[TheForge] Vinland Raids

Tue Jun 24 08:22:01 2003

I wish/hope that you'll write an article for Anvil's Ring, Hammer's Blow, or
some women's 'zine on your experiences educating with your traveling forge.
You know what I mean by 'zine right? some underground, photocopied, little
or no advertising, uncensored, from the heart, publication.

You show the value and noble side of sharing your skills, in simple
situations, with humility.
-Kirsten
[email protected]
 http://home.centurytel.net/Fiorini_and_Skiles

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phlip" <[email protected]>
To: "SPCA" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>;
<[email protected]>; "EKMetalsmiths" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:14 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Vinland Raids

> 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....
>
>
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