Title: BPThingie-art
Subject: Bart's Pennsic Thingie.
Author: Edited by Mark Harris
Last saved by: Mark S. Harris
Keywords: Pennsic, idea, checklist, SCA, preparation, weather

BPThingie-art 9/30/94

"BART'S PENNSIC THINGIE: An Instruction Manual for Pennsic War" by Bartholomew the Bewildered. Bart's Pennsic guidebook w. Estrella addm.

NOTE: See also the files: Enchnted-Grd-msg, Fire-Book-art, P-history-msg, Pennsic-ideas-msg, P-stories-msg, P-tale-MWIFO-art, tent-rental-msg.

************************************************************************
NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set 
of files, called Stefan’s Florilegium. 

These files are available on the Internet at:
http://www.florilegium.org

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author.

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be 
reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first
or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

                               Thank you,
                                    Mark S. Harris
                                    AKA:  Stefan li Rous
                                         stefan at florilegium.org
************************************************************************

    BART'S PENNSIC THINGIE: An Instruction Manual for Pennsic War 
 
   ******************** Campaigner's Notes *********************** 
 
       1.  INTRODUCTION 
 
       When I came into possession of a copy of the original  issue of   
this  document  (I had lost my last copy more than three years  previously), I
decided to  update  it.   The  reaction that  first   update  received has
prompted me to continue to expand on the idea.   Originally  this  was  a 
checklist  of things  to  take, but it has  steadily grown to include other
information.  
 
        The original was targeted for Pennsic XII (back when it  was a   
week-end  war), but it is useful for most camping events. Add more of  any
item as you see fit for longer  periods  and delete  items  for   shorter 
events.   This  is all meant as advice, I am not associated  with anyone 
making  policy  for the War.  
 
       What follows is a list of useful things to know and to  have  
along when campaigning in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. As well  as an
extended and reorganized checklist, there  are sections  on  things to be wary
of (see Section 2, WARNINGS), hygiene (Section 3),  and thoughts on dealing
with  food  and eating.   The  style may seem  severe and the warnings stern, 
but do not let these scare you off.   These issues are raised in  this manner 
to alert and instruct so that  you may better enjoy the War.   
  
       2.  WARNINGS  
  
       There are possibilities for  danger  in  any  camping  trip,   
knowing  what  they are and how to deal with them can be the  difference 
between  a  little  excitement  and  a  disaster. Included   here  are  some  
of the things to be aware of, and have plans for,  when you go to Pennsic.  
This is by no means a  complete coverage of  dangers, but it hits the points 
that cause the most trouble to most  folks.  
 
       2.1  Storms 
 
       I would like to emphasize a climatological fact.   The  area the   
War  is  held  in  is  part of the Great Plains weather pattern.  This  means
the area is subject to disturbances  at the  leading  edge  of   a  cold 
front  (a  15  to 40 degree temperature drop).  Friends from  the East (and
West) Kingdom have  variously  referred to these as  monsoons, typhoons and
Storms_of_Great_Ferocity_and_Note.  Those of us  who grew  up in  the  Midwest
call them thunder showers, except for  some folks I know from Kansas who call
it mild rain  (no  twister and  it did not flatten the crops).  These storm
cells are 15 minutes to  three hours of high winds (50 plus knots),  heavy
rain, and  spectacular lightning.  A storm may be followed by several hours of
rain.  The  fronts  seem  to  roll  through every six to nine days in  August.
I advise all to expect at least one storm.  
 
       The people who grew up with the weather do  not  ignore  the
storms, these folks respect and plan for the weather.  It is 
unpleasant, but need not be  a  disaster.   Some  things  to remember:  
 
        * Do not panic.  If you are truly terrified,  tell  someone 
          so they can keep an eye on you, keep busy so you will not 
          have time to panic until the camp is  secured,  and  then 
          find  company  and  cuddle  or  sing or give back rubs or 
          whatever it takes to get through the storm (this can make 
          storms fun). 
 
        * Storms usually come from the west.  Avoid setting up your 
          tent with the door facing due west.  A slight cant to the 
          north or south will keep  things  drier  and  lessen  the 
          chance of having the tent blow down or tear. 
 
        * Make sure that your tent is set up with all of  its  pegs 
          and  tie downs (dome tents may need extra guy lines; once 
          they start rolling, they are hard to catch).  If  you  do 
          this  in the first place, you will spend less time in the 
          rain doing it after the storm hits. 
 
        * If you are camped on  an  incline  (probable),  then  you 
          might  consider a small drainage ditch on the uphill side 
          of the tent.  This  channels  water  around  rather  than 
          through your tent. 
 
        * Do not use heroic  measures  to  save  a  dining  fly  or 
          awning.   Some things were not meant to stand high winds. 
          A flapping piece of plastic with a pole  attached  to  it 
          can  do  a lot of damage, both to people and to property. 
          If the wind gets high and the fly  starts  to  take  off, 
          drop  it  down  over what you want covered and weight the 
          edges. 
 
       2.2  Temperature Extremes 
 
       A more  subtle  climatological  fact  is  that  the  average  
temperature  and humidity in August is horrendous during the day,  while the
nights can be down right cold.  (Can you  say frost?   I   knew  you  could.) 
Either of these extremes can lead to health  problems that have one symptom in
common: the affected  person  gets   stupid.  As someone who has suffered from
these medical conditions, I   can  think  of  no  better description.   The 
mental processes slow  
(or shut) down and you are in a walking stupor.  The sufferer  stops   
listening to  reasonable  advice  and  will  do  things that will seem  stupid
to  them  when  they  have  recovered.   Many  other injuries    at   the  
War  are  probably  related  to  these conditions.  Watch  your friends and
yourself.  
 
       2.2.1  Heat 
    
       Daytime high temperatures average  in  the  high  90's  with  
humidity  to match.  If you are not used to this, or are not in prime 
condition, take_it_easy.  More people, fighters and spectators,  are  
lost  to  heat  than  all  other  types of injuries.  Folks who are 
used to desert heat are  as  likely to  drop as any.  The high  humidity,
which they are not used to, slows heat loss via sweating.   If  the 
temperature  and humidity  get  high, drink lots of water,  stay in the shade,
eat fruit  (especially  bananas),  and   occasionally  taste metabolite 
replacement drinks (drinks that  replace minerals that the body sweats out). 
While Gator-Aid is not  the best, it is easy to get (too high a concentration
of mineral salts  and  too much sugar; dilute with water for best effect).  If
Gator-Aid  does not taste bad, drink up until  it  does,  you are  in trouble. 
(How  is that for rough and ready sports medicine?)   Go  easy  on   
the  alcoholic   beverages.    An occasional  beer  or  wine  cooler   is a
relief, but alcohol speeds dehydration by replacing water in the  body  and 
then using  more to be metabolized, so, in quantity, it is  a very bad thing. 
Other symptoms of heat disorders include flushed  and  dry  skin,  lethargy, 
no sweat, and, as I said, acting stupid.  
 
                             * NOTE * 
           If you are not used to eating lots of fruit, you may 
           experience some intestinal changes.  Some fruits can 
           cause constipation, others make you watery.  Heat 
           illnesses and water change can have similar effects, 
           especially diarrhea.  Just another warning. 
 
       2.2.2  Cold 
 
       The  large  difference   between   daytime   and   nighttime  
tempeatures  (night  temperatures  range from mid 30s to the 50s, e.g. 
chilly) common  to  the  area  can  also  lead  to another  problem  
encountered at the War, hypothermia.  This is a drop of the core  temperature
of  the  body,  which  can lead to coma and death if not  treated.  Treatment
is to warm the person up as quickly as possible.   It is easier to avoid
hypothermia  by changing out of wet clothes,  drying off, and getting warm. 
If a friend is wet (say after  being   out  in the rain) and getting cold
(since the temperature dropped 30  degrees in the last hour) help them out. Get them into  dry clothes   and  get  them  warm.  Strong drink (liquor) is
not advised if they  are still wet or cold.  While they may  seem to  feel
warmer, drinking  alcohol speeds heat loss, which is what you are trying to
avoid.  
 
       2.3  Fire 
 
       The next point I will touch on moves from cold back to  hot,  
i.e.  fire.   This wonderful tool is like any other, it will turn and  bite
you if you mishandle  it.   The  Chirurgeonate would  like  to   mandate  a 
minimum of 10 feet between open flames and tents.  I wish  them luck since 
common  sense  is hardly  common.   The rule of thumb  I use is far enough
away so that the fire cannot be knocked  into  the   tent.   Never have  an 
open  flame  in  a tent.  Lanterns in tents  are an issue I will not address
except to point out I  use  battery  lamps  in  tents.  Most modern fabrics
melt too fast and too hot for  me to want to take chances.  
 
       In case of tent fires (Heaven forfend!), the  Autocrate  has 
demanded  3.5 feet between tent walls, hoping this will keep a fire 
from spreading if and when.  If  this  seems  like  a lot,  look  at  the guy
lines from a properly set 3-person A-frame tent and you will  find that two of
them  will  end  up having  their  walls  three to  four feet apart.  If they
use that much (my pavillion uses  more),  I   find  this  request resonable.  
 
       As  for  campfires,  if  you  are  not  good  friends   with  
Prometheus,  be  very  careful.   Amateurs  make me nervous. There are  very 
few  people  in  the  world  (let  alone  at Pennsic)  who  are   good  at 
treating amateur fire gods who become burn victims.  
 
       2.4  Invertebrates (Bugs) 
 
       If you have never been camping, you are about  to  find  out one  
of the less thrilling things about nature; God must love insects, he  sure
made a lot of them.   Something  for  folks from the left coast  to remember
is that there are a lot more insects, both type and  number, on this side of
the  Rockies. I  never saw a tent with zip-out  netting until I helped Duke
Paul set his up at a Pennsic.  They just  are not sold in the Midwest  or 
East.  Bring mosquito netting and bug  spray and remember to keep garbage,
coolers and tent  netting  closed.  If  you  are  allergic to bee stings,
bring your medication! Some  types of note:  
 
          o House flies - That friend you thought you left at  home 
            is  here  at the war, too.  Just like at home, he never 
            wipes his feet before landing on your table (or  food), 
            no  matter  where  he  was last.  Keep food and garbage 
            covered and clean food preparation areas, just like  at 
            home. 
 
          o Horse and deer flies - While you can go the  whole  war 
            without seeing them, these beauties are not uncommon in 
            the area.  They both bite  and  leave  a  welt.   Horse 
            flies are slightly larger than house flies.  Deer flies 
            are dark with white "eyes" on the wing and are slightly
            smaller   than  house  flies.   They  are  both  easily 
            discouraged by using insect repellent. 
 
          o Ticks - Both Woods and Deer Tick are indigenous to  the 
            region,  each  can  vector  for  some  nasty  diseases. 
            Insect repellent works, but a "tick check" twice a  day 
            is still a good idea. 
 
          o Mosquitos - While not in the same class as the ones  in 
            Alaska  or  Minnesota ("It is awe inspiring to watch as 
            the mosquitos majestically flap  their  wings  as  they 
            carry  off sheep and small children."), mosquitos are a 
            pest in the wooded and  low  areas.   Insect  repellent 
            makes the evenings more pleasant (and pungent). 

          o Ground Hornets and Wasps - There  are  usually  several 
            nests in the woods.  If you find one, mark the area and 
            walk away passively.  Do_not disturb the nest.  Contact 
            site security about it, if it is in a high traffic area 
            they will probably bomb it. 
 
       There are other bugs out there -- ants will  find  any  open  
food,  given  time,  and  a  cricket  is  not  an ideal tent companion  
-- but they are not threats to health or  comfort. Some  are   
downright  good companions.  A Cranefly (Mosquito hawk), for instance,  looks
like a mosquito, but eats several times  its  weight  in  mosquitos a day.  
Spiders are also on your side, unless you rile them.   
  
       3.  HYGIENE 
 
       For many folks, Pennsic is their first and/or  only  camping
experience.   When  camping,  the  standard rules of hygiene apply.   There
are also other, camping related, practices  to be  aware  of   that help make
camping safer and more fun. It does  not  take  much   to  turn  camping  from
fun  into  a nightmare.   Many of the of the  causes for discomfort can be
linked to disregarding some sensible  rules.  
 
       3.1  General Hygiene 
 
       This topic is an old one.  I had it from my parents, in  the Boy   
Scouts,  and  in High School Gym class, but it is still important.    If  
these   precautions   seem   trivial   and unnecessary,  think   again.   The 
heralds  have cried these through the camp for the last  two Pennsics.  These
include:  
 
        * Wash your hands after using the privy. 
 
        * Wash your hands before handling food, especially  if  you 
          are preparing it for more than yourself. 
 
        * Use clean surfaces for food preparation. 
 
        * Store food correctly.  This means meats and milk products 
          in  a  cooler,  bread in plastic in the shade, et cetera. 
          All meat should be kept in a cool place,  even  sausages. 
          Sausages  with a high fat content, even if smoked, can go 
          rancid. 
 
        * Cover or close your garbage  container.   This  makes  it 
          harder for flies to spread diseases. 
 
       3.2  Camp Hygiene 
 
       Camping also requires some special  provisions  for  hygiene  
beyond  those  above.   Looking  through  my  Scout  manuals reminds  me of
several that were so ingrained I take them for granted.  I  was   also 
reminded of some safety and courtesy rules that make camping  more pleasant. 
Some of these are:  

        * Keep  your  cooler(s)  closed  tightly.   The  ice  lasts 
          longer,  the  food  stays  cooler,  and the chances of an 
          insect invasion go way down.  Another good thought is  to 
          keep drinks in a separate cooler than food. 
 
        * Check yourself occasionally for ticks and rashes.  Poison 
          ivy  is  no  fun,  but  can  be contained if you catch it 
          early, as can Lymes Disease (which has been  reported  in 
          the area). 
 
        * Wash dishes completely and carefully.  Get them clean! 
 
           - Wipe off excess food before you start. 
 
           - At least use a basin of soapy water and a  hot  rinse. 
             Use  a  final  rinse with a sanitizing solution if you 
             can, especially if someone in your camp is sick. 
 
           - Change the water (especially the rinse  water)  if  it 
             starts getting dirty. 
 
           - Air dry dishes on a clean surface.  This may seem odd, 
             but  it  is less likely to spread disease than using a 
             towel. 
 
        * Dispose  of  waste   water   carefully.    Under   normal 
          circumstances,  this  means  keep  it away from the fresh 
          water supply, but it also applies to  not  dumping  dirty 
          water  around  the  spigots.  After a day or so, the area 
          around the water spigots becomes a quagmire  from  people 
          washing  dishes  and  performing their personal ablutions 
          there.  Put the water in a bucket  and  do  your  washing 
          elsewhere, please. 
 
        * Use a sump hole or grease pit to dispose of  waste  water 
          and  liquid  waste (e.g grease).  This is your home for a 
          while; would you pour  out  dish  water  on  the  kitchen 
          floor?   This  hole can be sited either near the fire pit 
          or in some area that will not be  used  as  a  walk  way. 
          Mark it to keep people from stepping in it in the dark. 
 
        * Use a fire pit.  Cut away (and save) the sod  and  dig  a 
          pit  larger  than  your  fire and surround the outer edge 
          with stones.  This reduces the chance of grass fires. 
 
        * Never leave a fire untended.  If you are leaving the area 
          for  a  while,  or going to bed, bank the fire carefully. 
          If you do not know how  to  bank  a  fire,  put  it  out. 
          (Actually, Security will probably put it out any way and, 
          considering the way some encampments were set up, I don't 
          blame them.) 
 
        * Do not throw refuse in the fire.   Most  common  plastics 
          release  toxic  fumes  when  burned,  glass  bottles  can 
          shatter  (explode),  and  cans  will  still  need  to  be 
          disposed of after the fire is out. 

        * Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it.   Clean  up 
          as  you  go  (this  really  makes  the  whole  trip  more 
          pleasant).  When you are leaving, cover your fire pit and 
          refill any other holes you have dug (replacing the sod is 
          a nice touch). 
 
       4.  FOOD 
 
       Eating during the War is a problem with  several  solutions. If   
the  weather  is  typical  (hot),  you may not feel like eating much.   Do not
give in to this!  Drink lots of  fluids and  force yourself to  eat fruits and
easy to digest protein during the day.  This way, when  it cools off at 
night,  you will  have  enough  energy  to  eat   carbohydrates and other
difficult to digest foods that you need.   
  
       4.1  Supply Yourself  
 
       Bring some or most of the food you need.  It can  either  be  
preprepared and frozen or brought as ingredients if they are not  perishable. 
Perishables (vegetables, ice, and such) can be  purchased  at Cooper's Camp
Store (which has gotten quite large) or from a store  in town.  Butler is 15
miles east  on 422  and  New  Castle  is  10  miles west.  There are grocery
stores,  state  stores  (liquor   and    wines),   and   beer distributors  in
both  cities.   There  are also  department stores in case you need something
else,  like  a  new   tent. (Mine blew up in a storm one year.  That is right,
not down, up.   The front blew right off.  I have witnesses.)  
 
       4.2  Join or Form a Food Plan 
 
       There may be taverns on site that charge a set price to feed you   
for the  week,  however,  many groups do their cooking together.  For 
information on how the local  group  or  your household is doing  things, ask
at local meetings.  If you do pool resources, set it up  beforehand. I  advise
cash in advance and an agreed upon work  schedule.  People resent someone who
appears to be free-loading.  
 
       4.3  Catch as Catch Can 
 
       The taverns open for general business after  the folks who have   
prepaid  (if  any) have  eaten.There are sometimes people wandering  around
selling food  ("Bagels and  cream cheese!" "Here, over here, my  good man."). 
There are even some folks willing to feed a waif who   wanders  by  at  meal
time.   The  latter may be the most expensive  choice of this most expensive
method.  (You could wind up doing dishes  for the rest of the War!)  
 
       5.  WHAT TO TAKE 
 
       This is the real reason I started writing this, to  give  a  
basic  checklist.  For ease of reference, the list is broken into two  
Sections: that which you need and that which  might come in handy.  

       5.1  Necessities 
 
       The following should not be  left  at  home.   If  you  have  
limited room,the  items  on this list can all fit in one duffel bag or  two
medium sized bags.  

        * Enough of any medication that you need for the length  of 
          your  stay.   It  can  ruin your trip if you run out, and 
          convincing a local Doctor to write a new prescription can 
          be difficult, if not impossible. 
 
        * Sleeping bag and pad.  You can  always  bum  a  place  to 
          sleep,  but you ought to have something to sleep in, even 
          if it is just a couple of blankets.  This  area  can  get 
          down into the 50's on warm nights.  This is no joke.  The 
          pad can just be something to keep you  off  of  the  cold 
          ground; a thicker pad adds to comfort immensely. 
 
        * Rain gear.  Rain coat or poncho, boots for mucking about, 
          wool  socks,  plastic tarps.  While a heavy, somber toned 
          poncho most resembles an  oil  skin  cloak  (period  rain 
          wear),  use  what  you  have.  Better safe than soaked; I 
          have found mundanity is accepted  when  it  is  bucketing 
          rain  and you are holding down a tent (especially someone 
          else's tent). 
 
        * Hat.  This gets a separate item because it is  important. 
          A hat keeps the rain off, cuts body heat loss in the cold 
          or at night, and keeps the sun from boiling your brain as 
          quickly.  Sun stroke and sun burn can be a drag.  The hat 
          should be mediaeval looking, but that leaves a lot of lee 
          way.   All  oriental  hats,  many  straw  hats,  and some 
          leather cowboy hats look right.  A note on hat etiquette: 
          remove  your  hat in buildings, tents, or even shade.  As 
          well as being polite, wearing a hat out  of  the  sun  is 
          almost bad for you as no hat in the sun. 
 
        * A warm cloak (or a  friend  that  has  one)  or  a  plain 
          blanket  that  can  be  worn  as  one  and can be sat on. 
          Again, the nights get cold and the dew falls heavily even 
          (especially) after the hottest days. 
 
        * Portable light sources, both for  camp  and  the  port-a- 
          castle.   Authentic  if  possible,  but  a  hand flash is 
          sometimes more convenient.  If you use propane  lanterns, 
          be aware that they are bright.  They can hurt the eyes of 
          those of us who adjust well to the dark and provide quite 
          a  show  if  used  as out-house illumination in a plastic 
          port-a-castle. 
 
        * Toiletries.  The usual stuff  (soap,  towel,  toothbrush, 
          etc.), and do not forget the shower gear. 

        * Money to buy fresh  food,  fire  wood,  drink,  trinkets, 
          instruments,  garb,  armour,  art,  or  whatever else you 
          cannot live without. 
 
        * Sun screen.  This is new, but only because I over  looked 
          it.   If  you  are typical, this is the most sun you will 
          see all year.  Getting severe sunburn can take a  lot  of 
          the  fun  out  of  the  War;  armor chafes in new places, 
          tunics rub, and you feel crummy.  If you are fair skinned 
          and/or do not get much sun, take precautions. 
 
        * A bottle opener, can opener, and/or cork screw.   I  have 
          seen people offered peerages for these things. 
 
       5.2  Et Cetera 
 
       What follows is a list of things that are handy but  may  be  
left out if you do not want (or cannot afford) to overburden yourself.  
 
        * Armour.  This is not mandatory, unless you want to  fight 
          or scout.  There is still lots to do without fighting.  I 
          know a couple of knights who have just left their harness 
          at  home  and relaxed at a War (O.K., so one marshalled a 
          couple of times and the other was doing his  thing  as  a 
          Laurel). 
 
        * Instruments.  Whether to just use at  bardic  circles  or 
          for  more  serious music, instruments can add to the fun. 
          If you are a serious musician, or would like to be,  this 
          is  about  the  best  place  you will find for S.C.A. jam 
          sessions. 
 
        * Garb.  This is an S.C.A. event, and some  attempt  should 
          be  made  to  dress  in  period  as  much  of the time as 
          possible.  Mundane costumes are fine for under armour  or 
          for  going  into  town (but you might get complaints even 
          then).  The following should suffice: 
 
           - Two to four simple tunics or  dresses  in  some  light 
             colored  solid,  with  trousers or skirts to match, if 
             desired.  These should be a natural fiber that breaths 
             well  (e.g.  cotton,  linen,  et  cetera), as light as 
             possible, while preserving modesty. 
 
           - A warm piece of garb, or an over-tunic to pull on over 
             a  light  tunic (layering is very effective), for cold 
             nights or days.  A solid colored cheap velour or heavy 
             trigger  work  well  for  this  as  both  have  a high 
             polyester content and do not breath much. 
 
           - One good or semi-good outfit for court, going  to  the 
             taverns,  or visiting the campsite of someone you wish 
             to impress.  If the piece in item 2 is well  made,  it 
             will do admirably. 

           - Light shoes or sandals, unless you want to slop around 
             bare  foot.   Be  warned,  the  gravel on the roads is 
             sharp. 
 
           - Heavy shoes or boots if you plan to go into the woods. 
 
           - Accessories.  A belt with a pouch and knife  are  good 
             things to have around. 
 
        * Change of other clothes for the time spent plus two  that 
          is  wrapped  in  plastic to keep dry.  If you do not have 
          extra socks, you will need them,  and  there  is  nothing 
          worse  than  getting  clean and then having to climb back 
          into dirty, sweaty clothes.  While washers are available, 
          it  is  best not to rely on them, unless you like hanging 
          out in laundry-mats.  It is a good idea to have at  least 
          one  change  of  mundanes  in your vehicle in case all of 
          your clothes on site get soaked. 
 
        * Song books.  Bardic circles, or a  large  tent  during  a 
          storm,  are a great place to sing old favorites and learn 
          new songs. 
 
        * Eating utensils.  What type depends on how  you  plan  to 
          eat.   If  you are taking care of yourself, you will also 
          need cooking and clean up gear. 
 
        * Grill, spit, tripod, camps stove, or some  other  way  to 
          tame  fire and hold cooking pots.  Which of these you use 
          depends  on  preference,   experience,   and   level   of 
          authenticity. 
 
        * Swim suit  and  towel.   Many  folks  skinny-dip  at  the 
          swimming  hole  but  a)  I am not skinny, b) the water is 
          better at the state park down the road, and c) I am shy. 
 
        * A tent or tents.  An extra  tent  allows  more  room  for 
          storage  and  hospitality.   While  pavilions  are  nice, 
          modern tents are acceptable. 
 
        * Coolers are always welcome.  They also can be packed with 
          gear during travel. 
 
        * Plastic jugs of any size for water and mixed soft drinks. 
          Canned  and  bottled drinks are good, but powdered Gator- 
          Aid and Kool-Aid are cheaper and easer to pack. 
 
        * Extra and/or fancy garb. 
 
        * Camp lights.  Kerosene torches,  candles  with  chimneys, 
          hurricane  lamps,  or  what ever.  They give a campsite a 
          nice look and keep people from literally tripping around. 

        * Hand Fan.  It may not be 100 degrees in the shade, but  a 
          fan is still "a good thing." 
 
        * Books and games in case things get slow (or hot). 
 
        * Bandanas, Band-aids, bug spray  (Avon  Skin-So-Soft  bath 
          oil  is  an  effective and pleasant smelling substitute), 
          hatchet, jack knife, matches (or flint and steel),  rope, 
          string,  sewing  kit, safety pins, and anything else that 
          is handy in camp. 

       6.  CONCLUSION  
  
       This is not a complete list, nor should it be taken as  one. It    
is a start based on more than 10 years of War experience and more  general 
camping experience.  I still tend to use my old Boy Scout  manual checklist, I
just substitute "garb" for "uniform" and go.  If  you forget, or do not  have 
an  item, you  can  probably  obtain  it  on site or near by.  The main thing
to remember is to have fun.  See  you there!  

       (c) Copyright Paul S. Kay, 1988, 1989, 1990.  This document 
           may be freely reproduced as long as the author's name 
           and this copyright notice are included. 
 
        Bartholomew the Bewildered, Carillion, East Kingdom 
        (mka Paul Kay, 58 Winchester Dr., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA) 

  ********************************************************************** 
 
                  ADDENDUM: Camping at Estrella War 
                                -Ioseph of Locksley 
 
2.5 Bugs at Estrella, and other Wild Life 
 
        o SCORPIONS: Scorpions look like a cross between a spider and a 
          crab, and come in all sizes. The -small- ones have a more 
          virulent poison than the large ones. they hide under rocks, logs 
          boards, in shoes left out overnight...anywhere it's dark and cozy. 
          The effects of being stung range from a sensation of a mild bee 
          sting to severe shock. DON'T MESS WITH THEM. 
 
        o SPIDERS: Most are harmless, but Black Widows and the Brown Recluse 
          are quite poisonous. DON'T MESS WITH THEM. They hide in out of the 
          way corners, and under things that have not been moved in several 
          days. 
 
        o SNAKES: Yup, we have rattlesnakes in the area. They will usually 
          keep away from people, but if you see or hear one, GET AWAY, and 
          report it's location to the Constable. DO NOT MESS WITH IT. 

                        GENERAL ADVICE ON BUGS AND SNAKES: 
 
                -Don't put your hand where you cannot see. 
                -Kick a rock over with your foot before you pick it up. 
                -Shake out your shoes in the morning. 
 
        o TWO-LEGGED PREDATORS: This is a public park, and mundanes of all 
          types can be expected. 
 
2.2.1 WEATHER AT ESTRELLA WAR 
 
        Estrella War is held over President's Day Weekend, in a very large 
        park at the foot of the South Mountain/Estrella Mountain ranges. 
        These mountains will channel the wind, and therefore you must be 
        prepared for high winds, blowing dust, and occasional rain with 
        high winds. The wind -usually- blows from the west, so take that 
        into consideration when you set up your camp. 
        The park is on pretty level ground, so ditching around the tents is 
        not necessary. 
 
5.1.1 ESTRELLA WAR NECESSITIES 
 
        o Sun Screen is a MUST. The Sun in these parts is Not Your 
          Friend. 
 
        o This is an official SCA "event." Garb is REQUIRED. 
 
        o Glass containers are -not allowed- in the Park. 
 
        o Loaded firearms are -not allowed- in the Park. Leave them in 
          your car. 
 
        o "Recreational chemicals" are a FELONY in Arizona. Don't even 
          bring them along. 
 
CHILDREN AT ESTRELLA WAR: 
 
        The main thing to keep in mind here is the warning about bugs and 
        other critters, and to impress on the kids the ABSOLUTE necessity 
        of NOT wandering out of the main Park area (the War is held in a  
        large, grassy and treed area within an oval formed by a road.) Tell 
        your kids NOT to wander across the road, and NOT to wander in the 
        scrub-brush area to the west (where the broken-field battles are 
        held.)  
        To the south, across the road, are the Estrella Mountains. To the 
        north is the Agua Fria river-bed (snakes, bogs, and Here-there-be- 
        Monsters.) To the east are more mountains. The scrub-brush is to the 
        west, along with a golf course and the Ranger station. These are Not 
        Nice Places for kids, especially small children with no outdoor 
        experience in desert lands. They can get lost in these areas VERY 
        quickly. 

ESTRELLA WAR GENERAL: 
 
        There are motels, hotels, restaurants and so forth within 5 minutes 
        of the Park. There are also stores, hospitals and so forth in -very- 
        easy reach. 
 
     ***************************************************************** 
 
<the end>

Edited by Mark S. Harris	BPThingie-art	Page  of