside London’s crowded wharves, sailed to the Caribbean in search of treasure. For some of them, we know their names, where they lived and what they seized along the way. Sailing as buccaneers, they had royal approval for their attacks on ships and towns. They included men like John Limbrey, who inspired the likes of Captain Morgan and later Blackbeard, and who commanded the Merchant Royal, laden with gold and silver that today would be worth $1.5 billion…if it were ever rediscovered. Later, such men were outlawed by the state and regarded as pirates. Captain Kidd, seized in Boston, was dragged back to London to be hanged at low tide on the banks of the river. We’ll take a look at Execution Dock, where Kidd met his end, as did many others, and where his body was swamped by three high tides before it was cut down. Other thieves stole riches closer to home. Before secure docks were built, ships lined up on the Thames waiting to unload. By 1800, thousands of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, scuffle-hunters and mud larks were routinely raiding whatever they could find. We’ll take a spy-glass glance at all these renegades. We’ll discover how they became pirates, we’ll look at the risks they took, and encounter the people who pursued them. Along the way, we’ll meet the only man who stole the crown jewels, and maybe witness the ghost of the sinister Hanging Judge Jeffreys. Join us, and discover the dark side of the empire…! https://www.walks.com/our-walks/pirates-press-gangs-and-execution-dock/
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untilThis walk has stairs and cobbles. Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand) Guided by: Dan Parry Find your sea-legs and sail into the past! Beneath the eerie cry of the gulls, we walk along the river from Dead Man’s Hole to Execution Dock, via ancient smugglers’ taverns where press-gangs dragged men off to sea. Exploring a salt-encrusted, maritime world that was the making of Britain’s empire, we step off the beaten track to discover a long-forgotten way of life – a time when rum-soaked buccaneers chased Spanish treasure ships, and Royal Navy crews fought criminal captains in the Golden Age of Piracy. Venturing through streets they knew and perhaps glimpsing the ghosts that still linger to this day, we walk from Tower Hill to St Katherine’s Dock. Then following the Thames, we eventually finish at London’s oldest riverside pub, where you’ll be able to enjoy a drink in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings. A family-friendly stroll – guided by Dan Parry, former BBC documentaries producer and author of the National Maritime Museum’s biography of Blackbeard – this is the most authentic pirates walk in London! In the beginning, there were stories of gold. Daring men, who lived, drank and fought beside London’s crowded wharves, sailed to the Caribbean in search of treasure. For some of them, we know their names, where they lived and what they seized along the way. Sailing as buccaneers, they had royal approval for their attacks on ships and towns. They included men like John Limbrey, who inspired the likes of Captain Morgan and later Blackbeard, and who commanded the Merchant Royal, laden with gold and silver that today would be worth $1.5 billion…if it were ever rediscovered. Later, such men were outlawed by the state and regarded as pirates. Captain Kidd, seized in Boston, was dragged back to London to be hanged at low tide on the banks of the river. We’ll take a look at Execution Dock, where Kidd met his end, as did many others, and where his body was swamped by three high tides before it was cut down. Other thieves stole riches closer to home. Before secure docks were built, ships lined up on the Thames waiting to unload. By 1800, thousands of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, scuffle-hunters and mud larks were routinely raiding whatever they could find. We’ll take a spy-glass glance at all these renegades. We’ll discover how they became pirates, we’ll look at the risks they took, and encounter the people who pursued them. Along the way, we’ll meet the only man who stole the crown jewels, and maybe witness the ghost of the sinister Hanging Judge Jeffreys. Join us, and discover the dark side of the empire…! https://www.walks.com/our-walks/pirates-press-gangs-and-execution-dock/
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untilThis walk has stairs and cobbles. Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand) Guided by: Dan Parry Find your sea-legs and sail into the past! Beneath the eerie cry of the gulls, we walk along the river from Dead Man’s Hole to Execution Dock, via ancient smugglers’ taverns where press-gangs dragged men off to sea. Exploring a salt-encrusted, maritime world that was the making of Britain’s empire, we step off the beaten track to discover a long-forgotten way of life – a time when rum-soaked buccaneers chased Spanish treasure ships, and Royal Navy crews fought criminal captains in the Golden Age of Piracy. Venturing through streets they knew and perhaps glimpsing the ghosts that still linger to this day, we walk from Tower Hill to St Katherine’s Dock. Then following the Thames, we eventually finish at London’s oldest riverside pub, where you’ll be able to enjoy a drink in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings. A family-friendly stroll – guided by Dan Parry, former BBC documentaries producer and author of the National Maritime Museum’s biography of Blackbeard – this is the most authentic pirates walk in London! In the beginning, there were stories of gold. Daring men, who lived, drank and fought beside London’s crowded wharves, sailed to the Caribbean in search of treasure. For some of them, we know their names, where they lived and what they seized along the way. Sailing as buccaneers, they had royal approval for their attacks on ships and towns. They included men like John Limbrey, who inspired the likes of Captain Morgan and later Blackbeard, and who commanded the Merchant Royal, laden with gold and silver that today would be worth $1.5 billion…if it were ever rediscovered. Later, such men were outlawed by the state and regarded as pirates. Captain Kidd, seized in Boston, was dragged back to London to be hanged at low tide on the banks of the river. We’ll take a look at Execution Dock, where Kidd met his end, as did many others, and where his body was swamped by three high tides before it was cut down. Other thieves stole riches closer to home. Before secure docks were built, ships lined up on the Thames waiting to unload. By 1800, thousands of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, scuffle-hunters and mud larks were routinely raiding whatever they could find. We’ll take a spy-glass glance at all these renegades. We’ll discover how they became pirates, we’ll look at the risks they took, and encounter the people who pursued them. Along the way, we’ll meet the only man who stole the crown jewels, and maybe witness the ghost of the sinister Hanging Judge Jeffreys. Join us, and discover the dark side of the empire…! https://www.walks.com/our-walks/pirates-press-gangs-and-execution-dock/
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untilThis walk has stairs and cobbles. Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand) Guided by: Dan Parry Find your sea-legs and sail into the past! Beneath the eerie cry of the gulls, we walk along the river from Dead Man’s Hole to Execution Dock, via ancient smugglers’ taverns where press-gangs dragged men off to sea. Exploring a salt-encrusted, maritime world that was the making of Britain’s empire, we step off the beaten track to discover a long-forgotten way of life – a time when rum-soaked buccaneers chased Spanish treasure ships, and Royal Navy crews fought criminal captains in the Golden Age of Piracy. Venturing through streets they knew and perhaps glimpsing the ghosts that still linger to this day, we walk from Tower Hill to St Katherine’s Dock. Then following the Thames, we eventually finish at London’s oldest riverside pub, where you’ll be able to enjoy a drink in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings. A family-friendly stroll – guided by Dan Parry, former BBC documentaries producer and author of the National Maritime Museum’s biography of Blackbeard – this is the most authentic pirates walk in London! In the beginning, there were stories of gold. Daring men, who lived, drank and fought beside London’s crowded wharves, sailed to the Caribbean in search of treasure. For some of them, we know their names, where they lived and what they seized along the way. Sailing as buccaneers, they had royal approval for their attacks on ships and towns. They included men like John Limbrey, who inspired the likes of Captain Morgan and later Blackbeard, and who commanded the Merchant Royal, laden with gold and silver that today would be worth $1.5 billion…if it were ever rediscovered. Later, such men were outlawed by the state and regarded as pirates. Captain Kidd, seized in Boston, was dragged back to London to be hanged at low tide on the banks of the river. We’ll take a look at Execution Dock, where Kidd met his end, as did many others, and where his body was swamped by three high tides before it was cut down. Other thieves stole riches closer to home. Before secure docks were built, ships lined up on the Thames waiting to unload. By 1800, thousands of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, scuffle-hunters and mud larks were routinely raiding whatever they could find. We’ll take a spy-glass glance at all these renegades. We’ll discover how they became pirates, we’ll look at the risks they took, and encounter the people who pursued them. Along the way, we’ll meet the only man who stole the crown jewels, and maybe witness the ghost of the sinister Hanging Judge Jeffreys. Join us, and discover the dark side of the empire…! https://www.walks.com/our-walks/pirates-press-gangs-and-execution-dock/
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madPete commented on madPete's gallery image in 2009 Fort Taylor and Pirates in Paradise
I have the negatives... 😁 -
We have witnesses. Tho their very reputation may be sullied by their presence in the locality. -
Thanks Michael. I discovered there is a viking event in soCal in the fall. I know a few folks that go there, so we'll see...
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I've made lots of kit, doesnt mean I want to make and sell tho. especially shoes! this is for me and family
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It's just the renfair viking weekend. I guess I cant help myself. If you are gonna do it... It hasnt been to an event yet. LOL [Edit: its hollow so isnt nearly as hefty as it looks on first glance]
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Welcome!
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This is not pirate (Or is it? since I'm pirating my own thread and vikings are pretty close to pirates in a different era). So I went on a total sideways off topic effort to make three Viking kits. Our event is still a month out, so I'm working on the last bits. So far I've completed three linen tunics, three leather (and fur) pouches for wallet/keys/phone. 4 wool caps, and a sheath for my seax. We each had a belt that will pass for viking era and we previously used natural cotton pajama pants, which I reasoned will work. Between tunic hanging to mid thigh and ankle wraps/winningas up to knees, maybe only 6 or 7 inches show anyway. There is literally almost nothing modern that works for viking shoes and with my middle son being a size 13+, I figured he would need custom made anyway. My younger son has the same foot profile as my wide duck foot with high instep, so we basically need custom shoes too. I've started the first of 3 pairs of Viking turnshoes. The first shoe was a learning experience (read failure, but with teachable moments). The second shoe came out well. I've already told the kids use them sparingly cause I wont be making more after this. Its too rough on my fingers/hands. For every day spent working the shoes, I need three to recover feeling in my fingers. After watching several youtube videos on the process, we made a pattern for each of us. This consists of tracing your right foot (hopefully our right/left feet are same size). And then putting on an old sock which is completely wrapped around in duct tape mimicing the profile of your foot. The videos wrapped feet in newspaper and then tape to give extra space required with thick viking socks. You then cut the tape down the front (where laces would normally be on a modern shoe) far enough to get the pattern off. Then you cut the sole out of the pattern and finish the cut up the middle, this gives you the leather pattern which you have to augment a bit by making the toes and heel pointed (adding length). I found a happy medium to add a little extra to make up for the newspaper wrap. It's rather difficult to keep your head wrapped around each one, since everything is reversed when you piece them together. You basically stitch them together inside out, and then turn them rightside out. so what looks like a left foot shoe is actually the right once turned.
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I've been procrastinating on finishing the cloak. There has been talk of an event in the UK next year, so I'm mulling over assembling a heavy wool coat as well, since it can get a bit blustery and may possibly need a warm coat for the whole trip. The cloak will get finished, but momentum was lost and will need to pick it up later. It still needs cape attached, arm holes opened up and a closure of some sort, nothing major. Also purchased a Dutch oven (i'm not yet inclined to start iron casting), a steel tripod and hook for local events. It's been seasoned and it will be making potato soup next weekend at our Rev War event. I'm making use of some duplicate implements from building the pyracy cook kits in local events as well. The kids and I are making a trip to the local ren fair for Viking weekend in a month or so. Since none of us had much of anything outside of some generic ren fair wear, I went on a whirlwind and made kits for the three of us. Details in the next post. Back to the reason I started this post. I got the itch to make a fire poker/blow tube, and my welding skills have fallen to the wayside, so figured this was a good practce session. To that end I picked up some hollow steel tube from Homedepot or Lowes, I forget which. I welded a washer on the input end and made 2 cuts 90 degrees apart and 1/2" deep on the output end. I hammered this to concentrate the air into a smaller diameter, then welded each cut and ground smooth. A piece of 5/16 round stock was welded 6-7" from the end and ground to a point for a hook to grab with. Everything ground smooth and painted a satin black. Then I proceeded to wrap the handle end in hemp twine and tie it off. Wallah! combination fire poker/blow tube for fire starting. I'll be testing it next weekend
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Love the new buckle! It works with the well worn belt. It's good to see we have multiple options for the cookfire. I'm glad because logistics may prevent us from getting all of the pyracy kit we have to an event. Alas, our "Big Lots" has been closed for a couple months. It's now just a "big lot". I've been busy with other stuff, but I'll post on my thread rather than hijack yours 😁
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untilAhoy, mateys! The shores of Lake Huron are a part of our everyday, so of course we're going to celebrate our 9th Annual Marine Heritage Day. Join us on Saturday August 24th, 11:00 a.m. -3 p.m. for some nautical fun! Playfair Tall Ship Tours Rescue Unit Display and Dockside Tour OPP Boat Tour Free Walker House and Lighthouse Tours Shipwreck Exhibits Crafts Facepainting and Ballloons Hot Dog Cart ($) Blinky ... and more! Bring the family out for this fun-filled and educational event, celebrating Kincardine's marine heritage. https://www.kincardinewelcomes.ca/events-and-festivals/marine-heritage-day/
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Canal Days Maritime Heritage Festival - Port Colborne, CA
madPete posted an event in Community Calendar
until2025 is the 47th Annual Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival. Tallships - Take a cruise aboard the Empire Sandy! Live Music - Free concerts at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park! Fireworks - Watch the spectacular fireworks display from West Street on Sunday, August 3 Classic Cars - The Annual Classic Car Show is at the Vale Health & Wellness Centre on Sunday, August 3 https://www.canaldays.ca/ -
untilTall Ships Return June 28- June 29 The Toronto Waterfront Festival is an annual summer event that provides on-land and on-water programming for people of all ages and interests with the goal of promoting Toronto locally and internationally as a premiere waterfront destination. About the Festival The Toronto Waterfront Festival is an annual summer event that began in 2010. Each year the festival features on-land and on-water entertainment including live music, food, kids activities, nautical programs and more. Every three years, the event welcomes a fleet of majestic tall ships to Toronto. The Festival is open to the public and free for everyone to attend. The Toronto Waterfront Festival is produced by Water’s Edge Festivals & Events (WEFE). WEFE is an Ontario not-for-profit corporation created in 2011. WEFE’s objectives include: producing exceptional annual family festivals; providing a strong economic impact for Toronto and Ontario; and building strategic partnerships locally, regionally and nationally, including significant stakeholders along the waterfront. https://towaterfrontfest.com/
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untilDon’t miss this great waterfront festival coming to Brockville from June 20-22, 2025. This festival only occurs every 3 years, so don’t miss your chance to see those amazing tall ships up close. https://tallshipsbrockville.com/
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untilExeter’s Quayside Shanty Festival will return on Saturday 5 July, subject to funding. Join us for a celebration of sea shanties on Exeter’s historic quayside. Expect another fantastic day and evening of folk songs of the sea, performed by some colourful characters and suitable for all the family Date(s) Sat 5th Jul 2025 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm Location Exeter Custom House 46 The Quay Exeter EX2 4AN Age Range All ages https://exetercustomhouse.co.uk/event/quayside-shanty-festival-2025/
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untilSet sail for an unforgettable night at the Immersive Pirate Night Party! Join Les Délices and sea shanty specialist Seán Dagher from Nova Scotia for rousing melodies and pirate-inspired fun. Arrive at 6 PM to meet infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, test your skills, and compete in the Pirate Costume Contest. The concert begins at 7 PM, featuring Seán Dagher and Cleveland’s treasured early music ensemble, Les Délices. Enjoy pirate-inspired drinks and food, available for purchase. Location: Market Garden’s Ohio City Room (lower level, ADA accessible). Parking: Ohio City/West Side Market lot nearby. Tickets include entertainment and a musical performance. Arrive early for food, drinks, and pirate shenanigans. Whether sailor or landlubber, it’s a night of adventure you won’t want to miss. Yo ho ho, and see you there! https://www.thisiscleveland.com/events/event-calendar/pirate-night
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untilJoin us at the Ore Dock Brewing Company on March 4, 2025 at 7PM for a Great Lakes Pirate program with Captain Peggy. Step back in time to the early 1900s and uncover the thrilling—and sometimes chilling—tales of Captain Dan Seavey, the only Great Lakes captain ever to be charged with piracy. Sponsored by the Ore Dock Brewing Company and by grants from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. $5 suggested donation at the door. https://mqtmaritimemuseum.com/calendar-of-events
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untilBronze Casting Adult Workshops HMM in partnership with Doug Borkman is pleased to be able to offer this Bronze Casting Workshop for up to 10 participants at the Museum. This workshop is scheduled from 9:00am-5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. This workshop is for adults 21+. https://herreshoff.org/events/
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untilCelebrating Songs of the Sea - Cockwood, South Devon. Next on: 22nd & 23rd March 2025 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088723793738
