Plans for Pennsic XXXII

 

1.            Summary of Pennsic XXXI

 

 

            Well, Pennsic XXXI came and went and we had a wonderful time.  The major part of it due to the fact that all FFG’rs came through not only with their assigned chores, but also with other work as it presented itself.   This was due in major part to the fact that everyone stuck to the principle of “It’s everyone’s vacation and if everyone pulls together, we can all have a great time and nobody is going to be bummed or overworked.”

 

            The meal plan also was a success, and the dinner menu was a winner every night.  We also discovered that we could do very well with the breakfast and lunch. Being a small encampment we had no need for an assigned breakfast cook.   And yet, everyone had a nutritious and tasty meal every day, 3 times a day.  For $7 per day it was an excellent deal.

 

The idea of donating non-perishable goods from everyone’s pantry for adding variety to lunches and snacks also worked very well, and it provided everyone with the opportunity of cleaning the cupboards just before Pennsic.

 

            The weather was horrendously hot and humid that year, and the kiddie pool came in handy.  Even the Princess of the East Kingdom ended up in there soaking her tootsies among the rubber duckies and the pool shark like everyone else.  The only problem we ran into was that after 3 days the water tends to get a little bit funky, but by emptying the pool and refilling it with clean water the problem was solved.  At any rate, I checked other pools around the block and ours was one of the cleanest.  I for one would cast my vote any day for the return of the pool.

 

            Ants were a problem, although peppering the ground with Diozinine did help.  Unfortunately, several tents were up before we did that, and with the rains by the end of War Week the stuff had got washed out.  As a result, the ants had a ball in our Gatorade cooler.  It did prevent FFG’rs from drinking it, although a drunk Viking that happened to wander by the camp found it very tasty with the crunchy ants in it.  Free protein I guess, go figure.  At any rate, we may want to dilute the Gatorade next time to decrease the amount of sugars that may attract ants.  Or stick to water or lemonade.

 

            On the food conservation front, our new heavy-duty coolers did the job very well.  We didn’t even have to resort to building the “ice pit” as originally planned.  Being a small encampment we had no need for more than those 2 coolers, plus the regular one that Greta graciously let us borrow.  We could consider the purchase of a third cooler, but if one of us can lend one to the encampment we can save ourselves $40 right there this year.

 

            The kitchen – with new shelving – and common area tents worked also really well.  Marcellus’ grandparents have allowed us to keep the shelving and the tables, so we are set.  The collapsible trashcan in the kitchen and the covered one in the dining tent made the trash collection quite easy.

 

 

2.            Proposed Improvements for Pennsic XXXII

 

            At the end of Pennsic XXXI, we discussed what we could do to improve our encampment.  There were two main suggestions, the first one being getting a new kitchen sink.  An agreement was reached that this would be our Pennsic XXXII project, although running hot and cold water will probably be a Pennsic XXXIII project.

 

            Another suggestion was to get solar powered “sidewalk lamps” to illuminate the entrance of the encampment and hopefully avoid folks getting into the “drunk trap” in the middle of the night.  We have priced them and they are about 6 for $70.  I don’t think that we need more than that.   With some luck we may be able to get them on sale for a couple of bucks less.

 

            We may also need to get small stuff such as a better pick for digging holes, as well as a pole digger (manual) and poles for our new sheet-wall, as well as chicken-wire and ropes, but that’s not very expensive.  (Why chicken-wire you may ask?  See the answer a couple of paragraphs below.)

 

            As for the shower, the Panther camp unit that Thomas Lyon lent to the encampment was terrific, but we need to work on a better platform.  Also, a separate sump for the shower and kitchen is in order.  Thomas has volunteered to build the new platform.

 

            The noise from the road is one of the few drawbacks in our otherwise prime piece of Pennsic real estate.  To minimize this problem, at least for those folks that had to set up their tents next to the highway, we have been thinking on moving the kitchen and common areas – except the shower – next to the highway, and set up not only a better sheet-wall to avoid the risk of theft from passerby folks, but to build it with a background of chicken-wire.  We would have then only one entrance, and nobody would have to set up their tents next to the road.  There will be noise, all right, but hopefully not as bad as listening to people’s conversations when they are walking by your tent.

 

As for the sheet-wall itself, we would be following the idea that everyone would donate at least one sheet (they are cheap) and paint their devices or whatever they want on them.  We can organize a Sheet-Wall painting weekend for that.

 

 

3.         Camp Gear Storage and Transportation

 

            On the matter of transportation and storage of camp gear, I think that everyone noticed that at this point FFG has a considerable amount of stuff that is difficult to transport back and forth, not to mention store it.  It was an ordeal for Marcellus and myself to get everything to Pennsic.  We had to borrow Marcellus parents’ trailer, and still we had to leave some stuff behind because even with the trailer and the X-Terra there was not enough room.  It was also dangerous, as we could not make more than 50 miles an hour without the trailer wagging.  

 

As anyone can imagine, at that point we could not bear the thought of hauling everything back, so we ended up making a deal with Camp Urso for sharing storage space.  The total cost for FFG was $200 per year.  If we take into account that storage over here is considerably more expensive, this was not a bad deal at all.  And since we live in a condo, storage at our home was not an option.  However, this expense was not provided for in the camp fee, and since we had pretty much made the biggest investment on tents, coolers, equipment, etc., there was no camp money left for this, so I paid for it from my own pocket.

 

            Unless someone is willing to transport the stuff this year and store it at his or her place, I propose that the cost of storage is incorporated into the camp fee.  Since the largest purchases were made last year, this would be reasonable and would not push the camp fee higher than last year.  Most likely, the $35 a pop will not cover the entire cost, but it would certainly help defray it considerably. It all depends on how many people will be camping with us at Pennsic XXXII.  I will be preparing a budget shortly and posting it to the list.

 

            At one point we had talked about merchandising or an auction as a means of fundraising.  That has not panned out yet.  If anyone has any practical ideas for that and would like to spearhead the project, I want to hear from you.

           

 

4.         Roll Call  for Pennsic XXXII

 

            At this point I am calculating that FFG will have anywhere from 10 to 15 people, which is very similar to last year.  This was an ideal number as it was really easy to manage.

 

The people that would potentially be camping with us – provided all of them can make it – are listed below:

 

·        Marcellus

·        Belphoebe

·        Thomas Lyon

·        Giovanna

·        Delfina

·        Delfina’s friend (the redhead girl from Ponte Alto whose name I cannot remember)

·        Catalina

·        Rois

·        George

·        Magnus

·        Greta

·        Cosimo

·        Vitha

·        Aramon (Vitha’s husband)

·        Thomas de Grey

 

As stated above, this is only a calculation, as most people will not know whether they are going to make it or not until later in the year.

 

 

5.            Running FFG at Pennsic XXXII

 

            Last year I served as the Kitchen/Camp Coordinator, and I will be very happy to do it again.  Marcellus would be happy to do Land Agent this year, but since we cannot make it the two weeks this incoming Pennsic, we will need help in that department.  Giovanna has kindly accepted to lend us a hand there.  Since we understand that she is a busy Mom, most likely Marcellus will do the Land Agenting, and she will be our Land Representative for Land Grab Week.

 

            Thomas Lyon did a wonderful job as the Evil Choremaster.  It would be wonderful if he could do it again.

 

            On the Chirurgeon front, Catalina did a great job as Camp Chirurgeon.  This year Aramon may be coming as well, and that means that we will have two EMT’s at camp.  I hope the two of them can make it.

 

            Our cooks were terrific and hopefully some or all of them will want to do an encore at Pennsic XXXII.  I know Marcellus and I will.

 

            Last but not least, all volunteers are welcome to help.  Please, if you think that you can help in any way to the planning and running of the encampment, drop me a line. 

 

 

6.         Land Grab Week

 

            As mentioned above, Marcellus and I will be able to make it to Land Grab Weekend, but will not be able to stay for the full two weeks.

 

            Having said that, we cannot stress enough the importance of the work at Land Grab Weekend.  One of the things that really got to us is the fact that last Pennsic Marcellus and I found ourselves trying to set up everything – at least the basics – that Saturday and Sunday.  Needless to say that it was not a very good experience.  The weather was horribly hot, there was no shade, and trying to do everything between just two people was just too awful for words.  Once Magnus, Catalina, Delfina and the rest showed up during the week, things got increasingly and dramatically easier.

 

            What I am trying to say is that the more people we have for Land Grab Weekend, the better.  As I said, Marcellus and I will be there, as well as Thomas and Giovanna.  That makes four of us, and therefore things will be much more manageable.  But it will be much appreciated if any of you can show up too.  The more the merrier.  Plus it will give you the chance to set up your tents for War Week.

 

 

Many cheers,

 

Belphoebe

Your Friendly Neighborhood Kitchen Coordinator