[TheForge] Vinland Raids

[Phlip]

Reynolds, you don't want to read this.

I just got back from Vinland Raids, an SCA event, out on Cape Cod. Despite
personal difficulties, including rain while packing up my forge, I think
more good things will be happening for metalheads in SCA ;-)

It wasn't terribly far from home, about 3 hours, but I was low on cash- had
just enough for site fees for me and my assistant, so naturally, I got a
flat tire on my trailer, and discovered that while I had a spare tire, all
my tire changing equipment was under all my smithing stuff. Lacking anything
better to do, I took the reflective tape I'd bought to make my trailer more
visible (remember my difficulties with lights?) but had been unable to apply
because of rain and wrote "SCA" on the toolbox of the trailer, figuring
sooner or later someone would be along to help.

 Before I had taped the letters on entirely, and finished cussing, a State
Highway Patrol officer was there, told me about a wider spot up the road 100
yrds away to pull further out of the way and escorted me there and called me
a tow truck. Very nice young man ;-) The tow truck arrived almost
simultaneously with a SCAdian, and the tow truck operator charged me $60 for
arriving, even though he did nothing- hadda borrow part of the cash from the
SCAdian, who helped me fix the tire. Made him a tripod, at the event, to pay
him back.

Finally got to the event, and started setting up, with the help of a couple
of volunteers, but it was dark by the time my Official Helpers arrived and
we got set up, so rather than fire up the Coleman, which I had never used
before, I cooked us dinner on the forge- more than one reason to smith with
charcoal ;-)

It was well I did. Next morning, when we could see to use the Coleman, it
blew up on us, shooting flames 3-4 ft high, under my shelter, from where it
rested on the back of my trailer. Was glad I had my sand bucket to empty
over it. Made my morning coffee over the forge, along with some sausage
gravy. Also cut some bar stock to use as a grate for my cooking implements.

Breakfast done, I started playing on the forge in earnest, making, or
starting, a couple of things- "If you light it, they wwill come" ;-) People
started showing up and wanting to learn and do projects- it was great ;-)
One guy made a pennannular pin for a friend, we had a whole family get
involved, with some of the kids turning the blower, a grandson making a hot
dog fork, and his grandfather helping him, guided an adult through an
S-hook - she shows great promise, I think we have another steel junkie in
the making- and another young man started another hot dog fork, with his
dad's help.

It started raining fairly early, so I couldn't accomodate everyone who
wanted to play, but I had many interested visitors, some of whom came back
later, bearing assorted tasty cordials and meads, so I broke out some
Blacksmith's Cordial, and shared it as well. Much very pleasant conversation
with many visitors, and when they left (it slowed down on the rain) I was
able to return to a couple of my projects until it got dark. Went to bed
fairly early, and got up about 6 AM, and read my copy of the new Harry
Potter book, waiting for it to stop raining so we could start breaking down.
It didn't stop- everything got put away pretty wet- until the very end of
packing up.

Got into some interesting conversations, though. The people who ran the
event are very interested in setting up an entire metalworking area at the
event next year. They'd like to see everything done, from armoring, to basic
smithing, to chain mail, to jewelry at the next Vinland Raids. Anybody
interested, please contact me, whether you're SCA or not. We're also
doscussing holding another Metalsmith's Symposium there- there's a lot of
interest, and it's a great site- lot's of area, and very decent camping
arrangements, with some indoor facilities available for those who can't camp
for some reason.

Despite the difficulties of dealing with a travelling forge, I'm enjoying
myself thoroughly ;-) You folks in the EK are great ;-)

Phlip

"When in doubt, heat it up and hit it with a hammer."
 Blacksmith's credo.

 If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably not a
cat.

Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....