Pennsic 50
My Journey: Pennsic 50
7/27/2023, Thursday, P-1
I left the Atlanta area late in the evening and was driving solo.
7/27/2023, Friday, Zero Night
Early in the morning, I crossed the New River Gorge Bridge and spent some time doing the obligatory photographs.
The New River Gorge Bridge is a highlight of the drive and I try to ensure that I will cross it least once on the trip in daylight.
New River Gorge Bridge
The traffic was horrific once I got to the Pittsburgh area. I did eventually get to the site around 3:00 pm. I waited in the sun to get checked in, then went back to my car to camp for Zero Night only to find that it is no longer a thing. So, I was on site a day earlier than I planned to be. I spent much of Friday afternoon waiting for the camp agents to get to the camp. There really was no room to sleep in the car so I slept on the roof rack under an umbrella. Once they got back from storage, I was able to link with the camp leadership and help with set-up before getting my own assigned space and setting it up. Then, dinner.
7/30/2023, Sunday, Week 1
Saturday was spent making a town run, setting up camp and getting my own space organized. Best thing I did was to buy a gallon of water for each day. This helped to ensure I stayed hydrated. Sunday was about setting up in Just Plain Plunder on 19 Bow Street, which is where my merchant goods lived, and getting into the groove of cooking on coals.
Over the course of the first week, Camp Blue Feather began to fill up. I was surrounded mostly by Yurts so my little Bell kinda fit right in. My front patio became my kitchen and the back of my tent was where the solar array was set up. At most, my power consumption would take the battery down to 61%, but for the most part we were in the 70% range by morning, and regardless of the weather, at 99% or 100% at nightfall. Most nights, I was so tired that I did not need to listen to music to sleep. Our camp was mostly quiet and drama free.
My power system is a Bluetti (EB3A). They also made my solar array (PV120S). I had both LED AC lights and LED DC Fire Lights. For the most part, my battery lights went unused. I was very pleased with the performance.
The first week, I took classes on animal bead making, Viking chess, Norse Clothing, and Norse kitchen ware. I also taught two classes during the second week; From Furnace to Flame and Tour of Beads.
8/3/2023, Thursday, Week 1
I met with Tinker and her crew to get a lesson in building my own Wood Burning Bead Furnace. Thursday we built the furnace.
8/4/2023, Friday, Week 1
We fired the furnace.
8/5/2023, Saturday, week 2
I made beads solo on the furnace. The whole project is covered in its own upcoming blog post.
8/6/2023, Sunday, Week 2
By the end of the first week, my feet were very worn out due to blisters. Mostly, I relaxed going into Sunday, however, I did find myself making my way to the courtesan encampment to get a coin for their Monday night party.
8/7/2023, Monday, Week 1
Monday was partially about taking it easy in preparation for the Roman Party. The night life definitely takes off going into the second week. I went out a few times but my feet often kept me in. I did get to enjoy my LED powered Norse lantern in my tent. I did go to Not Vlads, The Not Hoty Toity, The Blue Feather Ball, Meridian Halfla, and the Blue Feather Camp Party.
I always mean to take encampment pictures and always get side tracked. There were more rainbows than ever. Some things have not changed at all since 1996.
8/9/2023, Wednesday, Week 2, Midnight Madness.
Wednesday, I was the retinue for the Queen of Meridies. It is the first time I have done that since the 1990s with Countess Julian. It was my pleasure to have the opportunity to do it again. I also got to spend some time with my friends in the Royal Encampment. The gate looks so good with its fresh coat of paint. I helped build the gates this year. It was a familiar task having done it before. These gates were around in 1996 when I visited then, too.
Meridian Royal Camp
After my duty was done, I ate for the first and only time in the food court, then I went on to get ready for Midnight Madness.
8/10/2023, Tursday, Week 2
Tuesday was the day I was here for. I began by taking a pilgrimage to the Runestone on behalf of Baroness Brigit.
The Runestone
Then, I took some time to visit Iron Tree Works to play with their bead furnace. This is covered in the next blog. The day ended with me taking the ship I had been given for Baroness Brigit and the one I made for Countess Julian, to the Memorial ship to be added. I spent the evening participating in the ship burning.
Then, I returned to the camp for the Blue Feather Social before retiring to my tent. There was rain off and on through the Memorial and after.
8/11/2023, Friday, Week 2
Friday afternoon, I dressed for a portrait in my Roman garb and then proceeded to break down the shop. I spent the evening pre- packing and doing a quick inventory.
Attempt at 1st Century Roman Party Garb (Not True Formal Ware)
8/12/2023, Saturday, Week 2
As the event came to an end, the quality of my meals had gone from fresh meat to grits and coffee. My feet were done. By late Saturday, my tent was dried and packed up. I left the site just before the weather turned.
8/12-8/13/2023, Saturday-Sunday, Week 2
On the way out, I took my car across the ford and paid a visit on behalf of Brigit to the swimming hole. Then, on the road. It was a long drive home and I got back to my house by midday on Saturday. It has taken me a week to get things cleaned and put back away.
