hurricane

I would try American Airlines - but you'll always get gouged flying into KW. About $150 to $220 more than if you fly into Miami. We're flying direct on a red eye and arriving at 9 a.m., then driving down to save costs. The airfare from Seattle was $280 going that route. As for hotels, check the manifest of sponsors at www.piratesinparadise.com - they all offer special rates for the festival. Be sure to call them direct don't go through the regular national reservations route. Packages are fine, but they typically put you up at the 4 star resorts and hotels and who's going to be hanging around the hotel any way.

You'll find us all over the grounds there, lass. But we'll be meeting at the main stage around noonish. Watch out for other pirate groups who may be posing as us. If they all be men, then you've got the wrong group. Look for the ones with wenches as well as pirates and that be us...

You won't be able to miss us! Just look for Animal's face and lots of kid's crying at the sight of him. We'll also have pirates of all ages in tow, from Bullseye, our cabin boy to, well Animal. Nuff said!java script:emoticon(' ')

I would peace tie them if you are running solo. If you want to meet up with our gang of motely pirates, you can forego that as we're entertaining there so they already know our disdain for peace tying weapons. It interfers with picture taking and throat cuttin' :). Just email me and I can provide particulars if you want to meet up with our group.

Anyone in the Seattle-Tacoma area is invited to come pirating with us at the Commencement Bay Maritime Festival, Sept. 20 and 21. Our pirate band will be on stage on the 21st at noon and there will be roving bands of pirates there both days to add color to this annual celebration of the sea and commerce. See more information at http://www.maritimefest.org.

The walk isn't bad to the Atlantic Shores area. It's a pleasant walk. During out time there we covered all the points, including up and down Duval on a daily basis... with a stroller no less. Time passes by nicely on the walk. Plus the Bone Island shuttle runs around the island regularly if your tootsies get tired. As for parking - geez, it is a torture. But it's a balancing act between paying top dollar for being on or near Duval or coming from a bit farther away for cheaper. Key West is only 2 x 3 miles roughly so you can't get too far out. We'll be at the Holiday Inn Beachside this year, farther out but fine as we don't plan to be there except to sleep. Why go back and forth all day when the fun is at the festival, the restaurants, bars and attractions? Just plan your days ahead to avoid the back and forth action. And be prepared to get some exercise as bicycles and feet are still the best way to get around.

It is truly a grand event. We attended several years ago and the natives just love pirates. We had a crewe of about 12 that invaded from the Northwest and it is one of the better run festivals around. And we liked the fact that the husband and wives dressed in complementary costumes so we could pick out the singles easier. Made for easier pickings, it did! And the mayor walking the plank is one of the true highlights! Put it on your calendar, mates!

Good to hear you found some boots, mate! For those still shopping, a good pair of boots will last along time - I've had my main pair now for 20 years. A simple pair of Wellingtons with cuffs I added me'self. Another option often overlooked is a good pair of buckled shoes. The shoes aren't as important as an impressive set of buckles. I converted a pair of slip ons with squared toes I found for a couple bucks at a thrift store. Added some antique buckles and voila! a nice set of shoes that look great with knee socks. And it gives you an entirely different look from the "bootineers". And one can't have too many sets of footwear. A couple sets of boots (brown, black), a good set of period looking sandals, a pair of shoes - you can mix it up better depending upon the outfit. And Dreamie is so correct, look around and you'll be surprised what you find at a very good price in the unlikeliest places. The only bad part is the flood of Halloween pirates out shopping now - thanks POTC!!!

For cannons on the port and starboard, you can use simple steel or PVC pipe. Inside, install a few fire extinguishers with the exhaust point into the pipe. It works well. Too bad you can't fire real cannon in a parade. We've done it up here in the Northwest and it's a kick when between the buildings of a downtown. A nice ship to convert. I'd relocate the winch on the front to a lower point so you can have a figure head. And build up the back to a deck higher for the aft quarters. It makes good storage and you can put the captain up there during the parade. Check out the seafairpirates.com site and see their WWII DUKW redo - it's much bigger than your vessel but some of the details may work on a smaller scale... -- Hurricane

'Tis a fine discussion here on piratical weapons and how to ship them to PIP. We plan on shipping them ahead of time in a lock box to the hotel along with our other pirate treasures that are an absolute pain to travel with (instruments and such). To us it's worth the cost not to have to worry about them and having to lug them around. This is particularly true if you be flying directly into Key West on one of the smaller commuter planes. Even during non-tourist time, if the back of the plane be full your stuff gets left behind and has to wait for another flight. Had that happen there even on vacation with no piratical goods in tow. See you all soon in the Keys!

If you're looking for custom belts or other leather goods, I highly recommend http://jekylthehidesmith.com/ - he made a double wrap belt for me last year and it was first class. Great communication, top workmanship. Going back for another belt soon.

We are The Pyrates, a band of pirates and a pirate band. We are homeported in Port Orchard, about nine nautical miles west of Seattle. Our crewe numbers about 10 to 12 and we work with other crewes in the area and nationally as the need arises. We perform a lot of community service, love to appear and perform in bars, taverns and ale houses, some paying gigs, private parties, community events and our annual town parade, even though we hate parades. We'll be at Pirates in Paraside in force this year. The Pyrates are 10 years old now, but most of us have piratin' much longer. Our most senior pirate has been doing this sort of thing 50+ years, our newest, about six months. The average is about 24 years of piratin, pillaging and plundering. We have wenches and pirates - the more the merrier. Always looking for more rogues and lasses to join the ranks. See us at http://www.piratesofthecoast.com

I must wholeheartedly agree with several postings. First, no one can be a true pirate without the torture, rape and other unpleasantries that dot the headlines every day, committed by every day commoners. Reenactment is the recreation of a spirit of a time and place... no one can truly go back and live in a different time - we're all jaded by everything we've experienced in life. So what if you use a lighter - pirates in this time do. And do the Ren Nazis follow through an light up at home with a rock and a stick? Where does reenactment truly begin and end. There will also be those who tightly control their environment as they can't be creative and loose in their own lives, let alone their character's life. And there are those of us who like to take a little lattitude with the attitude which is fine too. Not much different from politics or religion. There are those who go by the book and those who write their own passages. As a friend once said, there are gamblers, whores and settlers in life. And most people choose to be a settler. Hats off to those who want to maintain a connection to the past through attention to detail and pants off to those in the world who have the guts to take a little license, add their own twists to their appearances and enjoy life as it comes to them. More the merrier and viva la difference!

Being a pirate group for more than 20 years now, we've only recently drifted into the ren faire environment. We had always heard the tales of people checking thread counts on costumes and such in the name of "authenticity". But we've had no problems at these events just being ourselves. We're pirates through and through - it's an attitude you carry, not a particular accurate weapon. And let's all be honest here, we're just playing pirate so the comment about the one threatening to cut all your heads off is laughable. I'd like to see these RenActors take on the real pirates in Malaysia these days. Our group doesn't come close to towing the line in terms of historical perfection. But we can outpirate and outlast most we come across. We can entertain gutter rats and heads of state with the best of them, even if our threads are a stitch or two off. And we can hold our own with our fellow pirates, re-enactors or weekenders. So my advice, ignore those who pass judgment - they're just jealous that they can't be pirates or wenches. And I still must wonder what would possess a woman to come to a Ren event as a nun instead of a wench. What could ever, ever be the fun of that?

It's sad that so many cash in on on the witless about these treasures. 'Tis fine if you like what yer buyin', but $4000+ for a bloody hat, come on! Nothing's worth that. Cutthroat Islands' auction was much more reasonable and had some great stuff one could actually wear. Check out our pillaging of that auction at http://www.piratesofthecoast.com - click on the Artifacts link. And there is a woman who's making duplicates of Sparrows costume - custom. Would like to see the workmanship of that first though- she hasn't posted any real finished product. And watch out for the sharks on ebay - one must ask who's the better pirate -- them or us?

Aye, Animal! 'Tis yer captain 'ere, ol' Hurricane! Good to hear you actually remember being at the faire, as if I recall the evening prior was partly cloudy fer you. Might want to stay wide abeam of the old Blue Goose and Red Dog - seems that dark ale has a mighty strange effect on you. But you were back to your ol' self at the faire, me boy! Good to see you still have a bit of the ol' Animal bubbling about inside. Reminds me of the old days in Bodden Town. Good show, lad! Good show!

I'd have to say, oh, so many to choose from -- Cutthroat Island Against All Flags Robin Hood (the Errol Flynn version of course) The Three Musketeers Star Wars (original ones) Raiders (of the Lost Ark & Last Crusade) Top Gun (only if I catch the opening - if I do, I can't turn the channel) African Queen Seven Days in May Field of Dreams Braveheart The Patriot And so many more...

Mine is the center of me pirate ring, presented to me by a wench some 20 years ago for, uh, services rendered you might say. On the side of the ring is a dagger and dolphin - a one of a kind - just like meself!

I believe the hotel sponsors on the Pirates in Paradise site have special rates for participants. I'd call around and see what you can come up with - you may also be able to score a hotel only package - if you get too close to Old Town the parking is a problem, but further out (Raddisson, Holiday Inn, etc.) they have free lots for the cars. We ran into that same issue...

I haven't had too bad of time with me felt tricorn - us being up here in the soggy Northwest it has gotten wet so many times the feathers have wilted and shed. Just need a good drying out when I returned to port. The two wool ones faired far better. But one doesn't want to look too store bought anyway, so a good dousing in water (or rum) adds character - been 18 years with the same hat in hide tides and low - high humidity and freezin' cold. Of course, the rum helps make me look better in the hat. Could that have something to do with it?

Our crewe, all 10 of The Pyrates, are planning to line up our arses and get the same tattoo in Key West at the Fest. We decided a nice skull and crossbones below the waterline on our butts would be a nice place - and from thence on we'll get them whenever we go on an out of town voyage next to one another. Come join us!!!

Now there's a good question! How did we all come to be pirates. And old sea captain on me old ship once told me, "there's pirates all over the world - but only a fee of them can wear the costume." If you're a pirate you know it. You may just not have the costume. I know for myself I was with a Seattle based pirate group, serving as an apprentice. Yer job basically was to be a grunt, serving the crewe. I took to pirating instantly - and the day I finally knew that I was going to be a pirate was standing in the pirate party room during Seafair. It was 5 or so in the morning and I had been serving up drinks since midnight. And as the sun rose, I no longer cared if I had a job, a wife, a place to sleep - I just wanted to be a pirate. And that's when I crossed over - you're either a pirate or your not as we say. And if you are, you can instantly tell those who aren't, costume or no costume. It's more an attitude about life than it is a costume or a character. And so I've been a pirate for 21 years now. I've met heads of state, governors of exotic islands, been far and wide in my travels to places I had never even heard of and have many great people, including my wife, piratin'. It's the "E" ticket to life. Being a spectator at an event is never the same after you've been pirating - you always know what it's like to be on the inside. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to answer them for you. Welcome to the sweet trade, lass!

Our Krewe, The Pyrates, will be billeting at the Holiday Inn Beachside... a little farther out but reasonably priced. We're also flying into Miami - the savings paid for a big van to cart us around. We're taking a red eye in and then driving down as a group - stopping along the way at whatever catches our fancy. I recommend doing the same and renting a car in Miami. Then pick a hotel that has free parking down in KW. Check out www.piratesinparadise.com for a list of sponsoring hotels - they'll have the best rates. I know the Holiday Inn has a good rate as does the Sheaton All Suites if yer to liken a bigger space. We look forward to meetin' up with ya and we'll have to hoist a flagon in yer honor!

Tis no matter, flintlock or not. I tend to stray away from those confounded things in favor of a good old fashioned cutlass. Much more fun to taunt the kiddies with and have many more uses in a piratical situation, if yas get me drift!

I think it was $292, including tax and travel insurance... much cheaper than flying into Key West and then having to get a car or van (there's 10 of us going from here) there.