hurricane

What joyous news! I'm sure all of us here are glad to here this and look forward to more news as you have it. Thanks for keeping us all up to date, as always! -- Hurricane

That's an expensive meal in Florida. Knocking one off carries a $50,000 fine and a year in jail, but only if it's a Florida Sandhill Crane. I think it's cheaper to lure a cow into the yard and whack it instead. :angry: - Hurricane

The Pyrates of the Coast are anchored in the Northwest shores just north of the seaport of Seattle. If you have a mind to perform as a pirate or wench, like to do public appearances, entertain, do some community service and good works and occasionally travel the state and even the Caribbean as a pirate, we'd like to have you aboard. If you're a bit of a ham, like to meet people, enjoy the life of a pirate or wench, we'd love to hear from you. Some of our events have included fundraisers for good causes, appearances at retirement homes, children's hospitals, and such, festivals, bars and restaurants... wherever a bit of piracy is needed. We've even done a performance with an orchestra once in a really fun pirate show with props and interaction with the crowd. Visit http://www.piratesofthecoast.comto see what we're all about. -- Hurricane Captain

Did they have closets on a ship? I know, opening a whole new can of worms akin to bucket boots. -- Hurricane

Well said, William. Well said. I for one hope that it all works out. And if it doesn't, that the encampment finds a new home elsewhere there. Change is never welcomed, but always inevitable, especially in Key West. So let's all see where the dice rolls. We're all an arm's length away from KW. Few of us here live in the Keys and can even get answers. Let's let those in Key West bring the answers as they get them. Time will take care of this, one way or another. For me, I hope Fayma chimes in eventually, since she's on their board. -- Hurricane

Isn't Nova Scotia Canada's Key West d'Dogge? It looks like an island. It's kind of south (well, of most of Canada). -- Hurricane

Up soon: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110496116527&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123 Kind of cool. -- Hurricane

There were just a few. They were tucked in behind the Schooner Wharf. I had a couple of my crew in one of them. The vendors were spread around there too. Not to say it was anything like it has been at the fort, mind you, not even close. And most of us were in hotels. But there have always been elements present since it's been in Key West, albeit on a much, much smaller scale. Don't get me wrong - loved the fort and the festival there. Spent three years there. But I was there for four years without it as well. And not trying to compare them, either. I enjoyed each at a different level. And I'm sorry that some didn't get out to hear the great guest speakers, authors and artists over the years. Or experience the nights we had at the Mel Fisher Museum or the Custom's House art show, featuring pirate and nautical artwork. It has always had more to offer than just camping at the fort with friends. Frankly, I can get space in any park in Florida (Sebastian Inlet State Park would be the best, by the way) and set up an encampment for pirates, if that's what folks want to do. Gunfire may be the only issue with that, but it is right on the beach and the river. We've talked about it in our own crewe for the last four years, doing something like that. Or better yet, I've always wanted to do a festival at this place: http://www.buccaneerbay.8k.com/. Anyone ever been there? I know it's a Loyalist Arms project. -- Hurricane

As a slight correction, there has always been at least some element of encampments at the festival - they were spread through the historic seaport near the sailing ships. Second, there were always battles - ableit no on the scale of the past four years. Many were ship to ship battles. The historic seaport was the gathering place and there were firm schedules. And finally, there has always been education components to the festival - there are speakers, history walks, guest authors. Pirates in Paradise isn't for hard core re-enactors. I never was designed that way and never will be. It is a cultural, historical and arts festival with a pirate theme. As such, it welcomes pirates of all walks of life, from re-enactors and street entertainers to polyester pirates and Steam Punk pirates. For us chameleons out there who can do it all, PiP is still worth a trip because it celebrates what Key West is all about - diversity and acceptance. I do agree attendance will dip substantially. If sitting around the camp and living la vida pirata is your thing and there's no fort, PiP won't be of interest to you sans Fort Taylor Invasion. But for those that aren't re-enactors on this pub (and I think this pub still allows members who aren't re-enactors), PiP is still a blast to go to. It was before the fort and it will continue to be after, if things don't change. Hurricane

Thanks there Captain. I'm sorry I couldn't have spent more time at PiP, but as you know, real life can really get in the way sometimes. I'm sure we will run into each other before PiP around the state and I look forward to hoisting a tankard with you and toast to old times and good times to come. You're one helluva pirate and dare I say, a real gentleman too (I hope that's not an insult in these waters. -- Hurricane

That's really crappy that you weren't even invited to the meeting where the event was discussed. I guess the winds have changed indeed there. The least they could have done was ask you to attend so you could understand the reasons. -- Hurricane

As a clarification to all, Pirates in Paradise is still on. What has been cancelled or put into question is the Fort Taylor portion of the event. That is indeed sad, as it was a great part of the larger festival. But PiP itself is still on. In fact, I am just redesigning the site as we speak for Pirates in Paradise and updating the schedule of all the activities per Festival Director Julie (who's on her way to Haiti with relief supplies on the Wolf). PiP will still have all the non-fort activities as always including Walk the Plank, the costume contest, sails, pub crawls, parade, speakers, historic tours, the trial of Anne and Mary, etc. I didn't want anyone to start spreading misinformation that runs counter to the truth as some equate the fort festival as being Pirates in Paradise, and that is not the case. PiP is still scheduled for Nov. 26 through Dec. 5. And for you old timers, you remember when we didn't have the fort to work with at all. Some of the events at the fort will undoubtedly shift back into town at various locales, as they used to be, if the fort ultimately decides not to have us back. It would indeed be their loss if they did. And kudos to Spike and all his crewe and tireless volunteers for putting the fort event on. They deserve a big round of huzzahs from all of us for their hard work and efforts these four years past. -- Hurricane PiP Sponsor and Webmaster of piratesinparadise.com

21 pipes from wreck. None whole. just saw it on ebay and thought I'd pass it along. http://cgi.ebay.com/Monte-Cristi-Pipe-Wreck_W0QQitemZ180469472835QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a04d19e43 -- Hurricane

Oh, man. I forgot about the crabs... don't want to get those ever again. :) Just don't sleep near Jill or Diosa and you won't have to worry about getting them either. -- Hurricane

The weather can be anything that time of year. Last year it was sunny but a bit brisk in the morning and nights. The ground at the location they're going to be at this year depends on whether you're on the high side or the low side. Low side, get a canoe, if it really rains. :) Last year (if I recall) we had a great sutler, because Michael got to enjoy some gunpowder in his coffee one morning. (muhahaha) -- Hurricane

Can I donate a couple of ex-wives to the event? -- Hurricane

That's really cool Patrick. That's a nice piece of rigging. But I kind of like the hammer. :) -- Hurricane

Wow, that was really interesting, thanks Mission. -- Hurricane

Yes, I've heard that version. But I was quoting the transcripts from the Spanish, since they are also records of what transpired. Unfortunately, I always take Exquemelin with a grain of salt, since he was sued by Morgan for libel and Morgan won. Never could imagine why Morgan giving up what was then a state-of-the-art gun -- that would be like us sending a smart bomb over to the Taliban to have a look at. He was a lot smarter than that. A pistol? No big deal. Always wondered how a surgeon would have a eyewitness account to a battle when any leader in his right mind would keep doctors to the rear to tend to the wounded and not put them in the line of battle. -- Hurricane

Francis Ford Coppola's Claret. Based on a 1910 recipe, it is extremely similar to that drank by buccaneers in Port Royal, being a blend of bourdeauxs and cab and reminiscent of a malbec. Very fun tasting wines that have been long lost... such as ports, madeira and now claret. -- Hurricane

Yes, my understanding is that the beef is prepared in such a way that it's basically much like barbecue today, but as it dries out the salting takes over and they end up with jerky. But the initial product is very tender, flavorful and rich in taste and texture. The use of pimento wood went a long way to creating the flavor that is hard to reproduce these days, unless you have access to the pimento branches. The jerky-like beef was good for storing and campaigns, but wouldn't have been consumed in camp where any fresh meat was available. So the more proper representation at PiP is to barbecue on a grate of green wood over coals (not burning wood). If you can get pimento, that's ideal, obviously. It also makes the representation easier at the Fort event, since there's no need to create a hut and do the smoked version. I think a lot of people would really enjoy learning where barbecue came from. -- Hurricane

That's a mighty kind offer. I will have to give it the due consideration it deserves....... there, done. :) There were several nice pieces in there I would love to have! -- Hurricane

Actually, Morgan sent the governor a pistol and some bullets to show him how he could so easily outshoot the Spanish. Also, boucan isn't dried, it's slow roasted. Only as it ages does it dry and become jerky like. There's a big difference between dried beef then and boucan that was consumed by the buccaneers at meal time. -- Hurricane

Here's the link to the auction, which ends in March. http://www.auctionflex.com/showlots.ap?co=30162&weventid=11313&weventitemid=3960961&wmaingroupid=0&wcatmastid=0&inventorytype=&mindate=20100205&maxdate=20110205&keyword=&lotsortorder=lotnumasc&pagenum=1&action=〈=En I really thought this was cool - how someone carried two guns at the same time. Someone's always thinking. http://www.auctionflex.com/showlot.ap?co=30162&weventid=11313&weventitemid=3960946&wmaingroupid=0&wcatmastid=0&inventorytype=&mindate=20100205&maxdate=20110205&keyword=&lotsortorder=lotnumasc&pagenum=1&action=〈=En -- Hurricane

That was it! Thanks for posting it. It's a great tutorial and saves a lot of conjecture for those trying to recreate the boucan style. -- Hurricane