William Brand

We grew peppers this year in various degrees of heat ranging from, 'whoa...' up to 'aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeiiiiieeeee!'.

Long after the training of muskets grew silent aboard the 'Dog, the digging continued ashore, and only after the half buried shelf of coral was exposed enough to explore its size, did they cease. The false cave proved wide and deep enough to store all the remaining goods intended for the island, so William sent word to the 'Dog that no third cache was needed ashore. Many more provisions were brought to land and the longboat and cutter crew continued working in shifts, both in storing and transporting goods from the frigate. This work lasted well into the beginning of First Watch and food and water was sent landward to feed all of the men and women employed there. By the time the sun had set, the cannon salvaged from the Apollo was brought out by the cutter crew. Special care was taken in the transport of the brass six pounder, which was heavy enough to warrant a passage of its own from ship to shore. It proved very difficult to take it inland over the sand and dense cactus, and more than once they were foiled in their efforts to bring it up hill, but in the end persistence won out. When everything was stored and covered, William released the shore crew to the beach for an hour. Some rested in the gathering darkness on the sand, while others, unimpeded by the mixed company or the embarrassment reserved for gentler folk than themselves, stripped down to nothing and went swimming in the sea. William almost reminded these stark sailors of their female company, but thought better of it in the end. Any woman living amongst so many sailors was bound to see her share of flesh over time. There was just too little privacy to be had aboard a ship as small as the 'Dog. Besides, it was a necessity of sea life that the men and women bath when opportunities presented themselves. Tudor seemed somewhat surprised by this display, but also resigned, having lived aboard long enough to see no less than three sailors in their where with all. The Berth deck was an open book of life which censored nothing. Profanity, blasphemy, humor, sorrow, injury, spites, snoring, nudity and all other aspects of the human condition, played out in a very public claustrophobia below decks, and while Tudor enjoyed a more private space aboard than most, she had witnessed enough in transit to make this spectacle of flesh no less commonplace than bad air and elbows. In Murin's case, Nathan Bly took some cares to walk her away from the bathing revelry to more private climbs along shore. The approaching night was a warm one, and the two wandered together during their hour's respite. William, no less abashed by the opportunity to bath, took to the sea for a short time. When the echoing bell of the Watch Dog signaled their need to return to ship, he dressed along side the others and assisted the men in loading spades and lanterns back aboard the two small boats. . . . When all were safely back aboard, William called for an assembly to inform that they were to make for Martinique that very night. This was received with the expected cheers and smiles, for the promise of port was weighing heavily in their coin purses and sea trunks. William ordered the men aloft and to the windlass, and the orders passed from Quartermaster to Bosun and on down to each able seaman. The Watch Dog, woken by the men and women aboard, prowled out into the open sea. July 21, 1704 - Departing La Blanquilla aboard the Watch Dog Six bells of First Watch

The Vendor form states that weapons and weapon like items may not be sold by vendors. However, there is a stipulation that items in question may be approved by the Park Manager. Harry Smid assures me that vendors of replica weapons, firing and non-firing, may call him for approval and additional safety rules touching the sale of weapons. Furthermore, the $75.00 charge is for vendors only, not for period campers. Reenactment campers get in for free and are asked to be as "accurate as possible" in their kit and costume. No visible modern watches. No coleman stoves. No electric equipment. No modern vinyl tents. You may have phones, watches and cameras, but please camoflauge these items inside of ditty bags, haversacks, etc. Common sense is the rule of the day and you are strongly encouraged to research your kit and costumes. Captain Twill is an excellent resource for this purpose. Harry should be joining the forum in the next two days to answer questions.

Well, another Talk Like a Pirate Day is come and gone. This year's party was missing most of the true pirates and a great many people didn't show up, but a good time was had by all. Note the snarls and arrrrs. It felt oh so right to hang the Wetlanders' ensign again and raise a glass to the holiday of holidays.

Pete Youngblood stood at the foremost rail of the 'Dog smoking a long clay pipe and humming some half remembered tune. He and Mister Johnson were working sided by side cleaning the two swivels of the forecastle deck, War and Famine. As the Quartermaster approached, they both made as if to stand, but Mister Lasseter waved them down again. "Mister Youngblood. Wot news?" Pete took the pipe from his mouth and gestured to the Starboard gun that Cheryl had affectionately named Havoc. "The carriage 'as a crack in it running with the grain on it's left side. She'll take a shot or two at best, but I'd not risk more."

For our own Mad Jack... Mad Jack is a man of good rhyme he conjures them from to time out of thin air and rum both in pieces and sum He's so good that it's almost a crime

Ask and ye shall receive...

Listening to Pearl Jam, chatting with the QM, and working on draughts for a Bermuda built sloop.

Don't worry, Johnny, I can't tell what he said either. However, he used enough key words that through amateur cryptography I was able to make an educated guess. He wants to know specifically which recipes you are asking about because he doesn't know what recipe sites you are referencing. Admittedly, I can only recall having hard tack and I can't remember a specific pirate food other than hard tack which I may have tried. However, I would be interested in trying some of the said recipes you've found, so if you'll post a few sites I will promise to attempt the recipes and get back to you.

Yes, yes. Rules, rules, rules. But if we had followed the rules no one would have ever built a car out of solid steel.

Actually, I don't know for certain. Just to be different we didn't have a weight rule. We just wanted outrageous cars. The winner made his car out of solid stock steel. It was about 4.9 pounds...

July 21, 1704 - La Blanquilla Fourth Bell of First Dog Watch They ground up on soft sand and Andrew Smyth hastened up the beach to anchor the small boat, while Bill Flint held it fast. The small party went out from the boat, and several of them stood a moment while their brains tried to rectify the need to sway on a deck of surer stuff than the cutter or frigate. Even William took a moment to remind his mind of earth. Down the shore from them, the longboat crew pantomimed the ant, going to and from the small boat to a digging crew well up from the tide line. William dismissed half the cutter crew to rest and half to labor, moving up the beach as he did so. The sand was soft and of a fine quality, which William had guessed at earlier without evidence, and as he had expected, the terrain beyond the beach was harsh. Thick nests of thorns and cactus sprung up almost everywhere and he was reminded of his earlier thoughts as touching goats, for he was certain that few other animals might find enough to subsist on. It would be goats or nothing if they meant to have the finer things at La Blanquilla. 'Milk for tea and cheese for biscuits', he thought to himself. He looked back to note Bill and Nathan walking escort on either side of Murin. The three of them were becoming a common sight together, though Murin seemed to prefer the grinning youth over the taller Flint. William had a chance then to wonder how there had never been a fight about a woman aboard with so many traveling in their company. Perhaps there were enough not to find reason for argument, though he had witnessed almost no rendezvous or relationships springing up amongst them. A soft pop and echo interrupted these thoughts as it drifted to him then from over the water. William stopped instinctively to listen, and only when he heard another pop followed by a quiet, but discernible voice or two, did he continue moving along the beach. No doubt some sport or training had begun aboard the 'Dog. Or perhaps Mister Gage had taken to birds now that they had eaten so much of the native fish of late. William arrived at the second cache site and was greeted there by many lads stripped to the waist against the day's heat. He stripped off his own coat and hat to join the laborers at the digging, despite a few raised eyebrows. William looked around at the longboat crew who seemed taken aback to find themselves shoulder to shoulder with the Captain. "This isn't the Royal Navy, lads." Several nods, grins and not a few 'aye-ayes' passed among the diggers.

I just did a Pinewood Derby event three weeks back. I introduce to you the Red Death...

I have no problem having a meeting about future attendance and standards for the encampment. As the time draws closer, we can pick a time that doesn't conflict with any major events inside or outside the fort. With many of cooking and living around the fire, it shouldn't be a problem getting a discussion going.

July 21, 1704 - Aboard Patricia off the coast of La Blanquilla Her words spoken, the Captain allowed Murin and the others to have their silence a moment. Then he stood at the mast of the cutter. "We commend thy body to the deep, looking forward to that time when the sea shall give up her dead. Earth to earth. Ashes to Ashes. Dust to Dust. " Bill Flint and Nigel Brisbane lifted the body gentle over to the side, and weighted as it was, it disappeared at once into silence. William thought he heard one of the others whisper 'In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen', and wondered, not for the first time, how many of these pirates and sailors alike gave thought to their souls. "Thank you, all." William said with a quiet smile, replacing his hat. Then he quite suddenly decided that he needed to take the cutter ashore. He hadn't planned on such an excursion, but having the cutter crew at his disposal, and having not set his feet on the island since arriving her some three days back, he thought it was high time he went exploring on the island. He made his way aft, taking over the tiller as he ordered the sail up. It filled in short order and they sped across the water to a location within yards of the longboat crew, who were now employed in a line to and from the boat to the next cache.

It snowed in Logan yesterday, so this isn't a record high for us by any stretch of the imagination.

I was homeless and I lived in Golden Gate Park for a time. An island castaway in the sea that is San Francisco.

July 21, 1704 - Off the coast of La Blanquilla Third bell of First Dog Watch At first, William said nothing, and the whole company was left to wait in silence for him to begin. It was not an uncomfortable silence, for everyone either spent the time in reflection or regard for the island. Several full minutes passed in this fashion, for William had brought no book, no rote prayers, and no written speeches. When he did finally begin he sounded thoughtful, reflective. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." The Captain began, speaking as if from memory or personal experience, rather than some long ago revelation. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." He paused a moment before repeating a small portion of that ancient text. "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it..." Then when only a few had spoken their amens silently or aloud, he expounded on the moment. "And so we see that life and life again are but two parts of the same voyage and that death is but a respite from our travels until we are called again to sign articles to some greater vessel. We are born upon an island of Earth, there to toil, to love and to rest, until such a time as we are called by name to board that infinite unknown and journey to such shores, that even we dreamers cannot imagine." He placed his hand on Ana's shrouded forehead and looked to Murin. "Do you wish to impart any parting words, Miss McDonough?"

Agreed. I just checked out a copy from the library.

fortunately, many of the pirates who have spoken to me about attending PIP have asked some very good questions about gear and appearance. Many of them are taking great strides to look the part of a true pirate. With the cost of travel, it goes without saying, that some of them will not have the kits of seasoned pirates, but when they come to the event they will have the opportunity to learn from the group as a whole. Our fellowship will turn out better and better pirates over time.

Yellow Fever.

I like the skull and crossbones pillar cap. I noticed it before all else.

Is it worth what? When it comes to bad weapons, I have to be blunt. No pun intended. A poorly made weapon is an insult. Poor weapons are not weapons at all, they are props, and to bend so far as to call that a prop is still a blasphemy to Hephaestus. My opinion in some matters is not subtle.

"You have the ship, Mister Lasseter." They all went over the side and down into the boat. First Murin followed by Tudor. Then William, who was followed by Nathan Bly. They all joined Bill Flint, Claude Marchande, Andrew Smyth, Nigel Brisbane, Paul Mooney and Lawrence Dinwiddle already in the cutter, and Patricia seemed at once crowded and empty as they moved away from the frigate. The small boat moved at speed across the water for the wind was fair and the water was perfect for sailing. Despite the errand of the party, William enjoyed the fleetness of the cutter. The wind felt good, and compared to the sometimes crowdedness of the 'Dog, it was a fresh afternoon. William chanced to look about at the faces of the cutter crew and found that all of them seemed of two camps. They were of course, understandably sober, but also content to be on the water with no other requirements but the farewell of a virtually unknown woman. Some of them might have been in a reflective mood, but most of them watched the island slip by as they were carried past reefs and beaches. William noted that Murin did not wear the earrings of the late Lady Ana, but t was also apparent that she might not have ever worn such adornments, for her earlobes looked untouched. Some curious birds circled the boat, and looking back at the Watch Dog, William noted that the rigging had drawn a great many varieties of them. The island supported a surprising number of birds, fish and small life. He found himself wondering if cattle of any kind might take to this place, deciding that goats might be best suited for the harsh flora. "The mind does wander" he thought, as the second bell of the First Dog Watch peeled across the water from the 'Dog.