hurricane

I have to agree with Blackjohn. Eventually, this becomes an issue between the individual customer and the company. Airing disappoints or pleasure here isn't really fixing any of the issues some people are having with the shoes. Like most things in life you either like what a merchant does or you shop elsewhere. If you don't like Walmart you shop Kmart or Target. It's the same here. Sorry for the problems some people are having but I have to say I doubt seriously there's anything else to be gained here by going around in circles... If you don't like the service or the product, take it up with the company directly. Otherwise it just turns into a pissing match that gets nowhere. My two pence. -- Hurricane

Man, I just handed out a bunch to my crewe at our weekly gathering... ---- WANTED: New crew members who have allergies to cocoa products... Apply at hurricane@piratesofthecoast.com. Rum good. Chocolate bad. -- Hurricane

Good luck, mate! I can tell you that once you get a pair that fits, they are virtually indestructible. I spent the weekend walking around on an ocean of broken coral and puddles and the damned shoes look spanking new still. The soles didn't have wear on them and you can't feel a single piece or coral or stone beneath your feet. That includes walking three miles up and down Duval and Elizabeth... I could never walk that far in any pair of shoes or boots I've ever owned. -- Hurricane

Strange - just never had a problem with them and I hear from them once a month or so. This is their new email address, just in case you used the old one. loyalistarms@ns.sympatico.ca I've bought arms and accessories from them without a single issue. -- Hurricane

I heard rumors that the Sea Rats will be coming down too. Sounds like a party! -- Hurricane

That would be for Harry to answer, not me. Obviously, these are rough outs of spaces. But if you were to move the encampment space (even as it is sized now) into the fort, you'd see that the space is about a little more than half of the parade ground in size. I assume that there will always have to be a balance, since this is the best beach in all of Key West and there are a lot of people who come to the fort for the beach, not for our event. On any given day there can be 8,000 cruise shippers in town looking for a beach and the park is the place to go for fun in the sun. But again, Harry is the almighty wise one on this subject... -- Hurricane

Have I got the restrooms correct in placement? Just wondering as to what appears to be a much smaller area allotted ....have they cleared more of that area? I know tis more than a bit difficult to tell by this map alone, but that area last year was the Archangel crewe alone...putting the Bone Islanders and the Mercury crew in there as well is going to be very tight... from what I remember...or are we permitted to spill over? and thanks Hurricane I think that points to the importance of getting the forms into Harry. Right now, he has 50. 18 of those are our crewe, leaving (let's get the old abacus out here) -- 32 in the encampment. Promises to go don't get space -- the forms do. Yes, that's where the restrooms are located... -- Hurricane

Here you go! Hurricane

We usually just make a car run over to the major stores like Albertsons and such over on Roosevelt every other morning. I know there are places closer, we just make it easy on the crewe so whoever goes can find the store. -- Hurricane

Nothing could be truer than what Harry says. As much as I love some places in town, breakfast for two at Blue Heaven. $31. Four days at the fort last year with spiral cut ham, steak, cheese, breads, fruits and veggies -- $50 per person. And we ate like kings breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ended up bringing a lot of it home. If you're driving, make your last stop the WalMart in Florida City just before you start into the keys. We supplement that with runs to the local stores for bread and ice so we can keep things fresh. But it is so much easier and way more fun to eat on site. I know that Silkie's addition of the ordinary out at the encampment will make this more convenient for those who are individuals.

I believe you're in a more concentrated area this year on the point, so you may want to have a contingency plan in case the trees aren't being cooperative. I have the map Harry gave us over the weekend but I haven't had time to scan it in and post it. -- Hurricane

42... -- Hurricane

Sorry for the multiple posts, but this is important to some of you... Just got word from Key West and the Bone Island Buccaneers... The festival at the fort itself has been extended. It is now Thursday, Dec. 4 through Dec. 7. For those that have flexibility in your booking or travel arrangements, you may want to adjust for a four-day festival instead of the original three. I would assume move in is bumped up to Dec. 2 & 3 for the encampments to accommodate the extra day of fun in the sun at the fort. The revised schedule is at http://www.piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html -- Hurricane

Sorry for the multiple posts, but this is important to some of you... Just got word from Key West and the Bone Island Buccaneers... The festival at the fort itself has been extended. It is now Thursday, Dec. 4 through Dec. 7. For those that have flexibility in your booking or travel arrangements, you may want to adjust for a four-day festival instead of the original three. I would assume move in is bumped up to Dec. 2 & 3. The revised schedule is at http://www.piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html -- Hurricane

Our final roster for The Pyrates of the Coast encampment in the fort: Hurricane Diosa Red Handed Jill Bootleg Youngblood Touche OryginalCinn Sheila Mizzen Moira Willie Wobble Sully Animal Cutter Io Syren Dangerous Bailey I think that means 18 degenerates, despots, ne'r do wells and reprobates. -- Hurricane

A note to all travelers... Just got word from Key West and the Bone Island Buccaneers... The festival at the fort itself has been extended. It is now Thursday, Dec. 4 through Dec. 7. For those that have flexibility in your booking or travel arrangements, you may want to adjust for a four-day festival instead of the original three. I would assume that means camps can be set up Dec. 2 and 3... a day earlier than originally planned. The revised schedule is at http://www.piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html -- Hurricane

You will love the Loyalist shoes in Key West. Wore mine down there to test them out... Here's the results: 1. You don't feel any of the loose coral rocks that play havoc with feet. 2. Chicks will stop you dead in your tracks on Duval to marvel at the shoes. 3. I walked about four miles in two days in them without a single blister or ill comfort. 4. Even with the mileage and the coral, the soles of the shoes still like like new. -- Hurricane

Our entire crewe is account for and the forms were delivered to Harry in person while we were down here. Woohoo! Site inspection -- Check Tentage -- Check Forms -- Check Vendor Form -- Check A great visit with Harry -- Check Charlie coming -- Check -- Hurricane

We took a tour with Harry today of the grounds. Everything is well with the fort. The encampment area is being spruced up (you'll be farther out near the tip this time -- with an unbelievable view -- and the fence that surrounds the barracks area will be moved back a bit so almost all of the parade ground will be available to us. It's going to be a grand time, everyone. If you haven't gone to PiP before, you need to set sail here in the next year or two. It's getting bigger and better every year. Oh, and Charlie will be back, the rum swilling baby that captured all of our hearts. -- Hurricane

Our entire crewe will be there for the pig roast. We love the event and the cast party is right after that. It's not open to the public so it doesn't show on the schedule... The pig and sides are terrific and it's a helluva lot cheaper than eating in town. And the atmosphere is far better. -- Hurricane

We picked up our tent from Track of the Wolf - it's a Baker Lean To plus we go the fly addition. I think it was $450, including the stakes and ground cloth. We will be using it initially at St. Arrrrgustine in mid November before heading to PiP with it. There, it will be our Tea shoppe. We still sleep in the fort. There's 12 of us and that's just a lot of tentage to deal with. Plus, it does rain there periodically... coverage is good. -- Hurricane

Most of us just throw canvas over our non-period items, such as coolers, suitcases and bags. During hours we try to look as authentic as possible, but we're not an excluding bunch. There is a beach shower there - cold, but a shower. It's near the restrooms, which are encampment side. There is a second restroom near the fort. We don't bother showering - we have a case of wet wipes our own crewe uses during the days we're there. It's good enough. Hammock space is up to the folks out at the encampment and how they arrange things. I believe that in William Red Wake's stead, you'll be wanting to coordinate with Captain Jim as to space. My understanding is that Harry (of the fort) is assembling an encampment diagram so everyone knows where they will be before they arrive. Ask away -- we're all here to help you. And be sure to stop by the Catt & Fiddle Tavern or Tea & Tings fronting it during your visit. You'll find our crewe encamped inside the fort at the far end under the cannon. -- Hurricane

Man, Diosa and I are so in on that! We have the mileage and a trip to the old homeland would be fun, especially Port Townsend (we had so much fun there). I have a banjo that Rick gave me when he was in Mt. Dora. Would like to see him again. -- Hurricane

Glad you liked it Mission. Everyone should read that book and it is so well referenced and footnoted it will keep those who wish to pursue absolute accuracy busy for a long time. I particularly liked the part about the painters of the period being the PhotoShoppers of their times. That people with clef palettes or part of a missing jaw or all blistery were fixed in the paintings so the artist could sell them. Kind of changes your view of what people actually looked like back then. I encourage everyone to read this book. Damned fine work! And thanks Mission for posting excerpts from your notes. -- Hurricane

Easy... I'd be what I am now - a writer. If I had oodles of money, I would be a philanthropist and help others full time. -- Hurricane