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Bede's World May 20-21 2006
May. 20th, 2006 11:15 pmComitatus Dateline 680's
Back to Jarrow. The Weather forecast was awful: no need to pack my straw hat, then. H came with me this time, remaining in civvies, but sleeping in the tent. We were able to put up an extra tent to add to the look of the tented village and it made a very convenient extra store house. I imagine we'll completely fill up the 13' tent I'm hoping to pick up in July.
As soon as I'd struggled into my last minute, unhemmed linen, wyningas it was of to the River Don for some sand & water play. I wasn't sure about having my first go in a Coracle, but Demetrios kindly lent me a reassuring life jacket and within minutes I was confidently splashing myself, spinning in circles and drifting downstream.
Given the chance to crew a Regia faering up the Don, I didn't hesitate. We merrily thrashed our way up to the Tyne, shipping water all the way and wrestling with rather notional rope rowlocks and found ourselves beneath the towering bows of the transport ship appropriately named City of Rome. Fortunately stationary. Turning across the slight waves seemed to threaten our few inches of freeboard & apparently Demetrios wanted his lifejacket back. I simply didn't hear him.
Our return was a lot faster with the tide & we nearly got a rhythm going. Back at the farm, I put out my humble display - an assortment of supposed trade items; tools, bowls, some tablet weave & spare leather - and we headed off for our scheduled arena display, 'Death & Fashion', were Victor lent me a rather nice spangenhelm with a sporty horsehair crest.
Missiles in the afternoon, a first outing for my padded javelins & Caius kindly let me shoot a few quivers - I just have to get a bow. Hanging a cabbage in front of the targets was inspired - the punters bayed whenever it was spitted. More lost arrow-hunting: must bring metal detector to see if it helps!
Trangia cooking was a tranquil way to unwind. The scary cows with the big horns got out & looked scary. I thought they were supposed to be vegetarian? Fuddle in the hall, with my shoes gently steaming away the river water, the farm cat Crighton (or is it Kryten?) getting pampered by Izabella and Caius holding forth in fine form.
Sunday came with glorious morning sunshine. Forget forecasts: Always take sunhat & raingear. A quick turn round the Museum, some more missile practice & archery, courtesy of Demetrios and a look at Izabela's flat-shooting longbow. Tom & Harry enjoyed being loud pirates in the coracle. Ellie walked about in the sunshine in her sunhat like some idyllic painting.
Unfortunately it was very wet putting tents away. Gambesons may not be quite waterproof, but they seem to keep you warm :-)
Back to Jarrow. The Weather forecast was awful: no need to pack my straw hat, then. H came with me this time, remaining in civvies, but sleeping in the tent. We were able to put up an extra tent to add to the look of the tented village and it made a very convenient extra store house. I imagine we'll completely fill up the 13' tent I'm hoping to pick up in July.
As soon as I'd struggled into my last minute, unhemmed linen, wyningas it was of to the River Don for some sand & water play. I wasn't sure about having my first go in a Coracle, but Demetrios kindly lent me a reassuring life jacket and within minutes I was confidently splashing myself, spinning in circles and drifting downstream.
Given the chance to crew a Regia faering up the Don, I didn't hesitate. We merrily thrashed our way up to the Tyne, shipping water all the way and wrestling with rather notional rope rowlocks and found ourselves beneath the towering bows of the transport ship appropriately named City of Rome. Fortunately stationary. Turning across the slight waves seemed to threaten our few inches of freeboard & apparently Demetrios wanted his lifejacket back. I simply didn't hear him.
Our return was a lot faster with the tide & we nearly got a rhythm going. Back at the farm, I put out my humble display - an assortment of supposed trade items; tools, bowls, some tablet weave & spare leather - and we headed off for our scheduled arena display, 'Death & Fashion', were Victor lent me a rather nice spangenhelm with a sporty horsehair crest.
Missiles in the afternoon, a first outing for my padded javelins & Caius kindly let me shoot a few quivers - I just have to get a bow. Hanging a cabbage in front of the targets was inspired - the punters bayed whenever it was spitted. More lost arrow-hunting: must bring metal detector to see if it helps!
Trangia cooking was a tranquil way to unwind. The scary cows with the big horns got out & looked scary. I thought they were supposed to be vegetarian? Fuddle in the hall, with my shoes gently steaming away the river water, the farm cat Crighton (or is it Kryten?) getting pampered by Izabella and Caius holding forth in fine form.
Sunday came with glorious morning sunshine. Forget forecasts: Always take sunhat & raingear. A quick turn round the Museum, some more missile practice & archery, courtesy of Demetrios and a look at Izabela's flat-shooting longbow. Tom & Harry enjoyed being loud pirates in the coracle. Ellie walked about in the sunshine in her sunhat like some idyllic painting.
Unfortunately it was very wet putting tents away. Gambesons may not be quite waterproof, but they seem to keep you warm :-)
