William Brand

Flying fish! Foul temptress. I'll take eight.

I should have explained the cardboard boxes better. They are only meant to provide volume. It is anticipated that real casks and objects would be piled around and on top of the canvas covered boxes. I do like the idea of doing keg shaped objects underneath. No the large bales of cloth will be interesting. I think if we were to bind cloth around large boxes and then surround them with canvas to look like bales we could accomplish the right look.

The list as it stands is technically tentative, though everyone on the list is going to great lengths to be there this year. I will add you to the careening camp.

Once Harry has prices at the local Lowes hardware store for canvas, I would like to invite everyone going to PIP to buy a canvas for the event, by sending Harry a check for the purchase price. In this way we can buy some things and have them stored there without transporting them or shipping them. If some of you can't afford one before PIP, no problem. It would just allow us to have some goods ahead of time.

The shopkeeper emerged from the shadows of the shop. He was a man of two score years dressed in the simple clothing of a working man, complete with shop apron. He wiped off his hands and offered a simple nod by way of greeting, dismissing the carriage man in the same fashion. "Hello, Monsieur." William began, and proceeded without any effort to hide his diminished French. In fact, he went to great lengths to abuse what little French he knew, apologizing on occasion as he went. The stoic shopkeeper simply took over the conversation in English and they went immediately to the business of haggling, a sport that William had learned from an early age. Captain Brand stood back, allowing Mister Pew to ply the man with prices and pistols while he stood with his arms folded, sometimes nodding, sometime shaking his head slowly. The shopkeeper was joined by an assistant, so that he too might have a second during the duel of commerce. The hour proceeded in this fashion.

The big question is, can we make a truly authentic looking cannon? Of course, much of it might be faked, but if the cannon is going to look fake, I'd almost rather not do one. I'm confident I could make one, but I'm far away and I'm flying. The ever present problems are the logistics of transportation and cost.

Harry has said he'll store anything we need to ship in advance. It just needs to be clearly marked and he would appreciate advance notice so that he can watch for arriving items. As for filling the camp, here is one easy way to accomplish the look of a lot of stuff. We can take cardboard boxes and pile them up at random heights and cover them all with canvas, so it looks like goods stored under tarps to protect them from the weather. We buy a whole bunch of canvas tarps and ship them to Harry. He leaves them out in the rain and weather until they loose that fresh out of the package look. Then we can use them to cover the boxes. We keep the artificial stuff covered all of the time.

I good point was brought up another thread about the good of the ship being offloaded before the ship could be hauled over on its side. This would allow us an explanation for all of the extra barrels and bales lying about in camp. Perhaps even unassembled cannon are in order.

Most of us have tents. I own a nice canvas wedge tent. Patrick has a great lean-to. A few of us have wall tents. It has been discussed that pitching tents from sails and oars might look more authentic, but having purchased tents already, most of us wish to use them, so it remains for us to make the tents we already own look more like a careening camp. Let us begin by talking about oars. Oars may be used as tent poles for any one of these tents. Since cost and shipping can be an issue, let us look at home made oar options... http://www.instantboats.com/oarmaking.htm http://www.messing-about.com/articles/oars.html http://bateau2.com/content/view/84/28/ Since we are allowed to set up camp several days before the festival begins, I was wondering how hard it would be to make some crude oars right in Key West. Perhaps have Harry drive a bunch of us to Lowes and pick up the wood to make a few. Also, there are some people travelling by vehicle who may have access to the tools necessary to make these. Then shipping would not be an issue, provided that they had enough space to transport them.

This thread is provided to discuss period clothing for the 1720 Encampment at PIP. Examples of period clothing are welcome and encouraged from art, archeology and written descriptions. We will begin by discussing the most basic needs for costume. Shirts and Slops.

Welcome to the 1720 careening camp thread for the crew of the Mercury. Here we will discuss the 1720 Mercury Careening Camp itself, starting with the look of the camp, including, but not limited to: Tents: Canvas tents, sailcloth awnings, lean-tos and other coverings Camp props: Buckets, casks, bales, oars, rope, hammocks, cannon, etc. Clothing: Headgear, footware, slops, jackets, belts, bags, and extras. Weapons: Swords, cutlass, bluderbuss, pistols, muskets and knives. In the interest of keeping things simple, we shall discuss tents and props and all things which concern the camp itself. Personal weapons and clothing shall be discussed in another thread. The Mercury is only one of several camp at the Pirates in Paradise festival. Not all of the events or issues of Pirates in Paradise are being dicsussed in this forum, so please read through the other discussion threads on the Pirates in Paradise Forum.

I'm for Mercury. The mast discussion is now evenly tied.

Hey, I like it. MERCURY Aye. That one has merit. Mercury was a major god of trade, profit and commerce, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter. His name is related to the Latin word merx ("merchandise"; compare merchant, commerce, etc.). He was also a messenger of the gods and a god of trade, particularly of the grain trade. Mercury was also considered a god of abundance and commercial success, particularly in Gaul. He would lead newly-deceased souls to the afterlife. Additionally, Ovid wrote that Mercury carried Morpheus' dreams from the valley of Somnus to sleeping humans. He was often accompanied by a cockerel, herald of the new day. There's our Key West connection. That place is swarming with Roosters.

17,500 years of bad luck.

A 2500-year-old mirror (worth 500,000 lbs) was being shown on a Chinese TV show. A model was holding the mirror when it slipped out of her hands and smashed on the floor. http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_21744...4421.html?menu= The owner of the mirror was in the front row and saw the whole thing. I would be ill.

Here is a website with many names. http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/INTRO.HTM There was more than one ship called the Sandwich. People would never take us seriously with a name like Sandwich.

Granted. Besides, we've had some adamant disapproval on Solstice anyway. So...square one again or do we go down to the bottom of the list? Somebody hit us with a name we can't refuse.

Evil Puffed Corn Snacks. Here, let me read the ingredients... Cornmeal, Sunflower Oil, Artificial Flavor, Salt, Pure Evil. At least pure evil is the last ingredient. I'm trying to cut back.

http://www.pbase.com/brode2/irving_johnson I should like very much to see pictures of the Royalist where she lays at present, with the expectation that we can look back on the same pictures a few weeks from now with a sigh of relief. When the Pelican sank awhile back I was heartsick. Are there Pub members in that area who can provide a place to sleep and meals for the temporary castaways?

Steady, lad.

I can't stop thinking of the gravy sandwich Dorian is serving in the QM's Inn.

William, after your 5000th photo talk to me ...that's the current number to beat! laughs No. Quality over quantity.

Than the vote is defined as follows... Sloop -One mast (2) Brig Sloop - Two mast (3)

I agree with Patrick. In the interest of keeping a few buccaneers from lying awake with worry at PIP I also recommend that we choose another name.

The shore party at Fort Royal on Martinique The small band wended their way through the crowd of workers and tradesmen that spilled into the various streets near port. Many of the men, women and children they passed seemed to be in fair health and showed some signs of prosperity, and the general mix of individuals was broad enough to suggest that many of these people came from different cultures and backgrounds. Still, there was no mistaking the continuous use of unmistakable French, for everywhere they went they heard the sound of it. At Desirade, French influence had been present, but it was much more self evident in Martinique. It was demonstrated in fashion, language and architecture wherever they went. Everyone in the shore party seemed to enjoy the walk through the crowd, though they all walked slowly at first. Their sealegs took the better part of fifteen minutes to find the rhythm of the immovable Earth, but by then Mister Pew had led them into streets which spoke of trade and commerce. William chanced to see a young thief attempt to pick the pocket of the Master-at-Arms. He was in the act of calling this to Preston's attention when Preston caught the young lad by the wrist and snapped the small bag back from him again. "Vermine!" Mister Pew spat, and kicked the boy hard enough to send him sprawling. William was amused to hear the Master-at-Arms use French almost without thinking of it and he had a chance to wonder if the majority of Preston's French would be limited to curses and choruses bent on more vulgar subjects. William smiled to think of him carrying on in taverns and alehouses, dealing out an abuse of French profanity. Mister Pew chanced to look at William as he smiled on this thought. "We'll need to warn th' lads about that, Cap'n" he said, pointing after the retreating sneak-thief. "Aye." William agreed, and then he thought on another matter suddenly, for the use of French had sparked an idea. "Mister Pew, we might have the advantage of the auction houses and tradesmen if we were to feign an ignorance of the language." "Playact poor French...?" he returned, with a cocked brow. "Aye." William agreed, then added, "Though I do not think it will be playacting for me. My French is...ridicule!" "Aye." Preston agreed too quickly. "By all means, Mister Pew. Flatter my poor French." Claude laughed, as did William, but he pressed the matter, chiding Claude with no real feeling as he did so. "Mister Marchande might keep his use of most excellent français to himself while we pretend at it poorly. In this way we might learn their misgivings and secret understandings of the barterers as we go."