Ahoy, mateys! This weekend brought about one of the most nerdish rituals I have ever taken part in: I attended Baron's War with SCA. SCA is better known as the Society for Creative Anachronism and is essentially a role-playing renaissance fair in which everyone is a player. My friend Andrea and her family have been involved in this organization for about the length of her life. Baron's War was my second event and brought its own unique flavor to an otherwise drab weekend.
First thing we had to do was get to Cripple Creek, which is deeper into the heart of Colorado than one would normally venture, about 101 miles away. On the way we stopped by two llama farms (within .5 miles of each other) and tried to lure them to the fence by imitating their angry-baby-like cries. Andrea insisted they were territorial creatures but I found their long-lashed eyes and small faces reminiscent of Betty Boop; instead I experienced the much more territorial attentions of the small red ants whose hill I was standing on. Our girly bug dance seemed to amuse the llamas at least.
When we arrived at the Lost Burro campground the sun was just setting. The camp was full of contradiction! Top-of-the-line campers sat next to viking tents; people wearing medieval garb drove cars; golf-carts whizzed down the paths bearing pirate flags and water pistols...all nested beneath a beautiful cliff face at a cozy 9,500 ft. The first order of business was to change from tanks & tees into more lady-like garb.
The first night was a low-grade kegger with fire-lit jousting and much roasting of marshmallows. Even though we wore the flowing gowns of ladies our slack, staring faces were those of our generation...it was the end of a long day. Let me just say here that sleeping with Andrea is never without risk - it carries dangers of disturbance, assault, and unwanted spooning - that night though it was just terribly cold. Cold sweat sleep is one of the worst aspects of camping.
Another horrid aspect is waking up with the first idiot early-bird who wants everyone to experience the frigid morning air. Day two was filled with sun-soaked lounging, more jousting-watching, and freak rainstorms which induced a lovely nap nestled in the loft of a cabin. Just as well, really, because that was the night of the pirate party!
Andrea and I became bar wenches and served up a horrendous, rainbow concoction of rum and sugar drink. Got to say it was definitely the pirate party where the sense of unreality disappeared. Call me crazy but people wearing pirate clothes and drinking heavily seems almost natural...must be left-over college vibes. Of course more happened but what happens among the llamas stays there ;-)
(If you can't tell by the photo I am supposed to be a naughty pirate...I've been told that underwear on the outside of my clothes is a good look for me. Something to keep in mind for sure!)
If you can't tell by the photo I am supposed to be a naughty pirate...I've been told that underwear on the outside of my clothes is a good look for me. Something to keep in mind for sure!
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