Old NorthWest Territory Primitive Rendezvous 2012

The End of the Line

My vacation all started on Thursday, July 6th with me attempting to secure my duffel bag to Saoirse' back. For those of you with motorcycles I wouldn't recommend  bungees! That duffel listed to the side and about 80 miles into the trip I had to pull over onto the side of 71 to straighten it. Standing beside semis going 80 MPH is a bit nerve recking. I also had my camera bag slung on my back and thanks to the size of the duffel I couldn't sit up straight. I had to lean forward the whole 2hr and 45min ride it took to get to the Rendezvous.

Once there however, I had a blast. The weather wasn't cooperating, what with it being 102 degrees on Sunday. Still we JEWETTs are a tough lot and pushed through to a much cooler Monday. Uncle Ken took it the hardest. I guess the heat can cause ones sugar to rise and it definitely sapped his energy. Then it gave me a wicked migraine and I took a 2hr nap. Uncle Greg, Philip and Kyle seemed perfectly fine if very sweaty!

We were given a reprieve from the heat thanks to Ram Rod. Everyday he made a batch of ice cream. My favorite was Maple and Honey. Yummy! Once we arrived at his camp he'd start mixing everything and allow us to crank. Turns out it's not so hard to make ones own ice cream and it surpasses what one could get at a store or shop. Not to mention healthier!



Cicada

We had many visitor throughout the day, everyday. Even though we were 'the end of the line'. Including this little tom. The uncles chased him off but I found time to give him a good scratch under the chin when I ran into him by Cactus' camp. The Colonel's camp also had many visitors of the flying verity. Mosquitoes, horse flies, dragon flies, cicadas and a gorgeous hawk who had her nest near by.


I learned many things while there. 1stly I'm a decent shot with a riffle and muzzle loaders are kind of fun to shoot. I got my tan shirt dirty thanks to the black powder though I hit a bulls eye for the trouble. 2ndly I should practice more with the hawk and knife. Also, don't shoot with someone elses bow. You always get better scores when you use your own. However, my recurves can't be used at rendezvous for some reason. I can only use a long bow so I'm going to see about trading one of my recurves for a long bow. I already mentioned the ice cream:  so lastly I found out I'm pretty. It seemed like everyone had fun teasing me about it. Perfect strangers flirted. It didn't mater if they were married or single or dating. If a lady's feeling self conscience or unattractive and they enjoy reenacting history they should totally go to one of these events. ;3

Not me best side but hay I'm shooting a muzzle loader!

There was a marquee tent and awning for sale or trade. I believe it was $1200, but I could be wrong ... it could be more. Either way I'm thinking of investing for future years if I continue to reenact.  It would prove so much easier to dress, bathe ... and well that's just about it. It does have a divider so I could potentially use if for multiple people and maintain a modicum of privacy.




Thanks to my revealing chemise I managed to get a nice tan. Its really cleared up my acne, which is bloody awesome. However, in return I may have gotten Prickly Heat a.k.a Miliaria (creepy). That last bit might not be reliable. Anyway, Sunday after having awaken from my heat exhaustion induced nap I noticed little bumps running up and down the inside of my fore arms. Uncle Ken had me visit the camp 'Dr' for a cure or at the least find out what it is. Apparently it could be a number of things:  allergic reaction, poison ivy, or heat rash. So to cover some bases he got me some Benadryl and Poison Ivy cream. Neither worked! Though by the next day everyone in camp knew what was wrong and asked 'How's your rash?'. Camp gossip, I swear!

The boys got to chop fire wood with their wee tomahawks! Poor things!

Philip's 'surprise' attack!

Such a cutie! I loved photographing the wee ones!

Paige showing off for the camera or my uncle ... not sure which!

Of the junior and sub junior contestants these two sisters won their own muzzle loaders! Go them!

All the wee ones 18 and under!

I went to urgent care when I got home ... after a nice, long, cool, shower and a short visit to Daniel at work (not in that order). Dr Tsai was a wee bit puzzled. Poor man. Doesn't look like poison ivy, never mentioned prickly heat, but settled on a contact reaction (even though by this point it had spread to other locations, the back of my ear and neck to be brief.). So I was given a cure all (Prednisone) and told to visit my family Dr if it persists. I just wont tell him he's cheaper!