Pensacola Pirate Photos
When my wife and morgan_lafaye left in the car last Thursday, snow was still coming down.
I’m told it stopped about the time they crossed the Mason-Dixon line.
About the time they finished the 24 hour drive, plus 6 hours resting in the Carolinas, blue_micha and I got on a plane in Boston.
We took off from from runway 33L, which is one I rarely take use as it launches up over Boston. But, it gives a good view of the city.
We got in to Pensacola about 10:30 and took a cab over to the hotel.
Eight hours later we were off to the faire grounds.
The weather was very nice.
I had mentioned that where I come from, Boston, we used to hang pirates at the entrance to the harbor. I guess some of that was followed here.
My wife has long wanted a more “historical” tent. We have long used something that only 2 people can put up if needed and can be broken down, stored in a small bag and carried about.
This trip, my wife got her new tent. No bag. Lots of people. Fair bit of time up and down.
But, it does look cool.
Of course it took a judge to show us how to put it up.
And, for reasons no one knows, it attracts flies. Lots and lots of flies.
But, everyone liked the new tent and was happy to show it off to people.
There is a family that always comes to see us when we are performing in Mobile. But, this year the faire was in Pensacola.
They still came to see us and spent most of Saturday with us.
That’s way cool and we really like them.
(Their older son has a list of learning disabilities very similar to mine. Years ago at the first show of ours they attended this was mentioned to me. I told him that I was the head of a sword fighting group and an engineer. His mother tells me this made a huge difference for him as he then knew that he wasn’t an instant failure due to his learning disabilities if people like him could grow up to be people like me. As far as I am concerned all 250 shows I’ve done with Phoenix Swords are worth it for inspiring him alone.)
Of course, we did our shows. Normally our first show is by the stage next to the entrance and we get most folks who come in. This year, same stage, but the entrance was on the other side of the faire. So, not so many people.
Maybe they were at the space shuttle launch?
Even one person there, we do the show.
The main entrance this time was a building. You could see that it was totally a pirate show by the boats and the people on stage who were dressed as pirates. Too bad they were doing Pink Floyd songs. Not sure why The Wall is a pirate album.
I didn’t linger. I’m not not many folks did.
Even with daylight savings time, it got dark just about the time the faire ended.
There were things there, other than Pink Floyd, that I can not see the connection to pirates.
They did have some pirate ships, which all appeared to be Mardi Gras floats.
I’m told this one was popular.
We did get to do shows on the “main” stage under the shadow of the space shuttle.
I’m told that there are times this weekend I looked quite tired.
Sunday David’s family from New Orleans showed up.
It was the first time we met his daughter, and his son was younger than she is last we saw him. It was very nice they came the 3 hours each way. I really like his wife and his mother, so it was nice to visit with them as well.
Then, there was the Pirate Riot.
Split up, charge, get shot.
The captains start it all.
Some of us actually sword fight...
But, still get shot.
It doesn’t stop us.
Firing the cannon does.
Some of us wake up dead.
Once the shows were done Sunday we took down the tent and shook out all the flies.
While I was getting our pay, others loaded the car and put the new tent poles on the roof.
We went to dinner and remembered the Day of Tom Kicking the Baby.
Apparently our reputation proceeded us as there were no babies in the baby kicking spot.
It is important to eat a balanced diet.
We got back to the hotel to find out we were locked out.
But, this turned out to be our leather wallets and we were let in.
On our way out of Florida we went through Alabama. There was a thumping from above that worried us with tent parts up there and us only being 10% into the trip.
So, we added bungie cords.
Bungie cords aren’t what they used to be.
It turns out the bumping was the knot of remaining rope bouncing in the wind and hitting the top. The ropes held the whole trip and the tent was fine.
After our field trip we stopped for dinner under the giant peach in SC.
It is a water tank. Possibly satanic based on the graffiti. If demonic citrus fruit invade this world, we know where to look for the gate.
Our only really bad traffic was getting over the Tappan Zee bridge at rush hour.
Eventually we were back in areas we knew.
And, eventually our home state.
Then a stop at storage and we were done.
Coming home, there was a rainbow right over our house.
Seemed like a nice welcome home.
