hurricane

If you've ever been to Captain Tony's during PiP and met Captain Tony, you would have never forgotten your encounter. Always filled with tall tales and a love of the ladies, the good Captain died Saturday at the age of 92. It's a shame many of you will never get to meet him... he was a real part of the old Key West. http://cbs4.com/local/captain.tony.key.2.854313.html -- Hurricane

And a superb Fight Master he is! Makes great cole slaw too. :) -- Hurricane

I think that's a good idea. I know that Harry is hoping to do the trial inside this year, where the two jail cells are in the barracks area. Perhaps we can use one of them for the rabble rousers in the crowd and put them in the holding cell if they decide to adlib and be disruptive. Hopefully, I will have two of our fellows (one is 6'5 about 300 pounds and the other is a police officer) in soldier garb to help out this year. -- Hurricane For others, here's the post that was in the Mercury Crew thread that we're referencing... Yes, I would agree. I know that Cascabel, Diosa and some of the cast of the Anne and Mary trial were very pissed about some of the antics going on during the play. Not only was there the knife incident, but talks among some of the re-enactors about rushing the stage and freeing the girls. First, this is their performance, not ours. We should be respectful and let them do their show for the audience and quit interrupting it. Second, pirates and villagers of the time would be anxious to have them hung. If someone were stupid enough to yell for their release, they would be hung as well as pirates. In Jamaica at the time, the tide had turned against pirates and toward the plantation owners, who were more than happy to hang this rabble. It cheapens the value of the show to constantly yell louder than the actors can speak and it certainly isn't correct to yell for their release. And it is downright disrepectful to those who work hard on putting something together for PiP. If you you so desperately want to be in a "show," create one yourself. Don't invite yourself into something you're not asked to be part of. As for the safety inspections, I know they are all hands for those who want to shoot. I think that should also be the case for anyone wishing to use the fight circle or do any combat. The swords should be inspected as well. Back in the day, I've had several snap off (before learning what a combat sword was) and it could have injured someone. Again, the freelancers are the biggest worry, since they don't answer to anyone in a crewe. To Harry and Nigel yes, thankfully. I just want us all to be on the same page so we can have fun this year and be safe. -- Hurricane

Yes, I would agree. I know that Cascabel, Diosa and some of the cast of the Anne and Mary trial were very pissed about some of the antics going on during the play. Not only was there the knife incident, but talks among some of the re-enactors about rushing the stage and freeing the girls. First, this is their performance, not ours. We should be respectful and let them do their show for the audience and quit interrupting it. Second, pirates and villagers of the time would be anxious to have them hung. If someone were stupid enough to yell for their release, they would be hung as well as pirates. In Jamaica at the time, the tide had turned against pirates and toward the plantation owners, who were more than happy to hang this rabble. It cheapens the value of the show to constantly yell louder than the actors can speak and it certainly isn't correct to yell for their release. And it is downright disrepectful to those who work hard on putting something together for PiP. If you you so desperately want to be in a "show," create one yourself. Don't invite yourself into something you're not asked to be part of. As for the safety inspections, I know they are all hands for those who want to shoot. I think that should also be the case for anyone wishing to use the fight circle or do any combat. The swords should be inspected as well. Back in the day, I've had several snap off (before learning what a combat sword was) and it could have injured someone. Again, the freelancers are the biggest worry, since they don't answer to anyone in a crewe. To Harry and Nigel yes, thankfully. I just want us all to be on the same page so we can have fun this year and be safe. -- Hurricane

Uh, and this has to do with Pirates in Paradise how? And it's in here, why? -- Hurrciane

It's like the Friends function on MySpace. Yup, Warm fuzzies! After all, aren't we all friends here and wouldn't we just add everyone? -- Hurricane

Pint & Dale can be found on iTunes -- all there major works are there for the buying. -- Hurricane

Pint and Dale are superb, in fact, Diosa and I do a lot of their songs as duets -- as much fun to sing to as to listen to. -- Hurricane

Sorry, that's my way of getting there. Tried to make the Green Parrot a drive thru once. Hic! -- Hurricane

Aye, Dogge loves to show newbies the ropes... :) -- Hurricane

We have several of our members who live in Orlando way, others in Daytona, one in Fort Myers, one in Chicago and one in Oregon. We're spred out, though most of our crewe is in Central Florida. -- Hurricane

It's easy! Just head down US 1 (which becomes N. Roosevelt and then Truman) until you reach Whitehead. Take a right. Head to Southard (Green Parrot Bar will be on your immediate left. Take a left onto Southard. Go past the guard gate at Truman Annex. The road after a stop or two begins to dogleg left. Look for the fort entrance with its own guard gate. Down take the hard left off the road onto Covington - that's another guard gate but it has machine guns and navy personnel. If you preregistered Harry will have maps for you. -- Hurricane

That sounds like a great plan Harry. We will make sure we have a rep at both meeting and all shooters at the safety meeting for inspection and orientation. -- Hurricane

Can we get a set time for the evening meeting each day? Looking at the schedule, Thursday has most of the pirates off site at the Walk the Plank (4 to 5) followed by the Buffet at El Meson (6 to 8). I think most will just stay in town between the two events. Friday's easy, except for those our on the WOLF. Otherwise we're at the fort anyway for the ball. Saturday, we lose a large number to the parade after the festival ends and the parade begins at 7. If I recall, most people left after the event closed at the fort to get ready for it. I think about six of our crewe was all that was left in the fort that day when the gates closed. Don't want to be a pain -- just want to make sure everyone is at what they need to be at. For our own crewe, someone is always on watch at the encampment, and can meet in our stead. -- Hurricane

I would suggest a standing time each morning, say 8:30 or 9 a.m. to go over everything. It can be a standing meeting at the mess tent in the fort, which will be easy for everyone to find. In the evening everyone is headed off to town or not of a mind to listen. Better to get them fresh and be able to bring them all up to date on anything that has changed overnight. My main concern are those who are not affiliated with anyone and decide to jump in an ad lib at the last minute. Those are the ones we need to get our arms around each day. I remind everyone of the guard who had a real knife held to his throat last year during the trial. The rogues and unaffiliateds are more problematic than anyone in any of the encampments on site. -- Hurricane

The Pyrates of the Coast will have one of the two or both in attendance: Hurricane, Captain Diosa, His Conscience & Translator Diosa's cell is 321-537-6874 I never answer my cell phone so why bother. Our crewe is used to being bossed around by us. -- Hurricane

That would be great! We will coordinate as we get closer... And we'll see you at all the events that weekend. -- Hurricane

So true. Cascabel can run you through the paces in just a few minutes. I learned from our own Master Sulley, Willie Wobble and Cascabel, of course. Not that tough. A well manufactured gun is essential. Keep it clean and well maintained. We don't use cartridges but all of our powder is premeasured in near containers my wife Diosa found. We can rack off a helluva lot of rounds that way. I agree with Callenish. Use the horn to measure, not to load. Oh, and to a first timer -- never lower the weapon once it's loaded unless you want to watch your powder fall out the barrel (embarrassing) - cartridges don't have that problem. :) The safety procedures are pretty straightforward and people like Willie, Callenish, Cascabel or any one of us can run you through it. As for the flashpan guard, PiP doesn't require it. We shoot pirate style there and I just don't bother shooting at events that require it since it detracts from the look of the weapon, especially a buccaneer gun like ours are set up as. And all weapons must pass inspection before shooting. Weapons can only be loaded on the range (the field or the fort) during the battle. The doglock is more a buccaneer period weapon. However, there were uses of it later - I prefer it because it actually as a safety position - the dog. It can two click and be ready while still being safe.

Diosa and I arrive Nov. 29 and the rest of the crewe is slated to arrive dark and early Thursday morning, ready to go for the opening of the festival. We will be at the Cypress House until Wednesday, then setting up at the fort. -- Hurricane

No offense to Willie, but I'd quit before I gave up Dogge... although the Mistress is up for trade... ye can have her...cheap... No worries. We have Sir Publix and Master Albertson's nearby to satiate our hunger for sweets (and they don't smell like wet poodle). Plus, oh, the Cupcake store -- that's is a wonderful place to get Key Lime Cupcakes. On second thought, screw the trade -- I forgot about the cupcakes there. -- Hurricane

Hey Dogge! I have Hurricane's Rum Punch that I would be happy to trade you for some of the cobbler or shepherds pie....... Hell, if you cook over by us and I get first dibs on the cobbler, I'll likely keep your tankard full while ya cook.... It's sort of like making a player trade in football -- you have Willie and we'll take Dogge and two cobblers and one shepherd's pie in trade for him along with a quantity of rum punch to be named later. -- Hurricane

We don't use flashpan guards, but I do recommend getting a good tool set that includes a pick, a powder horn, measures and flints. I go through a lot of flints but I get mine from Track of the Wolf as I like the English flints they carry. I just got a powder shipment from the Maine Powderhouse -- great folks to work with and they're pricing was great. GOEX was something like $16 a can when 10 lbs is ordered (including hazmat and shipping). Oh, and a cleaning kit -- I just use on I picked up from Walmart for shotguns and it has everything I need for about $15. I got some cleaner there too to keep everything looking new. -- Hurricane

That's a great gun -- been at the top of my list as well, along with Loyalist's doglock musket. Loyalists' blunderbuss has a brass barrel, which I think is nice. I have the same dog mechanism and have only had one misfire in 100 rounds (a worn out flint was the culprit). I think you'll be very happy with either one. -- Hurricane

Just be sure to stand clear when Willie is ibirking. It's hard to wash out of your clothes, especially the chunks. -- Hurricane

With the extra baggage fees now, you may want to ship it UPS ground. Ship it to Harry or to us here in Melbourne or us at the Cypress House (we will be there the Saturday through Tuesday before the event). -- Hurricane