Military History Days report

I'm sitting here watching the news, listening to Van talk about his week. He's watching telejournalism and I'm waiting for a slice of pizza to heat up, drinking coffee like there is going to be a shortage. I got 6.5 hours of sleep, but could not sleep past 7am. Weird.

Thursday was rainy. Not cold yet, just very rainy. So we got to site in Charles City, Iowa about 4. Met up with some of the Heraldshill folk (Hillians henceforth) whose demo this was. Julianna had us set up in a wide U shape - my two getelds formed one corner. The A&S demo shade fly was in the middle with the list field , plus there was a vehicle path from the other corner of the U to the rest of the grounds.

It was Aigeline's first camping trip! Ever. So we got the tent cook tent and the tent she was going to sleep in up before the rain returned. Tobin's tent went up in the rain, as did Padruig's (Hillian) as did at least one other. It rained ALL NIGHT. My new geteld held up nicely except for not having the experience with it to know how much it would tighten up when it got wet, making it impossible to completely tie the door...the water did clean up OK. We had brooms for sweeping water out, lol. The need to get it all cleaned up versus the need to be ready to fight at 9, when the first school was due to show up, combined with a need to have the camp period-looking by that same time, made for a bit of a rush, esp when all I really wanted to do was huddle over the fire. It was cold. I had on three layers of linen and my wool cloak and a blanket over my lap and did not want to leave that warm nest.

Fighting was good. We did not have the 1500-1700 kids that they had last year, mostly cause of rain having flooded at least three schools down there. And the cold. But I fought whenever we had groups coming by, and I stayed available throughout the school day. Over the weekend I faced Ansgar, Johan, Parm, Padruig, Gregor, Lyulf, Masasugu (I know, I butchered that name) and while I didn't fight him, Fulke and I were shoulder to shoulder during melee.

Still found time to wonder over to talk to the other reenactors. Next door were the Vietnam era warriors, we had the French-Indian group, the fur trading reenactors, the Clan Tartan, the Blue and the Gray were there, and then I never could decide what was being played out at the far corner. I think it was a variety of Allies and Axis member reenactors up there. I know different areas of history draw us all. The German troops were very friendly, as were the Russian soldiers. They had the motorized toys. LOL. The Civil War folks had the most artillary, though, having a fine number of cannons. But the anti-aircraft gun could probably have taken the lot of them.

Anplica and I could not take the cold, and spent the night in the Super 8. But so did a lot of us...Aig and Rose and Tom all had rooms. And we slept v well and then Aig decided to have a party at 7:30 am and I dozed on her bed while she made coffee and we then all left for the site about 8:45.

Still cold. But at least the rain had stopped. I heard that everyone ended up down in Julianna and William's tent, huddling for warmth and booze and company. So everyone who stayed got to tell their 'no shit, there I was' stories about surviving the night. I geared up and fought again, as often as I could. And I got a kill on Ansgar! Mostly, I was there to cheer up the people that came out, encourage them to ask questions and step over to A&S. About 3:30-4, An and I started cleaning and packing. Other groups were doing so as well; too cold. So by 5:30ish, we were packed and waiting. Lots of talking...Dinner at 6:30. Then about 7:30, the All Ages War broke out.

I had a sword through part of the battle, but ended up not swinging it. Slow work against a rifle just seemed wrong and unsafe. But I stayed with the troop of us that went down around the camps and attacked various other troops. Claimed victory over the Germans and the Russians, allied with the Vietnam-era troups, tried to attack the Blue but they were busy with the big cannons and yeah, that wouldn't have been respectful to interrupt that sequence. Snuck by them and then hit the treeline where troups were hiding...Vietnam, I think, plus some Confederates. Got my broom back at some point. We backed up the Gray on one of their pushes into the Blue's encampment; the strategy was for the guns to fire a volley and then for us women to go first and clean up. That was awsome. I yelled a lot.

So my truck needs to be unpacked and then we are going to go eat out and watch a movie. Back to reality, lol. It was a great weekend. I had a blast and am grateful the Hills Angels were welcoming of our people. And...on to Ages of War!! 

Comments

[Mom]

Does sound like you have fun in spite of the rain and cold. I was thinking this is taking reacting too far when you said you went to the motel.

Rest up and have a good week.