1 post tagged “the wild vine”
...in which I recount my adventures...
Setup was a breeze, because in a camp with only seven people, there isn't all that much to set up. However, we did have THE most PIMP common pavilion and bar, as you would have seen in the photos if you checked out my flickr blog. We got that thing up in less than 20 minutes, with only four people working on it. We also had a comfortable chaise for lounging--what a great idea:D
The first week was really hot and sweltering. I wasn't there Monday or Tuesday because I had to work, but Wednesday and Thursday, it was pretty much just Tadhg and I, sitting around. It was quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. It was enough just to stay hydrated, and take in the view.
I did some henna/mehandi for Andrea and her daughter, Eleven, at Clovenshield. I like doing henna at Pennsic during the first week. It's a calming, meditative activity that helps get me in the Pennsic "zone"...there was the lamb feast at Haveabeer...and we hosted our "Sunday, Bloody Sunday."
I did stop in a couple of nights at Vlad's, and they were doing some different things this year because of their 20th anniversary. I think that Wednesday night was the "Night of 1000 Vlad's," where attendees were encouraged to undergo "Vladification," by wearing a Vlad mask, or donning Vlad glasses (made of black pipe cleaners, lol). I walked around a bit but didn't stay long. I did not drink at Vlad's, which was also a refreshing change of pace. (I didn't drink much at all this year; got lots of leftover beer in the fridge.)
The second week, it was wet. We had several storms in a row and our camp site was flooded. We ended up with several inches of water and mud in the common areas. Luckily, my tent was dry, thanks to Coleman WeatherTec(R) System. The common area would have stayed dry, too, if we had done some trenching, but it wasn't possible to anticipate how rain would affect the site until we actually saw it happen. After Tadhg did some trenching, the common area stayed relatively dry through the next downpour. We know what to do for next year. I wouldn't trade our spot anyway; we have the best view of the lake. We call it Pennsic HDTV Widescreen EditionTM. Anann joined us for the duration of week 2, but most of the other campmates were in and out due to their work schedules.
Did lots of other stuff that I never did before at Pennsic, such as: Annan and I played background music for the crab party at the encampment on the peninsula in the lake. Met a lot of nice people there. Crab=fruit that swims in the sea;) Also stopped in at Casa Bardicci for lowdy toady, for a bit.
Went to fizzball at the Rogue's camp. Now that's a bizarre sporting ritual if ever there was one, and some would say a shameful waste of cheap beer, but being a beer snob, I say that it's the only thing cheap beer is good for. It was thoroughly entertaining, and not unlike attending an actual baseball game, but there are no bases to run, and it only involves the hitting aspect. Teams sign up to participate in the event a day in advance, and then take turns pitching and hitting full cans of beer. The object is to smash the can open. If you miss it 3x, or only dent/crack it, you have to drink it. One of the ironies about this spectacle is that many of the spectators are actually drinking good beer while watching it.
Walked around the merchant's at midnight madness (Wednesday). Didn't really buy anything this year, except for the big purchase at Tentmasters. I did get my Pennsic calendar.
Another new experience for me was witnessing the Viking boat burning memorial service, Thursday night. We opened the bar afterwards and hosted our "Bacchanalia."
In conclusion, I <3 my camp. I was happy just to be there (especially since I considered skipping Pennsic altogether this year), and I didn't worry about going to the big parties, and I didn't worry about what I would do each day. I was happy to just sit around, take in the view, and hang out with my bestest friends. It was truly relaxing, like a real vacation. For a change. I even feel refreshed and rejuvenated as a result. I think we did an amazing job, considering it was our first year (as a camp). We are definitely doing this again. I know I overspent in preparation for it, but it was worth every penny, and next year will be awesome!
