My very first camping SCA event was Seawinds Defender in 2911. I had been looking at the websites and was looking for something fun. The more I read about SCA the more I identified with it. I had heard of the SCA from a woman I met on a Caribbean Cruise in the '90s. I helped her find a natural amethyst necklace for her garb. My sister, Tammy, had also told me a little about the SCA. When she was in college in Austin her boyfriend played and she went to a couple of events with him. One of his friend that played, and had an unrequited crush on her, gave her a chain mail belt. She later gave the belt to me and I still have it. Also, around 1998 I made me an outfit for the Texas Renaissance Festival. I had lots of stuff that I could use.
There was an event coming up in October called Seawinds Defender. The Shire of Seawinds is in Corpus Christi. They were having the event near Golaid. I contacted the feast steward and reserved a seat at feast and also contacted the local hospitler, helps the newbies. I bought a tent and a hi-rise beauty rest air mattress. I took that Friday off and headed down to Goliad with Arwen. My thinking was she would be a good ice breaker. She's medium size, cute and shy. We got there soon after the gate opened, paid our fees and set up camp. The people at gate were friendly. The tents were put up haphazardly no kind of order. There looked to be other campers but I couldn't be sure. Once the tent and everything was set up it was dark. I was walking Arden around and heard a guy say, 'hey pretty lady'. I instantly knew he was talking to the dog but went over and greeted the group he was with tried to introduce Arden but she was trying to hide behind me. The same guy hat had greeted us made and effort to pet her, she barely allowed it. The group was gathering near a travel trailer and I joined them. They seemed like a fun bunch. I met Griska a Russian Cossack, I later found out he belongs to our Shire, Ffynnon Gath. It was fun listening to stories and later talk turned to movies, etc. One guy had a bottle of what he called Dragon's Milk. I took a sip, it tasted good but I had no idea what is was! It was getting g chilly out and I had only brought mother's old wool cape with the fox tails. It's really too small for me and my arms stuck out the arm slits.
It was getting late and everyone headed to bed, Arwen and I included. We wrapped up in the blankets I had brought but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I hadn't even brought a long sleeved shirt! It was so cold and I was already chilled from sitting out in the cold. I couldn't believe Arwen let me cuddle her under the blanket. I kept checking the temp from the weather channel app on my phone. Finally about 2 am and 47° I gave it up. I threw Arwen in the car and we drove home to sleep in our warm bed. In the morning I gathered up another blanket, the tent heater and a long sleeve T-shirt. We got fast food breakfast on they way. I took a wrong turn and wasted about 45 min. and nearly ran out of gas!
When we got back things were in full swing so I donned my best garb, the faire outfit I had made nearly 10 years before. I had only worn it a handful of times so I was in good condition. I had also grabbed an old cross-stich project I had never finished to work on so I wouldn't look or be bored. We took our folding chair to the area they had roped off for fighting and sat on the far side by ourselves. The people from the evening before didn't seem to know us. The fighting was quite interesting and fast paced. They had referees I later learned were called marshalls. I tried my cross stitch but I couldn't read to pattern nor find the holes so I gave that up. At one point a gentleman came and sat down to get to know Arwen. She's allowed him to pet her only a little. There had been a competition for authentic food and afterward everyone was allowed to eat. It was good.
After lunch was an archery tournament. We watched. Soon it was time to get dressed for the Feast. I wore a burgundy dress I bought at the last TRF with my black boots. The king and queen weren't there but Philip the Baron of Bjornsborg took their place. I believe we ate first and then had court. The food at feast was good, some a bit strange. Court was very fun. Some silliness and many awards. The champions that had won the day were awarded banners and gifts, some prople were given their Award of Arms which means you are a Lord or Lady not just m'lord or m'lady. I left Arwen in the tent during feast and court and she was quite happy. I don't think she changed position on the bed. There was cordial liquors served for donations in a tent after court. Thee was some Milling about but not much as it was pretty cold. I think I scared some young fellow when I told him the fox tails on my cape were real. I didn't last too long and went to bed. The tent heater helped greatly we were still cold but bearable. The weather channel app said it got down to 42°!
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