Most of the VNA groups close by have been notified but I wanted to let everyone else know that we have been asked to do a show in Chicago/Elgin at the annual Scandinavian Festival on the 10th of Sept.
Its an odd date because it’s a Sunday.
I have negotiated with the event organizers and they are opening the site up to us in the afternoon of the 8th (Friday), allowing us to camp/do our thing on Saturday and then we do the 'show' on Sunday, and can camp Sunday night.
Also, while we will be doing some combat the focus of the 'off days' will be authenticity, as such Pete James is attending and will be laying the foundation for AO training. He will be instructing interested parties in both kit and camp inspections.
We already have between 10-15 folks but if your interested please contact me ASAP
This will be a Vikes event and Vikes standards will be enforced.
It will be a chance to see the Yrsa up close as well:)
Halv
Vikes-NA event in Chicago (Sept 8-10th)
Moderator: Glen K
Vikes-NA event in Chicago (Sept 8-10th)
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
Wolf wrote:no wait, i take it back. you have to make the ohio event!!!!! u just have to! come one its 2 different months, you can budget, tell teh wife to get a 4th job, sell teh kids, sell blood, anything....
--sorry, saving ever penny I can to spend 2 weeks in the UK in October
This whole thing has caused me to clear my calendar for the rest of the year.
I am not even committing to events next year until the month of the event.
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
Ingrid wrote:Which festival? Andersonville, Elgin, St. Charles/Geneva?
I may have to come out!
Ingrid
Elgin
http://www.scandinaviandayil.com/
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
For those thinking of going (or going) to Hastings in Oct this could be your last chance to get your kit checked or your 'authorization' done before hand!
Come on out!
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
It was recently announced that Pete James will be administering the History Test that if passed is good for one drengr point for Vike Members.
Pete will also be prepping a few hand chosen folks to begin their roles as VNA's first full official AO's (Authenticity Officers) - more on this to come very soon.
All of these things will be done Friday afternoon or throughout the day on Saturday. Sunday we will only be doing combat demonstrations and interacting with the assembled crowd (i.e. NO assessments)
Friday will be relaxed and focus mainly on arrival, set up and the AO stuff (at Pete's leisure.) For those not involved with this there will also be training and rehearsal for parts of Sunday's shows, no kit required.
As of yet there is no real itinerary for Saturday as sometime during the day the event organizers are arranging a private tour/viewing of a longship that was built in the 1800's sailed to the US and brought to Chicago for the World Fair.
Once we get those details ironed out we will be putting more information out on our website.
Sunday will be see 'public hours' from 8am to 6pm (possibly later if they ask us to do a fireside telling for kids, Senach from Norsa will be handling this if it happens) so Vikes standard will be enforced during these hours. NO EXCEPTIONS.
At present we have 5 folks from Missouri, 1 from Nebraska, 8 from Indiana, 3 from Louisiana, and one from the UK that are definitely attending (over half of them are warriors)
Contact me for more information.
Have a good weekend everybody
Halv
Pete will also be prepping a few hand chosen folks to begin their roles as VNA's first full official AO's (Authenticity Officers) - more on this to come very soon.
All of these things will be done Friday afternoon or throughout the day on Saturday. Sunday we will only be doing combat demonstrations and interacting with the assembled crowd (i.e. NO assessments)
Friday will be relaxed and focus mainly on arrival, set up and the AO stuff (at Pete's leisure.) For those not involved with this there will also be training and rehearsal for parts of Sunday's shows, no kit required.
As of yet there is no real itinerary for Saturday as sometime during the day the event organizers are arranging a private tour/viewing of a longship that was built in the 1800's sailed to the US and brought to Chicago for the World Fair.
Once we get those details ironed out we will be putting more information out on our website.
Sunday will be see 'public hours' from 8am to 6pm (possibly later if they ask us to do a fireside telling for kids, Senach from Norsa will be handling this if it happens) so Vikes standard will be enforced during these hours. NO EXCEPTIONS.
At present we have 5 folks from Missouri, 1 from Nebraska, 8 from Indiana, 3 from Louisiana, and one from the UK that are definitely attending (over half of them are warriors)
Contact me for more information.
Have a good weekend everybody
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
location
can you give me a address to the festival I and others in my group are thinking of day tripping for sunday.Our AO is interested in coming also
Thorfinn
Thorfinn
Show the path, Follow, or Get out of my way
Thorfinn/Wil
I have requested but not yet recieved a physical address.
When I get it I will post it here (and many other places)
Until then, best I can do is tell you its at Vasa Park in South Elgin, Illinois.
Halv
I have requested but not yet recieved a physical address.
When I get it I will post it here (and many other places)
Until then, best I can do is tell you its at Vasa Park in South Elgin, Illinois.
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
Chicago
Thanks Halv I will pass it on to Oggie , he is our acting AO.
thanks again Thorfinn
thanks again Thorfinn
Show the path, Follow, or Get out of my way
The organizers have finalized the details on the private tour of the
Columbian Exposition Norwegian longship for us.
It will be Saturday the 9th at 4:00 P.M.
Although there are several area docents who escort groups to view the
ship, they have arranged for the local expert on this ship to accompany
us because they thought that our group would probably have more in-
depth questions than most folks would.
Halv
Columbian Exposition Norwegian longship for us.
It will be Saturday the 9th at 4:00 P.M.
Although there are several area docents who escort groups to view the
ship, they have arranged for the local expert on this ship to accompany
us because they thought that our group would probably have more in-
depth questions than most folks would.
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
For those interested, when asked for an address the event organizers replied:
The Mapquest address of the Park is Vasa Park, Route 31, South Elgin, IL 60177. It is so big and so old that it doesn't have a street address
Halv
The Mapquest address of the Park is Vasa Park, Route 31, South Elgin, IL 60177. It is so big and so old that it doesn't have a street address
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
What?
You mean I wont have to listen to continual Broke Back Mountain references?
Damn! What ever will I do for entertainment?
HEHE
Sorry buddy, couldnt resist, you will be missed.
I just can't quite you. *sob*
You mean I wont have to listen to continual Broke Back Mountain references?
Damn! What ever will I do for entertainment?
HEHE
Sorry buddy, couldnt resist, you will be missed.
I just can't quite you. *sob*
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
Some of the items we are making for our childrens interaction shows (we pull 5-6 kids out of the audience and give them a crash course in shieldwall basic)
I finished these up last night
[img]http://www.vikingsna.org/norsa/temp/shields/DSCN1839.JPG[/img]
I was gonna paint bosses on but donno if I will get to that this time around
Some swords one of my guys (Hank) made
[img]http://www.vikingsna.org/norsa/temp/wooden_swords.JPG[/img]
Halv
I finished these up last night
[img]http://www.vikingsna.org/norsa/temp/shields/DSCN1839.JPG[/img]
I was gonna paint bosses on but donno if I will get to that this time around
Some swords one of my guys (Hank) made
[img]http://www.vikingsna.org/norsa/temp/wooden_swords.JPG[/img]
Halv
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
WOW what a weekend!
When we first took this gig I was worried that we might not be able to deliver for folks so richly steeped in their heritage but I think we more than did the job!
In the early stages of last week I began to worry as the forecast seemed to indicate that it would be quite the soggy weekend, I was sure that if it was that the show would be less than stellar (little did I know how wrong is was) but we forged ahead anyway
Hank and I arrived Friday afternoon and found Pete waiting on us.
Do to an unforeseen last minute problem he had decided to get a rental car and drive out to site from the airport.
We quickly went about getting our (Norsa's) camp all set up.
The camp was set up on the bank of the Red River and was a beautiful location.
Sometime after we got our two tents and the sail (shadfly) set up, Babette from Michel Folcland (RegiaNA) showed up with her geteld and we got that all set up for her (it turned out that we didn’t need it as Camric was unable to make it so the Folo and Julie slept in in Saturday night and MF used it during the day on Sunday.)
Soon after Olaf, Svenni (Melissa), Boy (Eric) and the new arrival (Elizabeth, IIRC) all showed up.
We got them settled into the Norsa group tent and sat around talking about the past and the future of VNA.
Mikjal, Camy, and Dan (from Gladsheim) arrived a bit after that.
The Gladsheim folks had an unfortunate modern issue to deal with so had told us in advance that their arrival time would be later in the evening, so we all hung out and had a few drinks around the fire and awaited their arrival.
At some point Seathrun and his little imp showed up (I got a kick out of watching her do her Irish dances from time to time over the weekend!)
The Vasa Park contact popped in later that afternoon and we began discussing various things, we was very friendly and very enthusiastic about us being there (not to mention he was there to resolve any issue that we had the entire weekend, we were very impressed with their efforts to accommodate us.)
When the Gladsheim caravan (Jim/Egil, Mandy/Iona, Gwladys, Mike/Oddlog, Tauny, and Ottar (Kyle?) arrived we tried to be helpful to them as they set their part of the camp up but it was all but to evident that we had partook in the spirits a bit to much and were more in the way than any thing so we adjourned once again to the fire:)
After they were finished we sat around the fire until the wee hours of the night discussing things and tightening bonds between the two groups (Norsa and Gladsheim)
The next morning we VERY QUICKLY learned three things:
1) it was the first day of goose hunting season in Illinois
2) the bank below us was a prime hunting spot
3) that gunfire behind your tent at 5AM is the best damned alarm clock EVER! (there is no snooze option after a five shot 12ga wakes you!)
OK, to be honest we learned a 4th lesson too, it was that this hunter WAS NOT a very good shot at all!
Anyway, we got thru a morning full of gunfire and despite the consensus we did not go down and as group 'politely' ask him to take a hike.
The Park folks did have a conversation with him though.
As it was a non public day, kit/camp standards weren't enforced.
Despite this, Saturday did infact see a great deal prepping for the following day.
Sometime in the early morning Sam and the Yrsa arrived.
We help him get her positioned where the organizers wanted her and helped him move the hay to hide her trailer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/folo/240552848/
Over the course of the day we also trained (Pete and Olaf passed a couple basic combats and several Adv Combats), continued to set up the demonstration areas of the camp, discussed AO matters and generally just had a good time bonding with friends, old and new.
One of the central things that took place was a meeting of those present to discuss some new changes that will be taking place very soon. Those topics included a group wide insurance policy, new membership policies, the introduction of our new AO structure, and tightening the reigns on authenticity within the group. Olaf and/or the newly formed AO team will cover all this at a later date so I wont go into it to much but will say that there are some exciting times before us
Saturday also saw the private tour of the Raven, a Gokstad replica built and sailed across the Atlantic for the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago.
The ship was simply amazing and while not seaworthy she is in amazing shape for a boat that is over 100 yrs old.
Some pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/folo/tags/theraven/
Following the tour our guide, showed us some of the local houses and then took us to his house where his wife had prepared desserts and coffee for us.
A really wonderful couple indeed!
We then returned to the camp and began doing kit checks and cooking dinner.
The history test followed that evening (by fire light even - ok, it was really by lantern light:)
Mikjal, Egil, Mandy and Dan all passed and IIRC Seathrun's is pending (IIRC Pete need to research one question further before ruling a pass or fail)
These activities were again followed by a night around the fire.
At the fire I presented Egil and Mandy with the Frihal axes that I didn’t have in April when they were elevated.
I also had the pleasure of making Camy a Frihal as well.
Up until this point things were basically dry, little did we know that as we drifted into slumber that this was about to change!
The next morning we awoke yet again by The Goose Hunter from Hell (though admittedly expecting to be woken by gun fire is much easier on the heart than when it is a totally friggin surprise!)
But it was also raining:(
Not only was it raining but it was cold
Great weather for the wools we rarely get to wear in the Midwest!
So we got a fire going and sat around grumbling about the weather.
At 8:00 the new AO's sat about the task of 'cleansing the camp' of all modern items (including Dan's dome tent that is visible in a few preshow pics.)
At that time we had 9 tents and two sails/shadeflys.
3 of the tents were left open for the public and rest were closed off.
We had 18 VNA members and 4 RegiaNA members in attendance (of those, there were 12 VNA warriors)
At 8:30 AM the kit checks began.
By 9:00AM we were open to the public but the public was scarce so we started breakfast.
During breakfast it hit me that we had two options
1) continue to be cold and cranky or
2) make the best of it
So in true Viking fashion I trounced out into the rain, grabbed an old shield, several spears, some throwing axes and encouraged our new young lad (Ottar) and a few other folks to join me in the rain for a game of Knarr (think Horse but with weapons instead of a basketball)
We had some good fun with this and it brought our spirits up, sure we were wet but we weren't gonna let that one thing stop us from having fun
At this time we were told we could fight under a steel structure if we wanted to but after speaking with a lot of warriors present we decided that for the first show we would fight outdoors in our arena, mostly because wet turnshoes on concrete is no worse than wet turnshoes on wet grass ….. Not to mention falling on wet ground is a lot more forgiving than concrete can be. After that we would determine if the ground was to unsafe or not (it turned out to be fine) (We actually had it in our contract that we didn’t have to fight if the conditions were unsafe but I am glad we decided that wet ground doesn’t always mean unsafe.)
So we did warrior kit checks, weapon checks, and I gave one last safety speech and then the combat began.
Despite the rain the ringing of steel across the site brought a handful of spectators out into the drizzle to watch the first show.
We got thru all of our stuff and by then had enough kids present to incorporate them into something special we like to do as the last part of the show.
Norsa and Gladsheim had each made 10 kid sized/safe shields and swords.
At the end of each show (there were 4 total) we brought in 5 kids and gave them each a weapon and shield.
We taught them some very basic shield wall commands and had them charge (i.e. walk slowly in this case) our line of seasoned warriors, who of course ran and whimpered at the sight of such fierce and highly trained warriors!
At the end of each show, if the parents allowed it, each child was allowed to keep the sword and shield.
As our shows went on thru the day, a lot of the same kids came back to participate with their newly earned swords and shields.
It was great that they were so interested in participating, some made each and every show (from 10am to 4pm)
After the first show the weather got better so we decided to do all the shows outside.
Each show was slightly different and each show got more and more attendance.
The camp was swamped with people and there were never a shortage of questions and folks to talk to.
Throughout the day we had all sorts of demonstrations going, the ones I can remember are:
Cooking, silversmithing, castings, metal working, woodworking, shoemaking, spinning, naalbinding, kubb
There may have been more but that’s all I remember.
Anyway, the day was a great success.
The organizers told us time and time again about how awesome they though we were.
They loved that we actually interacted with the crowds and couldn’t stop telling us how tickled they were that we actually worked with the children.
And if that wasn’t enough I was pinned down on several occasions by several other groups that were present about attending their functions in the future.
At times there was a line of folks to talk to me about it, I was floored!
I have so many cards to go thru that my wallet wouldn’t shut and we gave out over half the 500 business cards we brought to the event, so from a networking aspect the event was phenomenal!
One organization even told me they did monthly events and would be interested in us attending. I told them we would be glad to help them out from time to time but that monthly was a bit much for us currently.
Another group informed us that they put out a monthly publication that went out to heritage groups all over the states, they said there was a part of that pub that contained info on who to contact for groups like ours, they said they would recommend us very highly)
One of the other groups that stood out was a newly forming Children's Library in the area that is interested in us coming in from time to time to do special event projects for the library.
Norsa and Gladsheim were also told that they would be receiving copies of an upcoming hour long show about the Raven. The producers of the show were present and even brought a portable DVD player so that we could watch the unedited version. Unfortunately time didn’t allow us to watch much of it but what I did see was pretty impressive.
So all in all it was a huge success despite the bad start weather wise.
At times I sat around the camp and just looked around, IMO the camp was the best we have ever done.
I was insanely proud of what we had accomplished and am very proud of everyone who made it happen.
Some heavy stuff has been going on lately in my life (both real life and hobby wise) but this was uplifting, the effort and dedication that the folks from Norsa, Gladsheim and Sudhere showed at this event reminded me of why I got into this hobby.
I thank each and everyone of you that managed to give that back to me!
My "Give a Damn" was busted but its repaired now and I am ready to 'Get er done' once again!
Some thanks
Thanks to the Norsa folks for doing what you all do best, working as a team and making things happen, I cant imagine a Group Leader that is prouder that I am of you all.
Thanks to the Gladsheim folks for the huge assist, the show wouldn’t have been what it was without you all, you guys have always had what it takes to be one of the best and now I think you all know it, I look forward to the what you all do next.
Thanks to the Sudhere folks for coming up and being the fine southern folks that you are. You guys were also a huge part of making the show interactive. Your knowledge, hospitality and combat experience shined thru and was really appreciated.
Thanks to the Michel Folcland folks for coming out and showing that despite some minor group differences we can work together and all be friends.
And a special thanks to Pete for coming over. We have been through a lot of crap in the last 5 yrs old buddy. Some good and some bad. You have mentored me thru all my time as a serious reenactor and I appreciate it. Without you and your efforts NONE of this would have been possible.
Normally that would be the end of my thanks to Pete but in this particular instance I don’t have just a personal thanks to issue to Pete.
No, in this case I must issue a thanks to Pete from the entire Norsa group.
On Saturday evening Pete called a private meeting with the Norsa Board of Directors.
In that meeting Pete gave a VERY substantial private donation to the Norsa Viking Age Farmstead project.
While I will not divulge that amount publicly without Pete's permission, I will say that Norsa is EXTREMELY thankful for it and will never be able to repay him for it.
So, thank you Pete, Norsa will always be in your debt for this.
Well, that’s the report, most things are dry now or at the very least drying
I still have bags to unpack, weapons to clean, and follow up emails to send to the organizers (and all the other interested folks) so I will let this missive end with one final thanks to everyone that helped make the show a huge success, I only get to live this dream because of folks like you, I am forever grateful to you folks for that.
Halv
Ps: Photos to come as folks get them uploaded!
When we first took this gig I was worried that we might not be able to deliver for folks so richly steeped in their heritage but I think we more than did the job!
In the early stages of last week I began to worry as the forecast seemed to indicate that it would be quite the soggy weekend, I was sure that if it was that the show would be less than stellar (little did I know how wrong is was) but we forged ahead anyway
Hank and I arrived Friday afternoon and found Pete waiting on us.
Do to an unforeseen last minute problem he had decided to get a rental car and drive out to site from the airport.
We quickly went about getting our (Norsa's) camp all set up.
The camp was set up on the bank of the Red River and was a beautiful location.
Sometime after we got our two tents and the sail (shadfly) set up, Babette from Michel Folcland (RegiaNA) showed up with her geteld and we got that all set up for her (it turned out that we didn’t need it as Camric was unable to make it so the Folo and Julie slept in in Saturday night and MF used it during the day on Sunday.)
Soon after Olaf, Svenni (Melissa), Boy (Eric) and the new arrival (Elizabeth, IIRC) all showed up.
We got them settled into the Norsa group tent and sat around talking about the past and the future of VNA.
Mikjal, Camy, and Dan (from Gladsheim) arrived a bit after that.
The Gladsheim folks had an unfortunate modern issue to deal with so had told us in advance that their arrival time would be later in the evening, so we all hung out and had a few drinks around the fire and awaited their arrival.
At some point Seathrun and his little imp showed up (I got a kick out of watching her do her Irish dances from time to time over the weekend!)
The Vasa Park contact popped in later that afternoon and we began discussing various things, we was very friendly and very enthusiastic about us being there (not to mention he was there to resolve any issue that we had the entire weekend, we were very impressed with their efforts to accommodate us.)
When the Gladsheim caravan (Jim/Egil, Mandy/Iona, Gwladys, Mike/Oddlog, Tauny, and Ottar (Kyle?) arrived we tried to be helpful to them as they set their part of the camp up but it was all but to evident that we had partook in the spirits a bit to much and were more in the way than any thing so we adjourned once again to the fire:)
After they were finished we sat around the fire until the wee hours of the night discussing things and tightening bonds between the two groups (Norsa and Gladsheim)
The next morning we VERY QUICKLY learned three things:
1) it was the first day of goose hunting season in Illinois
2) the bank below us was a prime hunting spot
3) that gunfire behind your tent at 5AM is the best damned alarm clock EVER! (there is no snooze option after a five shot 12ga wakes you!)
OK, to be honest we learned a 4th lesson too, it was that this hunter WAS NOT a very good shot at all!
Anyway, we got thru a morning full of gunfire and despite the consensus we did not go down and as group 'politely' ask him to take a hike.
The Park folks did have a conversation with him though.
As it was a non public day, kit/camp standards weren't enforced.
Despite this, Saturday did infact see a great deal prepping for the following day.
Sometime in the early morning Sam and the Yrsa arrived.
We help him get her positioned where the organizers wanted her and helped him move the hay to hide her trailer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/folo/240552848/
Over the course of the day we also trained (Pete and Olaf passed a couple basic combats and several Adv Combats), continued to set up the demonstration areas of the camp, discussed AO matters and generally just had a good time bonding with friends, old and new.
One of the central things that took place was a meeting of those present to discuss some new changes that will be taking place very soon. Those topics included a group wide insurance policy, new membership policies, the introduction of our new AO structure, and tightening the reigns on authenticity within the group. Olaf and/or the newly formed AO team will cover all this at a later date so I wont go into it to much but will say that there are some exciting times before us
Saturday also saw the private tour of the Raven, a Gokstad replica built and sailed across the Atlantic for the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago.
The ship was simply amazing and while not seaworthy she is in amazing shape for a boat that is over 100 yrs old.
Some pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/folo/tags/theraven/
Following the tour our guide, showed us some of the local houses and then took us to his house where his wife had prepared desserts and coffee for us.
A really wonderful couple indeed!
We then returned to the camp and began doing kit checks and cooking dinner.
The history test followed that evening (by fire light even - ok, it was really by lantern light:)
Mikjal, Egil, Mandy and Dan all passed and IIRC Seathrun's is pending (IIRC Pete need to research one question further before ruling a pass or fail)
These activities were again followed by a night around the fire.
At the fire I presented Egil and Mandy with the Frihal axes that I didn’t have in April when they were elevated.
I also had the pleasure of making Camy a Frihal as well.
Up until this point things were basically dry, little did we know that as we drifted into slumber that this was about to change!
The next morning we awoke yet again by The Goose Hunter from Hell (though admittedly expecting to be woken by gun fire is much easier on the heart than when it is a totally friggin surprise!)
But it was also raining:(
Not only was it raining but it was cold
Great weather for the wools we rarely get to wear in the Midwest!
So we got a fire going and sat around grumbling about the weather.
At 8:00 the new AO's sat about the task of 'cleansing the camp' of all modern items (including Dan's dome tent that is visible in a few preshow pics.)
At that time we had 9 tents and two sails/shadeflys.
3 of the tents were left open for the public and rest were closed off.
We had 18 VNA members and 4 RegiaNA members in attendance (of those, there were 12 VNA warriors)
At 8:30 AM the kit checks began.
By 9:00AM we were open to the public but the public was scarce so we started breakfast.
During breakfast it hit me that we had two options
1) continue to be cold and cranky or
2) make the best of it
So in true Viking fashion I trounced out into the rain, grabbed an old shield, several spears, some throwing axes and encouraged our new young lad (Ottar) and a few other folks to join me in the rain for a game of Knarr (think Horse but with weapons instead of a basketball)
We had some good fun with this and it brought our spirits up, sure we were wet but we weren't gonna let that one thing stop us from having fun
At this time we were told we could fight under a steel structure if we wanted to but after speaking with a lot of warriors present we decided that for the first show we would fight outdoors in our arena, mostly because wet turnshoes on concrete is no worse than wet turnshoes on wet grass ….. Not to mention falling on wet ground is a lot more forgiving than concrete can be. After that we would determine if the ground was to unsafe or not (it turned out to be fine) (We actually had it in our contract that we didn’t have to fight if the conditions were unsafe but I am glad we decided that wet ground doesn’t always mean unsafe.)
So we did warrior kit checks, weapon checks, and I gave one last safety speech and then the combat began.
Despite the rain the ringing of steel across the site brought a handful of spectators out into the drizzle to watch the first show.
We got thru all of our stuff and by then had enough kids present to incorporate them into something special we like to do as the last part of the show.
Norsa and Gladsheim had each made 10 kid sized/safe shields and swords.
At the end of each show (there were 4 total) we brought in 5 kids and gave them each a weapon and shield.
We taught them some very basic shield wall commands and had them charge (i.e. walk slowly in this case) our line of seasoned warriors, who of course ran and whimpered at the sight of such fierce and highly trained warriors!
At the end of each show, if the parents allowed it, each child was allowed to keep the sword and shield.
As our shows went on thru the day, a lot of the same kids came back to participate with their newly earned swords and shields.
It was great that they were so interested in participating, some made each and every show (from 10am to 4pm)
After the first show the weather got better so we decided to do all the shows outside.
Each show was slightly different and each show got more and more attendance.
The camp was swamped with people and there were never a shortage of questions and folks to talk to.
Throughout the day we had all sorts of demonstrations going, the ones I can remember are:
Cooking, silversmithing, castings, metal working, woodworking, shoemaking, spinning, naalbinding, kubb
There may have been more but that’s all I remember.
Anyway, the day was a great success.
The organizers told us time and time again about how awesome they though we were.
They loved that we actually interacted with the crowds and couldn’t stop telling us how tickled they were that we actually worked with the children.
And if that wasn’t enough I was pinned down on several occasions by several other groups that were present about attending their functions in the future.
At times there was a line of folks to talk to me about it, I was floored!
I have so many cards to go thru that my wallet wouldn’t shut and we gave out over half the 500 business cards we brought to the event, so from a networking aspect the event was phenomenal!
One organization even told me they did monthly events and would be interested in us attending. I told them we would be glad to help them out from time to time but that monthly was a bit much for us currently.
Another group informed us that they put out a monthly publication that went out to heritage groups all over the states, they said there was a part of that pub that contained info on who to contact for groups like ours, they said they would recommend us very highly)
One of the other groups that stood out was a newly forming Children's Library in the area that is interested in us coming in from time to time to do special event projects for the library.
Norsa and Gladsheim were also told that they would be receiving copies of an upcoming hour long show about the Raven. The producers of the show were present and even brought a portable DVD player so that we could watch the unedited version. Unfortunately time didn’t allow us to watch much of it but what I did see was pretty impressive.
So all in all it was a huge success despite the bad start weather wise.
At times I sat around the camp and just looked around, IMO the camp was the best we have ever done.
I was insanely proud of what we had accomplished and am very proud of everyone who made it happen.
Some heavy stuff has been going on lately in my life (both real life and hobby wise) but this was uplifting, the effort and dedication that the folks from Norsa, Gladsheim and Sudhere showed at this event reminded me of why I got into this hobby.
I thank each and everyone of you that managed to give that back to me!
My "Give a Damn" was busted but its repaired now and I am ready to 'Get er done' once again!
Some thanks
Thanks to the Norsa folks for doing what you all do best, working as a team and making things happen, I cant imagine a Group Leader that is prouder that I am of you all.
Thanks to the Gladsheim folks for the huge assist, the show wouldn’t have been what it was without you all, you guys have always had what it takes to be one of the best and now I think you all know it, I look forward to the what you all do next.
Thanks to the Sudhere folks for coming up and being the fine southern folks that you are. You guys were also a huge part of making the show interactive. Your knowledge, hospitality and combat experience shined thru and was really appreciated.
Thanks to the Michel Folcland folks for coming out and showing that despite some minor group differences we can work together and all be friends.
And a special thanks to Pete for coming over. We have been through a lot of crap in the last 5 yrs old buddy. Some good and some bad. You have mentored me thru all my time as a serious reenactor and I appreciate it. Without you and your efforts NONE of this would have been possible.
Normally that would be the end of my thanks to Pete but in this particular instance I don’t have just a personal thanks to issue to Pete.
No, in this case I must issue a thanks to Pete from the entire Norsa group.
On Saturday evening Pete called a private meeting with the Norsa Board of Directors.
In that meeting Pete gave a VERY substantial private donation to the Norsa Viking Age Farmstead project.
While I will not divulge that amount publicly without Pete's permission, I will say that Norsa is EXTREMELY thankful for it and will never be able to repay him for it.
So, thank you Pete, Norsa will always be in your debt for this.
Well, that’s the report, most things are dry now or at the very least drying
I still have bags to unpack, weapons to clean, and follow up emails to send to the organizers (and all the other interested folks) so I will let this missive end with one final thanks to everyone that helped make the show a huge success, I only get to live this dream because of folks like you, I am forever grateful to you folks for that.
Halv
Ps: Photos to come as folks get them uploaded!
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
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Cap'n Atli
- Archive Member
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- Location: Oakley, Maryland, USA (in St. Mary's ["b'Gawd Cap'n..."] County)
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Halvgrim wrote:Yes they have
My only regret is I had my glasses on in a few of the pics:(
H
"Punish him!"
Retired civil servant, part time blacksmith, and seasonal Viking ship captain.
Visit parks: http://www.nps.gov
Forge iron: http://www.anvilfire.com
Go viking: http://www.longshipco.org
"Fifty years abaft the mast."
Visit parks: http://www.nps.gov
Forge iron: http://www.anvilfire.com
Go viking: http://www.longshipco.org
"Fifty years abaft the mast."
More pics are starting to trickle in from various places
I have started collecting them and putting them in one place
see http://www.vikingsna.org/gallery/main.p ... temId=4440
I have started collecting them and putting them in one place
see http://www.vikingsna.org/gallery/main.p ... temId=4440
Halvgrimr Riddari
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright
....sometimes called Stormtossed
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. - Steven Wright