A view of the lake
Fishhooks made by Lord Ottar for the period fishing class
Some people
More people
Fishing in the river
Viscount Nicklos and Lord Ingus fishing in the lake
Ottar with the first catch of the day
Audrey with the first fish she's ever caught
Waiting for the fish
Wolfric with his fish
Prince Tarrach fishing (he has just ordered a minion to check his line)
Spear throwing
More people
Around the campfire
Hamish walking down the path
Feraghus and Hamish pulling each other off logs
Thora and the cooking fire
Prince Tarrach eating feast
Lord Ottar cooking rasti for feast (all the feast cooking was on an open fire)
Anne (made Lady Anne with a purple fret later that day) and Lord Ottar with a Donnershaffen banner. Donnershaffen gifted the banner when they released the land to Skerrstrand
The Event Report
The rain started when we hit the UP. Hard rain that turned the blacktop into mirrors whenever a car approached. Neguanee reflected on the lake, the lake reflected on the blacktop. Beautiful. The SCA signs were much more visible than the DNR signs. We rolled into camp at 2am local time barely tired.
While we were unpacking the car, a will-o-the-wisp approached, finally resolving into a person, thankfully. It was still raining. We set up camp and helped the late night greeter hang glow sticks on the outhouse doors so people could find them. We went to sleep dry and warm on a layer of sheepskins, lulled to sleep by the tap tap tap of rain on the tent.
The day dawned with birdsong and sun. The predicted thunderstorms were nowhere to be seen. Whew. We dressed and wandered about the wakening camp. There was a Windhaven contingent who made fresh doughnuts for breakfast for everyone. I love Windhaven. We signed in and received cast tin leaves as site tokens. Wow. We shmoozed, getting hugs from all our friends who were suprised to see us. I felt very homesick.
Ten o'clock rolled around and classes started. Signy and I went to the period fishing workshop. Ottar had forged five hooks for the class. 10 people showed up, so we took turns. In period, most fishing was done with nets or fishtraps. We learned why. We tried fishing in the river, but there weren't even minnows to be found. We relocated to the lake and tried our luck there. Prince Tarrach took the opportunity for a drive by teaching, and had those of us not actively fishing do some carving on antler bits that he "just happened" to have with him. The whole group of us eventually caught a grand total of three tiny sun fish, which we did not cook and eat. We fished until almost 1pm, even though the class was supposed to only be an hour.
Another class that happened during the fishing workshop was "Kumihimo" braiding. Which is a method of taking long lengths of floss and lots of time and turning it into short lengths of patterned cord. So there were many people doing this through the day.
After lunch was a sling making and using class, an edible plants walk, and some period games. I went slinging, though I had misplaced my own sling. We tossed rocks into the water. Eventually, Tarrach and Nicklos tried slinging. Tarrach is very good at it. Nicklos... almost killed people twice. We had a discussion on period sling ammunition and what it would feel and sound like to get hit with a sling stone. Tarrach, Nicklos, Vlad (Mr. Windryth), and Kenneth all tried to hit a bottle. Only Kenneth got even close, but it was fun to watch.
The edible plants walk also gathered, and we had dandelion fritters and... some cooked fern sprout thingees from their gathering.
The period games involved gambling with almonds and poker chips and looked like fun. For some reason, the "house" kept winning. Who'd a thunk.
We played a game called Kubb, which is kind of like horseshoes crossed with bowling. When we split up for teams, Tarrach cried "Who's with me!" and everyone flocked to his side. Eventually we got even sides. One lady kept hitting Nicklos' ankles with the throwing sticks. Very fun game. Tarrach brought out a spear that we threw into a rotten tree stump. Tarrach can throw spears a good long way. I can't. But it was fun.
Then we had a fighter practice. There are two fighters in Skerrstrand, and the authorized one was cooking feast. But it was still fun. I got to play with Kenneth's great axe, I like it. Unfortunately, I can't think of any way I can pretend it's period for me. Sigh.
Feast was phenomenal. It was cooked on a fire. The later courses were cooked while the feasters watched on. Amazing. There was bread that they cooked on sticks, so it had holes in the middle, and you had to break it off the stick. The dessert Norse pancakes were wonderful. I don't remember what all we had, but it was all good. All of it. And it was filling, but not so overdone that there were a lot of leftovers. Very impressive.
After feast, the shire of Donnershauffen presented Skerrstrand with a Donnershauffen banner. The land where Skerrstand is had once been part of the Barony of Andelcraig (a long way away) who gifted it to Donershauffen when they became a group. So now Donnershauffen "gave" the land to the people of Skerrstand, along with a banner for rememberance. A technicality, but a nice gesture, and good schtick.
A bardic circle started as feast was being cleaned up. We heard tales of Cnut re authorizing and some Pennsic stories and some songs. Then court happened. Two Skerrstranders got their AoA's and one got a Purple Fret (hadn't gotten her AoA before). All well deserved. Then the bardic circle continued. Windrith was home sick, so Vlad waxed eloquent about how proud he was of her. The bog beast is scared away by singing and other bardic stuff. So when the Skerrstranders would encourage us to sing, Tarrach would sometimes say "No, no, I want to rip it's arm off!" We can only assume he's read too much Beowulf. The bog monster did make one appearance, but Tarrach and Owen sang and scared it away. The seneschal gave a public service announcement, "There is much land to settle, whole villages even. Any yokel between my door and the bog is welcome. It's very safe to live here, please come live here. The bog monster will not get you, there is no bog monster, it is very safe!" No one believed a word of it. Tarrach realized that he will now have to learn Midrealm songs instead of just Northshield ones. I had an attack of stage fright, so Signy read my poem (I had written it for this event). It went over well, people laughed in the correct places. I felt very very homesick, but happy, as that's the first non-prose writing I've done since high school.
It was a fun event, and it's not the same as most general events. If it's not during work weekend next year, I highly recommend you make the trip. It's worth the hours in the car.
Copyright 2002