hurricane

Ah, the wonder of Florida's #1 non native pest... fire ants. Nasty buggers they are. There's also a pencil of stuff on the market that we use here on our acreage that takes the sting out of the bite immediately. It still boils up but you won't feel it any longer. A trip to the local pharmacies here will do the trick - it's usually in the bug spray section. Thankfully, the fort is far enough away from the stagnant water pools where the infamous no-see-ums dwell so you shouldn't have a problem. Lost a brand new tent to them on Sugarloaf Key last year - several thousand took the tent over in a rain storm while camping there. Easier to give up the tent then battle the buggers. -- Hurricane

It's typically in the high 70s to low 80s at that time of year but it's also fairly humid. One year it was damned cold as a low moved through. The next, bloody hot. So dress like you're going on vacation in the tropics, because that's what it is. This is especially true if you're from the north. For example, on the Space Coast here we have 220 days of 80+ percent humidity. Key West is almost always humid and when it rains, it rains in buckets, not little sprinkles. In the evening, coats work fine, though, as the weather cools. It's typically in the high 60s then. -- Hurricane

That's an easy one Patrick. John Esquemeling -- Author of that libelous scandal sheet, Buccaneers of America, who served under Sir Henry Morgan as a physician aboard one of his many ships. I could whip up a few more but I'm off to Animal Kingdom this morning. -- Hurricane

Patrick, It would not be historically distorted if dates are put with the various weapons. Of course, that would be academic, wouldn't it. :) -- Hurricane PS: A play on words, not a call to arms. Just playing since some don't always know that.

I hardly think it matters that it was after GAoP. What, Morgan's brilliant sack of Panama didn't count because it was before it? I didn't think this section was just for GAoP history. This is a remarkable tale of piracy and success on the high seas that makes every Western pirate look like a small timer, even modern ones today. 1500 ships and 80,000 men under her command? Wow!!!! -- Hurricane

I've only broke mine once when I slept with it on. Wouldn't whistle worth a damn and had to get another one. Thankfully my mate sells them so I just took another out of stock. -= Hurricane

Funny, I didn't know I was being historical with this. :) I use the whistle to call the crewe and direct them through signals they know and understand. I don't do the silly bosun's calls except when someone specifically asks (usually it's a bosun in the Navy who wants to see if I actually know how to use the thing). -- Hurricane

I personally think it's great that there will be sutlers in the encampment near the beach. My only observation is as a seller at the fort over the past years. Now that the event has been moved inside the fort (which I originally opposed) the vast number of visitors to the event go to the fort first. Our store did very well in the fort, in the casements. There was no problem with the heat or the fort. Whatever works for the individual vendor. My only advice was for someone who is new to the event and wants to make a go of it at the fort based on our experiences. -- Hurricane

We did very well with the re-enactors, better with casual pirates and great with the kids last year and in 2004. If you plan to make money as a merchant, I would recommend you sell in the fort as part of the thieve's market as opposed to selling in one of the encampments outside the fort. Those who pay to get into the event will do so at the fort entrance and will naturally head into the fort first and spend their coin before heading out to the other encampments out and about. You have great stuff - look forward to shopping in your shoppe. -- Hurricane

Yes, I forgot Sloppy Joes. And my favorite, Turtle Kraals. Will be there betting on the turtles again this year. If pirates want to do a parade through town, they need a permit. Someone would need to get working on that now. Last year, we had to do the Mary Read and Anne Bonny drag through town on the sly because there was no permit for it, so much of it had to be on the sidewalks so we didn't run afoul of the local constables. Unfortunately, the town is pretty apathetic about the festival. For instance, Pyrate Soul (a natural sponsor) will have nothing to do with PiP. There are a million reasons for all this - a lot of it is inner power struggles of the locals... some of it is just festival burnout since there are other larger events that bring dollars to the merchants, such as Parrotheads in Paradise, the Hemingway Festival, Conch Republic Days and of course, Fantasy Fest where even a daily parking spot goes for $30 instead of the usual $5 or $6. For those old timers, the festival used to be held over at the wharf. It had more attendance because you got the tourist traffic. But it wasn't a very piratey venue. And the vendors had to be spread out, which defeated the synergy of the thieves market where people could shop in a single place rather than having to find everyone by accident. Several years ago we published full color schedules that were newspaper sized. Thousands were distributed, but it didn't help boost attendance there. Don't get me wrong. I applaud all the efforts and ideas. I just don't want anyone to try to reinvent wheels that have already been tried over the years with no luck. Just the way it goes... -- Hurricane

It's been tried and has failed for two years. The reason is simple. The time in port is less than 8 hours. People aboard ship book tours on the Conch Train, head off to Mel Fisher's, Margaritaville, Pyrate Soul and if they're ambitious, head to the beach to sail or visit Hemingways, Captain Tony's and then head back. We posted pirates on the docks during 2004 and 2006. Not a single person showed at the event. They loved the pirates, took pictures with them, but their itinerary was already set. That and the fact that the fort is some distance from the docks, which requires a cab ride. The Conch Train folks and the trolley company has made it clear that they won't run people out to the fort from town. Two years ago they wouldn't even rent us a trolley and driver on our dime. So, distance and time are the biggest problems followed by the fact that the cruise ship and the destinations make money by booking tours on the ship before the touristas reach port. -- Hurricane

We do these talks all the time. What you say is very dependent on the age of the audience. What's the age range? -- Hurricane

Here's some photos. The five and six photos appear to have some of the dress. I almost bought it when it was auctioned off originally. Damn! Knew I should have done that. http://movies-cooler.com/details/movie/Cut...land-45971.html -- Hurricane

Wow! What a fine piece of rigging. It looks terrific!!!!! -- Hurricane

A great map it is indeed. I added the Port Royal Camp to the one map so others can get the lay of the land for 1680 as well. -- Hurricane

That would make sense since he's with the encampment. Far easier that scurrying back and forth between the thieve's market and the beach for the encampment stuff. Wear a poor guy out in the heat, it would... -- Hurricane

I think it would fit in fine with the character of the thieve's market. There is a wide range of merchant stalls and designs. Many are just tents. Ours is under one the casements next to the Port Royal encampment - I think it's a pretty nice looking piece meself. -- Hurricane

A small correction from Harry. The sutler's camp (i.e. Thieve's Market) will be inside the fort as in years past. The Mercury Encampment is on the beach under the trees. -- Hurricane

Yeah, it's not a bad drive. We do it from Central Florida a couple times a year - we like leaving about 11 p.m. and driving at night - less traffic and driving the keys at sunrise is so beautiful. Thankfully, we're an hour closer this year since moving to Melbourne. -- Hurricane

The schedules has been updated as of Aug. 8. Check it again for some changes. Also, we will be inside the fort, not out on the beach this year. Oh, and I'd love to see any of you keep up with Norma. She's got more energy than most half her age. -- Hurricane

I got that book when it first came out years ago. It is a real keeper indeed! -- Hurricane

I didn't know pirates had electric guitars in 1724. Amazing! I'll have to revise my history books. :) -- Hurricane

Ahoy all! Our Pyrates of the Coast has moved out on its own now. You can visit it at http://www.piratephenalia.com - you can now search by color or concept and the product photos can be enlarged to show all the detail you need. Lots of new products on the way, including some really cool pirate goblets coming in August/September. -- Hurricane

The surrounding areas are accurate, though few on the island would venture inland off the beach settlements. The island was populated with the Maroons so you were unlikely to return from a venture inland if they came across you. I believe their saying was, "No send, no come" or something to that effect. Here's a little tidbit about Sand Pond Hill from my presentation on Port Royal. It is in reference to the soldiers guarding the town. If they saw more than five unidentified ships approaching shore their duty was to "fire off two cannons laden with hollow balls, from Fort Charles over Salt Pond Hill. The report and echoes thundered through the mountains, so the troops could hear the call wherever they were on the island and take up arms." -- Hurricane

The map is woefully inaccurate, at least as far as Port Royal was concerned. It sank in 1692. To give you perspective, here are illustrations pre- and post-earthquake from accounts at the time: