hurricane

You mean to tell me you wouldn't like to see a woman in shiny polyurethane thigh-high boots with lots of buckles on the side and high heels? (With a riding crop in her hand, of course...) Nope, sorry. I'm a purest on that. Gots to be leather... :) My personal favorites: -- Hurricane

Unfortunately, Key West has tons of sail ships in port and the Western Union is facing the same plight. She is in sad shape there and needs a total overhaul. If they were interested in getting into the ship business, I think The Union would be their first choice since it has a local connection already. -- Hurricane

I've never seen mention in any buccaneer tomes about the use of gaiters. I don't think they were in use, at least not in the Caribbean operations of buccaneers out of Tortuga or Jamaica. I've seen the drawings, but I haven't heard of any first hand accounts of their use. Others? -- Hurricane

Ah yes. Another year has past in town. We plan to keep advancing the year to keep things interesting... Plus, I'll finally get to bring a damned tricorn with me to keep the sun off me head. -- Hurricane

The 1681 Port Royal Encampment has already reserved a place for our Catt & Fiddle Tavern and mercantile for the coming year. We'll be redecorating a bit since a year has past and the rogues have broken up some of the furniture and made away with some of the fine rum punch we all imbibed in. We'll be gambling again (period games like Passage and Bankafalet as well as new ones), drinking and storytelling in a newly remodeled tavern on the corner of Thames and Lime in lovely Port Royal. Confirmed are: Hurricane Diosa (aka Mary Read) Bootleg Red Handed Jill (ours) Youngblood Oryginal Cinn Touche Master Studley Animal Sheila Mizzen Willie Wobble I will also be trying to bribe Water Rat to fly in from Oregon, my pirate friend for 26 years and a pirate hisself for 60. May have a few newbies in tow as well some familiar old faces by then. -- Hurricane

On top of the world. My cabin boy, Wrong Way arrives tomorrow for Christmas so we can have two weeks to play together. Going to EPCOT for the Christmas program there and to the space center. Plus we have a new Wii to play out guts out on. -- Hurricane

And they wanna search everything....... Heck... gives them something to talk about at lunch I guess.... Too bad I didn't carry th' shrunken head again this year......... Hhm, we've never been searched. Even when flying back from Jamaica the only one searched was the one guy's girlfriend who wasn't in costume. Everyone else went straight through. The bags going in and out of both countries were never even opened. That goes for the Bahamas and Puerto Rico when we've traveled (and we had 10 of us in costume for Puerto Rico travel). When we went to the Abacos last year, the customs official in Treasure Cay asked us what was in the one box. We replied... "guns and swords." He just laughed and said, "that makes sense" and waved us through. -- Hurricane

After 45 years in the cold, rain, snow, sleet and gloom of night (Seattle) I can sympathize. I had to laugh this morning because my wife caught me bitching that it was going to be 61 tomorrow here on the Space Coast. I has to laugh too... guess I'm finally going native here in the southern climes. Stay warm! I do miss Peppermint Schnapps and Hot Chocolate though... -- Hurricane

Any period of clothing from buccaneer to today, as long as it includes boots... the taller the better. Heels good, zippers bad. Leather only. No strange manmade materials. -- Hurricane

Yes, the boot-off in security is a hoot - looks like a circus act... all it needs is some well timed "Hup! Hup!" sounds to it. TSA gets a kick out of it though. The only problem traveling in costume is they always want to trade their TSA hat for your tricorn. -- Hurricane

They're closer at least than the original ones certainly. They are a little misleading since the actual festival is Dec. 5 - 7. Setup begins on the 3rd and break apart is the 8th. But for those with limited vacation time, I would recommend arriving on Wednesday, no later than Thursday and plan to leave on Monday. -- Hurricane

You should have been in the Port Royal camp. I had two visitors on the second night... one was obviously stricken with Yellow Fever - I woke up shivering and with labored breathing and the second one was a Native American who wouldn't shut up. Woke the whole camp up with that damned channeling thing I do. They didn't like the Indian much. Very fun sleeping in the fort. Lots of "visitors" stop by it seems. At least it wasn't the angry Chinese guy who scared Diosa to death once. -- Hurricane

Funny you should say that. In the buccaneer days, they used to shoot cannons at the waterspout to break it up, believing that is would create vents. Good to see you folks have a like mind and know how to tame the wild beast. -- Hurricane

Wow Bilge... I wonder if mine did too! I don't recall a newer edition. Anyone have a more recent? - Hurricane

I only received one copy. But if I was an advertiser, I'd be furious that my ad ran after the event. I think there were three events in there at least that had already past that had full page ads. Remember people. . . it's all about meeting deadlines in the publishing biz! I too hope No Quarter Given gets back and track with their schedule. I've been a long time subscriber to the pub... Haven't given Pirates Way a try yet, but might! -- Hurricane

Terrific photos! We're launching a rescue party to come to your rescue. May be a year before we can make it down your way to pick you up. Have a coconut or two (or three or four or...) on us in the meantime... -- Hurricane

So, I guess with all this global warming stuff, the weather gods should think about Nov. 30 being the end of Hurricane Season. Seams Tropical Storm Olga didn't get the invite... The same thing happened the first year we had the event. While we were burning the flag, Oscar was churning out at sea.... -- Hurricane

It is primitive camping, indeed. There are no open fires allowed (tough to get the fire department to respond out there :), but there are grills and picnic tables in the area. Our own group brought everything we needed into the Fort Taylor so we could self-suffice for four days. It wouldn't be that difficult there, especially when they have carts to shuttle stuff back and forth between the boat and the camp area. -- Hurricane

Here are the official dates for the Fort Taylor Pirate Festival. Dec. 5 - 7, 2008 This next year, the Official End of Hurricane Party will be the weekend before, so the tentative dates of the larger Pirates in Paradise Festival (which the Fort Taylor event is part of) may extend to the weekend before, which would make it Nov. 30. For those with vacation time who want to really enjoy Key West and the keys in general, you may want to come in a bit early. That also allows time for those who haven't been out to Fort Jefferson to go out there for a couple days. They have camping out there for $3 per person per night and will take reservations for groups. Check it out: http://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm -- Hurricane

It was a fabulous frock. Not many rovers have the legs for it.... :) -- Hurricane

We almost lost two the first year because they insisted in jumping in gear. One lass's dress started pulling her down almost immediately and Diosa had to jump in to save here. That's back when we had if off the fort itself and some decided to swim to shore. I know the popular belief was that sailors of the time didn't know how to swim (which is well documented, of course), but water slogged wool is like having two of you in the water... You did make the most graceful show, William. A class act, not afraid to die... no sniveling or cowardice in you... I'll be happy to send you to your watery grave anytime, with or without the wool. -- Hurricane

I thought it a nice jig, Captain. Figured you were already a dancer, given the number of times you've swung from the gallows... And Amanjiria, Send any video my way for the PiP website and I'll add it. I have the dubious honor, nay , privilege, to be the site's master... -- Hurricane

Most definitely. His mother could have probably robbed us all blind whenever Charlie was around. -- Hurricane

I was seriously thinking of bringing a large wooden mallet with me next year. (They actually did this!) We have a large red wooden mallet in the Catt & Fiddle in the Port Royal side of town. You can have at it next year. -- Hurricane

I heard William caught something down there, just didn't know it was a worm. Is that treatable? --- Hurricane