William Brand

It falls to me to tell you that CaptJ and Janet will not be in attendance, and it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you also, that our dear Captain Jim will not be joining us either. Commitments and vacation schedules have combined to keep many pirates from PIP this year. Each and every one of them send their greetings and well wishes.

1) I've been looking at all the PC stuff. Heck! I just want to dress like a pirate and stay drunk for 10 days! (Ok... maybe I could have done that 30 years ago, but you get my drift, I think!) You all sound like you are SO industrious! What is a worthless rogue like me to do at, say, PiP? (I'm VERY good at giving advice!) Have a blast. Just show up and they'll put you into training on cannon crew at the fort. Attend the Walk the plank party and go swimming in your clothes for sport. There's a parade you can strut your stuff in. So many things. PIP is not 'PC', or as we prefer to call it 'Historically Interpreted'. The activities at the fort and the volunteers there lean toward Historic Interpretation, but the overall festival has a broad standard. 2) Looks like you bring a ****load of stuff along with you to gatherings (like PiP, which I have my eye on!). How do you transport all that stuff from home??? Do many of you come by plane? People talk of tents, cots, etc., etc., etc. I'd need to charter my own plane for all that stuff! I'm having trouble just imagining transporting the clothes by plane! (Hat?? Boots?? Cutlass?? Keep in mind that I am a huge man and my clothes are probably twice as big as some of you wee ones.....) Also, it must be hot there and people must sweat alot .... a different shirt for every day? I've managed to attend with a limited change of clothing, a tent and enough sundries (maps, weapons, etc) to travel by plane and still arrive well equipped. In some cases, we even provided tents for people traveling by plane. 3) PiP .... Commercial lodgings? Beach? Fort? I HATE not being clean. Where do you wash? Shampoo? Brush your teeth? Comb your hair? Take care of "elimination needs"? I can guess that once the sun goes down, things really get fun. Like most places, the best stories probably come from the 11 PM to 3 AM time period! lol! Gee, I wonder why....Posted Image Seems like the on site ppl would be privy to all the late nite shenanigans. 5) While I wouldn't be showing up in a costume-store getup bought at say, Rubie's, I would probably be more flamboyantly dressed than most of the PC stuff I have seen. (No offense, but in the pics I have seen, PC clothes look kinda drab!) Posted Image I get the impression, though, that this place/group would even welcome the Key West Gay Men's Cross-Dressing Pirate's Chorus. (Ok, maybe not the pirates from the blue states.....) I just hate the thought of spending all that money on the first year's trip to mainly discover what I SHOULD have done to have the best time! Arrive. You have to try hard not to have a good time. Chances are you'll find at least two groups or more that you can hang out with no matter what your tastes are. 6) Does it matter much when in the 10 days you show up? When does the "best" stuff happen? When is it most fun? Would going for December 3, 4, 5 be too short? (On second thought, if I am going to fly all that way - from Montreal - I should probably stay as long as possible, no?) Leaving the day after American Thanksgiving is not very likely ... gotta spend some time with the extended family in Maine. I recommend you come early enough to catch walk the plank and stay long enough for the battles at the fort, so the longer the better. That said, I am generally there for the Fort Taylor Invasion before all else, which is toward the end. I have a limited amount of vacation and money, so I go to shoot cannons and clash swords.

Whether you're attending Pirates in Paradise or not, you'll find some invaluable information here... http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=14604

And stop by chat. I'll be in the chatroom for the next little while. ...though it isn't working at all.

Feel free to ask questions as you have them, and for history, check out the Captain Twill forum here on the Pub. Welcome aboard. -William

This thread will point you to many helpful threads for PIP. http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=14604

Join the Mercury crew and go to the Pirates in Paradise festival. I'm past being subtle. Welcome aboard.

I really wish that I could. As primitive as it's meant to be do they let you take pictures?

Welcome aboard.

The standard sizing up to 4XL.

Thank you.

The powers that be have decided to do an official Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion t-shirt (and totes, tanks, sweatshirts and hoodies too), which not only benefits the fort, but helps get yours truly to the event! Shirts will be available on men's t-shirts and tanks, as well as women's baby doll t-shirts and tank tops. All shirts are 100% cotton and will feature the compass pocket image and the crossed swords on the back. Prices reflect pick-up at the event in Florida. Anyone who is not attending, but would like a shirt, please add $5.00 for shipping. Orders will close on November 12th. Tote bags - $20.00 T-Shirts (men) - $20.00 T-Shirts (women) - $20.00 Men's tank - $24.00 Women's Tank - $24.00 Sweatshirts - $27.00 Pull-over Hoodie (men) - $35.00 Zipper Hoodies (men) - $40.00 Payments can be made by check or paypal. Please send paypal payments to sweet_h2o@excite.com Please mail checks to: William T. Pace 143 South 400 West Logan, Utah 84321

Welcome, Mister Fridley. I welcome you on Facebook and missed this post altogether. Always a pleasure to meet another member of the crew living in Ohio where our ranks continue to grow.

Application sent. Now, the rush to finish a million things before we meet.

Well... As I have been waiting over two years for my order... And more than one promise that I'll have it ' in a week or two'... Several PM's on here that have been read and not replied to... You be the judge... Two years...? Wow. That's an uncommonly long time to be made to wait. Meanwhile he's been working on a Scottish sinclair saber for himself and a fighting knife for a client over the last few months. He also made a lovely cartridge box for Jeff MacKay back in July and one for some fellow named Sam back in June. Add to that the many projects he's working on over at the Black Spot Armory and he simply doesn't have the time to make a Whydah box.

It's a fantastic example of Keith's Workmanship. I'm very happy with it and look forward to seeing it in the mail. So many handcrafted bits if gear and kit are waiting to exit the plastic tub for better quarters. I'll be sealing it with linseed oil upon its arrival and this should make it even a darker red than it is now.

Muela makes navajas...? I just got all giddy. They make fantastic knives.

Thank, Mark. I was glad to hear and see that it went so well.

My thanks to everyone for shooting so many pics of the flag in so many places.

That cake is two and a half months old. We have plans to use it as a mushroom anchor.

HERE, HERE! Raise a glass!

Welcome aboard, Gio. I hope that you enjoy your stay here.

I corresponded at length with an antiques dealership overseas the last two days, but they were unable to point me toward any specific camp boxes. They deal in campaign furniture, but could not recommend any kitchen box or portable kitchen for the GAOP. I'll keep looking.

As this thread has been revived... I'm sure that I'm forgetting someone, but I've called Capt J numerous times to speak at length about Mercury crew events and I just got off the phone with Mary Diamond. Things that I've learned about them. Capt J grows his beard for events and then shaves it right off again when he returns to life and work. Mistress Diamond likes guns, and not just little guns... Tank mounted weapons. I've also spoken with Michael Bagley on the phone, but mostly to verify where he was on the road between Ohio and Fort de Chartres. Harry Silkie Red Cat Jenny Dorian Lasseter Black Syren Red-Handed Jill Maeve Jim Hawkins Kass Ol Man From the Sea CrazyCholeBlack Captain P.E.W. Callenish Gunner Island Cutter Haunting Lily Edward O’ Keefe Captain Callahan Fayma Callahan Captain Sterling Jack Roberts Stynky Tudor Capt J Michael Bagley Mary Diamond