hurricane

Create your own fun. We don't do much of the faire or festival circuit and create our own fun. We just barge into a bar and create an air of piracy there for the evening, talking to patrons, hoisting a drink or two, and entertaining ourselves as well as others. If our crewe had to wait for a festival or faire we'd die of boredom... Far better to create your own adventures than to follow those created by others. -- Hurricane

It certainly had its moments of excitement in Altamonte Springs. A potential was running right for our abode along 436 and then disappeared. But we were all set up and ready to take shelter in our place. First time I've had to deal with a Warning here. But no biggy. The big hit was 20 miles north... -- Hurricane

Oh, easy. Windstar is Vanna The E-150 Econonline is: The Whale The Saturn Vue is: The Rocket The White Panel Van is: SOB In the past, the 62 Galaxie was The Tank: -- Hurricane

I thought that's why God invented pirates. So we had something to study when we got burned out on buccaneers. :) -- Hurricane

Great idea Harry! Our crewe plans one or two nights of runs into town. Otherwise the buccaneers will be billeted in camp, enjoying a fire, some fine and not so fine period beverages and enjoying the best of what Port Royal (our part of the fort) has to offer in the way of food and, uh, womanly entertainment. We will be wanting a fire over in our part as well. May want to roast some meat now and then... :) -- Hurricane

I can vouch to the fact that a sailing ship can go aground at any point. We ran aground on an uncharted sand bar in Port Royal aboard the Schooner Wolf. It shouldn't have even been where it was. Capt. Finbar saw it (he was taking soundings with line) but the wind caught the sails as she turned and pushed her on the bar. No one could have prevented it. Now anyone who know Finbar knows he's one of the most experienced captains in the country - he's qualified to pilot everything up to a super tanker. But you can't fight the wind or the tides in a sailing vessel. As for the Coast Guard... I don't know about here but in Jamaica the Coast Guard came out almost immediately. They checked to make sure we weren't sinking, waved their M-16s around a bit for show, took the kids aboard to shore and left. There was no threat to life at the time and we were a salvage job, not a CG job. -- Hurricane

This is already a real ride. It's called Robocoaster. Here's more on it. http://themeparks.about.com/od/photoandvid...robocoaster.htm It was shown at the big theme park convention in Orlando here two years ago. -- Hurricane

Good points here. One year we all met at Miami International and rented a 15 passenger van for the trip down. Everyone paid a portion. Since we're at the fort, the van can be parked there for much of the day. There's also a couple good lots over by the seaport for $5 to $8 a day for times you're over there. Allow about four hours to get from Miami to Key West on the highway. There are lots of reduced speed areas and you can easily get stuck behind a slow moving truck for miles (there's a lot of new bridges being built down there between Key Largo and Sugarloaf). So allow plenty of time - plus it's amazingly fun with all the shops and sites along the way. Food and drink is very expensive in the tourist areas but if you know where the locals go to eat and drink, it's very reasonable. For instance, we were at the Bottle Cap one evening and it was something like $3.50 for a very strong Captain and Coke. Much better than you can get on Duval and the entertainment was better since it was a local's place. -- Hurricane

Sorry, I can't help but think purchasing tickets so early is unwise. Airlines charge rack rates until 90 days to 6 months out. If you buy before the deals start in, you're paying way more than you need to. Airfares are influenced by soooooo many factors. For instance, today I received a mailing from my favorite airline, Spirit, with airfares from Ft. Lauderdale to Puerto Rico for $16. Some of the online travel sites (travelocity, orbitz, etc.) have fare hunters that will alert you to good fares to where you want to go. Search the deals and be smart. As Patrick has done, Miami can be a lot cheaper to travel to and then Greyhound it down or rent a car. No one in Florida flies the leg to KW because it can cost as much as your entire first RT leg to Miami. -- Hurricane

So I guess we should think of another name, If Hurrican's group is going to hastle us and tell everyone that Morning Star was used in Cutthroat Island We aren't spoiling for a fight. And don't take this wrong. I could care less what your ship is named - I don't think the public will really give a crap either, any more than at the end of the day we're representing life in Port Royal as opposed to any other place in the Caribbean. I simply know my crewe and how they like to use their improv skills and pick up on things. Unlike your encampment we work together all year long at several dozen events. So we operate and think a little differently than most other casual pirate groups and I was simply trying to point out (as I mentioned the name to several of my crewe) that the subject (the duel original of Morning Star) might pop out of the mouths of several people at the event (not just us) and that it might hurt your goal of creating an authentic careening camp. I'm not going to be running around telling anyone the origin of the name. I will be a little busy running a small town there and keeping my crewe on task. -- Hurricane

Not to be a party pooper, but I don't think anyone is going to really care about the meaning of a ship's name. Most ships were named by their captains for a variety of reasons known only to them and carried no deep hidden meaning. Conversely, even though only a few may remember the Morning Star from Cutthroat Island, I think it defeats the primary mission you're shooting for which is to make your encampment as real as possible. Obviously, our encampment all knows where Morning Star comes from so the tie in will be known at the event regardless. And knowing my crewe they won't be able to help themselves but ask where's Morgan Adams, Glasspoole and Mr. Blair? -- Hurricane

"The Morning Star, she still swims." Morgan Adams, seeing her ship in the harbor in Cutthroat Island, anchored next to The Reaper. Such a good name that it was in a movie. Thought it rang a bell. - Hurricane

What if someone was unsure? :) -- Hurricane

After 25 years of pirootin', I have seriously burned out twice, including a time when I got rid of everything I had having to do with pirates, including all my gear, my decor, my books - wow! But I kept coming back to it - truth be told I don't know how to be anything else. So I carry on. Grateful for the breaks as it gave me perspective and a chance to look at things anew after being consumed by the calling. Don't feel bad - happens to all of us now and again. Enjoy the family before they grow up and go off on their own, discover other passions you may have forgotten about and have relax... it's all here waiting for you if you need it again. -- Hurricane

That is indeed a nightmarish commute, sir. It used to be you could make the run in 40 minutes not so long ago. Spokane is a so much nicer place these days. Glad you're making headway in the storm of life. -- Hurricane

Well said Blackjohn! Though I am a pirate entertainer (as I play instruments and sing) I have increasingly become fascinated with the historical side and finding it just as fun, albeit in an entirely different way. Plus, it's easier to do fantasy gigs with historical gear than the other way around. So I would recommend erring on the side of historical. For many of us that's a lifelong pursuit. You don't have to start out perfect - just learn as you go and change things as you find you what's right and what's wrong and as budget allows. -- Hurricane

Don't need a test: Sir Henry Morgan Hurricane

It was known as wrecking and the people who did it were wreckers. You can visit the Wrecker's Museum or the Wrecker's Historeum in Key West - they have artifacts and the complete history. Wrecking was the main reason Key West flourished and at the time was the richest city in America, largely through the ruin of many ship captain's careers. "Reap the Wild Wind" with John Wayne is a pretty good movie about it too. And yes, false lights were used to lure the ships onto the reefs, rather than away from them. -- Hurricane

Now all we need is the plague and pestilence and we're all set... -- Hurricane

This reminds me of the test with lab rats with the two levers: one has food, one has an electric shock. Gettysburg - food Williamsburg - shock Even though the shock would be far more enjoyable. My mother used to ask these same questions... "Would you like the super cool electric whiz bang toy or the yo-yo?" "Why the whiz boy toy, mom!" "Sorry, it's not on sale. Can't have it." Hey, thanks for asking! Oh well, onward and upward with other endeavors folks... the clearance rack wins... -- Hurricane

It was so the men could tell the difference between the two... Mistaking a guy for a woman could get you a sword through the belly back then. :angry: - - Hurricane

Kind of curious which one Hurricane likes the best... GoF --------------------------------------------- I personally liked the Raven... don't know why.... just rolls off the tongue nicely yet still has a slightly dark tone to it -- perhaps I'm haunted by Poe. -- Hurricane

Mine is a little below the shoulders and curls naturally at that length. I'm fortunate that I still have all of mine... even at the ripe old age I'm at now. I pattern mine after those of the Buccaneer era - when wigs weren't worn I believe. Of course, Kass (who I see is in here with me) might slap me around on that one. -- Hurricane

What's considered a good price? -- Hurricane

This is true. An English ship would never carry any name that was even vaguely Spanish in that period. At least I can't recall of any. My recommendation: Have everyone submit their five favorite names from a single list. Find those that appear on all the lists, narrow it to them and then vote. You can spend weeks on this when the only ones who will use it are yourselves. The public won't remember it two minutes after they leave the camp. Hurricane