[Ansteorra] Newbies - Gulf Wars Camping

[Doug Copley]

Great information, thank you for sharing!

One clarification - on the showers - it not that it is not a good idea to
but it is that you are NOT ALLOWED to hook up a hose that goes directly to
a shower outlet. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns on this,
please contact me.

Vincenti
GW XXII Land Coordinator for Ansteorra


On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 9:38 AM, Michael Catron <mikecat375 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Heilsa,
>
> Below is some things everyone needs to know about Gulf Wars - it is long
> about
> 12 pages and it is composed of previous emails from other members in the
> Kingdom of
> Ansteorra. The good Ladies and Lords who wrote their thoughts I give word
> praise to each
> for their thoughts look for their SCA names and date at the end of each of
> the comments.
> I put this together 3 years just prior to Gulf Wars in 2010.
>
> Michael Kettering
>
> Gulf Wars Camping
>
>
>
> With Gulf Wars looming on the horizon in a month, I thought I'd post a few
> questions
> about camping in very cold/hot and perhaps wet weather, and hopefully get
> some
> answers from folks to prepare those on our list for whom this is their
> first war:
>
>
> 1) Garb: recommendations on fibers, layers, under/outerwear, headgear,
> footgear? (Hillary)
>
>
> Layer everything. Your day clothes, your night clothes, your bedding, your
> rain clothes,
> even your food. Calorie counts on one day may be more or less than on
> another.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> And if you are layering. Take a shower around dinner time and put on fresh
>
> clothes. Start the evening fresh and go party.   These will be the clothes
>
> you wear all day tomorrow. Still doing double duty with the clothes, just a
>
> matter of when you wear what layer first. Outer layers can be reworn many
>
> times in one week. It is a perfectly period concept to just change your
>
> under layers, just add a shower to that.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Garb: Cotton fibers are best. Dress in layers! It was wet and extremely
>
> cold (in the 40s) at night and cool to warm during the day. The average
> temp
>
> was between 65 and 75 during the day. I suggest wearing headgear with a
> wide
>
> brim or with long scarves. Most of us had sunburned necks and shoulders. I
>
> also suggest wearing very comfy shoes. Expect on walking around 1-2 miles a
>
> day at least. There are many things to see and do but they are very spread
>
> out and can be far from camping areas.     Lady Cait O'Hara
>
> Camping at the End of the World withLoch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
>
> Linen is the best fiber for garb, it is not too hot in summer nor too cold
>
> in winter.   I cannot afford 14 gowns for a week at war. So except for a
> couple of Feast nights, The dress I wear during the day is my underdress
> every evening. For GW, wool overdresses are great for evening and you can
> comfortably be out in the cool of the evening.(the wool overdress can be
>  short to save on costs and it's appropriate to my period.)
> Then add your cloak for comfort.      Lady Eithne ingen meic Cináeda
> 02/01/2010
>
>
>
> Another way to dress up the gown you wore during the day and stay warm is
>  to make one or two cotes. Make a simple tunic, long, split down the
>  middle add, soutache braid around the edge, add a cloak pin to close and
> you are set.
>      Lady Eithne ingen meic Cináeda 02/01/2010
>
>
>
> What someone else said about the day dress being the underdress for night
> = win.
> Linen is best, cotton is okay, wool is good too. Synthetics are bad.
> But that's the same stuff we always say.     Eve 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> 1)   Wool not only will keep you warm, but it will keep you warm when it
> is wet.   It is always a good idea to have some woolen items to help you
> conserve body heat.   If you are allergic, make it an outer layer so it
> doesn't touch your skin and
> you****should**  be ok.   I can't sleep with any fuzzy stuff near my face,
> so I use a sheet and fold it over the top edge of my blankets.     ua,
> Pennsic veteran (still a GW virgin) 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Wearing a Cap At Night-
>
> It can get cold a night, in addition to what everyone else has said:
> wear a cap on your head at night. A ski cap works great and the fleece
> ones are nice and soft and comfy. This keeps more of your body
> temperature in you. You can also pull it down over your ears and
> your eyes and still be able to breathe. This cuts down on light and
> noise as well and can help you sleep.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> You lose a good deal of body heat through your head, so have a nightcap to
> wear.
>     Rua, Pennsic veteran (still a GW virgin) 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Shoes --
>
> I take 3 pair of shoes with me to Gulf Wars: One pair that I wear driving
> out there,
> take pair off and leave in the vehicle. 2^nd    pair that I used for
> setting up camp
>  and usually these are the ones that I wear on the field to fight in.
> 3^rd    pair to wear once I am off the field and just walking around the
> site.     Michael Kettering 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> You will probably walk more than 1-2 miles per day. I probably walk more
>  than 5 miles per day. Begin walking a bit each night starting now so
> you won't be exhausted at day's end.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon,
> 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> Footwear:   Multiple pairs of shoes/boots can make War much more enjoyable.
> Have a pair of shoes/boots that will support your feet well for a lot of
> walking, because you will do a LOT of walking.   Have a pair of
> comfortable shoes/moccasins for wear in camp -
> also good for the midnight dash to the privies if you don't have a
> porta-potty in your tent.   A big plus is a pair of gumboots/wellies/other
> waterproof footwear,
> because while you will be uncomfortable in wet clothes if (when)
> it rains, you will be miserable with wet, cold feet.     Padraig 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Another note concerning Footwear:   Forgive me if this has already been
>
> mentioned.   Do not bring anything that you have not worn enough to get the
>
> newness off. Breaking in new shoes bought just for Gulf Wars is a sure way
>
> to get you to the Chiurgeons' area for any releif they can give you on
> those
>
> blisters you will have.     ld. Charles Ó Floinn 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> 2) Tents: recommendations on rain protections, ground preparations?
> (Hillary)
>
> Tools --
>
> Rake -- rake the leafs and other debris before pitching the tent
>
> Shovel -- use to dig a small drainage ditch around your tent, aligned so
> that the run off does not run into someone's else tent.   Also use to dig
> fire-pits if allowed, set-up a place to stored this dirt
> so that the pit can be filled back in when you break camp and leave site.
>
> Small ax for dead wood
>
> Fire Extinguishers -- which is required if there is any sort of flame in
> or by your tent.
>
>
>
> Most of the Gulf Wars site is very sandy loam, like much of eastTexas, but
> not as red.
> It drains rapidly and well but by no means is it dry right away. The roads
> have been
> packed with clay so they stay wet a long time.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
> The site is also not flat anywhere and this can help contribute to leaks.
> A good tent set up properly on level ground rarely has issues.     Claire
> 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> There is no level ground at Gulf Wars. There is always a little slope,
> some hole or another or some such that keeps your tent poles and edges
> form being perfectly level. This leads to leaks. Try to anticipate and
> deal with it.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Sometimes all that is needed is a shim under a pole. This also applies to
> camp tables and even beds! This is a good time to use up all those little
> scraps of wood hanging out in the garage.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Cross stake or double stake the corners that take the most stress.
> And wind wires are a good idea. You might only need them once
> while you are there but you will be glad you had them.     Claire
> 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Tents: Use rain flies or tarps over the roofs of your tent/s and/or
> pavilions.
> It rained a lot and it rained hard. I also suggest putting a tarp down as a
> floor and connecting the corners to make a sort of bath tub. This will help
> in keeping the rain out of your gear. We packed all of our garb in plastic
> storage bins. We plan on having a mesh bag to hang from our pavilion frame.
> We will use it to keep our dirty garb in.    Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at
> the End of the World withLoch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> When it is cold at night consider putting more blankets under you than
> above,
> especially if you use an air mattress or a cot. I found that out the hard
> way.    Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> Your tent will leak. Even your new tent will leak. Bring some plastic
> sheeting to protect a few things. We buy a roll of cheap painter's plastic
> splash catcher. We put it under the rugs and have plenty left over for
> protecting our stuff and making ad hoc raincoats. We event put it under
> our ground tarp so it is not wet when we pack up.     Caelin on Andrede, a
> Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> I usually camp in a period tent, so my experience there is going to be a
> bit different than most first-timers. Period tents are an awesome
> investment
> though! Put your garb in tupperware bins to ensure you'll have dry stuff to
> wear and hide one outfit in the car so if the worst should happen and
> you're
> soaked and totally out of stuff, there will be at least one thing that you
> can fall back on. This is most excellent if it rains while you're packing.
> Having an outfit hidden in the glove box or on the front seat means you
> won't
> have to drive home wet.     Eve 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Tent Floors --
>
> Floors: I have a tent with no floor. We use those woven plastic mats from
> the chinese grocery or the dog show area. The water goes through them and
> on into the ground. The ground absorbs water quickly there (except on the
> roads)
> and the mats keep you above the damp. They do not prevent flooding as can
> happen with downpours and lots of runoff, but they do not hold water so
> they dry out quickly. Then you do not have a wet rug for a floor or a
> nasty wet rug to take home.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Ground preparation/Fire Safety:   As with any campsite, you want to remove
> twigs,
> branches, rocks, etc, from the area you're going to set your tent on, so a
> lawn
> rake is an excellent thing to have on hand.   Some folks are proponents of
> trenching
> (a narrow, shallow ditch around your tent to guide water away) in case of
> rain,
> so a spade is also useful.   Make sure you don't channel water into
> someone else's tent.   The spade is also useful for digging firepits,
> waste-water holes, etc,
> and for use in fire control.   Make sure your firepit is at least 10 feet
> from any tents or structures.   Clear the ground around the pit of leaves
> and other flammable debris.   The dirt from the pit is good for fire
> control,
> but it doesn't hurt to have a bucket of water and/or an extinguisher
> located nearby.
> You should also have an extinguisher handy to any area where there are
> cook stoves or heaters.
>     Padraig 02/02/2010
>
>
>
>
> 3) Bedding: ground/above-ground beds, bed clothes (blankets, sheets,
> furs)? (Hillary)
>
>
> If the nights are mild (45 to 60F) then a lot less, but if on the other
> hand...
> I have camped in theRockies  at 11,000 feet with 2 feet of snow.
> Learn lessons there -- always figure on layers. Sleep off of ground
> whenever possible -- I sleep on a cot. I take two sleep bags with me,
> use one to lay on the cot itself so that is two layers, a wool blanket goes
> on next, then my current sleeping bag (rated for 20F). Fleece blanket
> goes inside of this bag, usually wounds up down at my feet. Another wool
> blanket to cover the top of the main sleeping bag, of course therms to
> wear,
> socks are place inside of the bag, I am actually warmer without them on.
> Of course, a soft knit hat for my head.
>
>
> Bedding: We used cots and they were wonderful. The ground gets cold at
> night.
> Be sure to bring plenty of bedding or a tent heater. We had three quilts
> on us
> and still had to borrow a heater to keep warm. The kids each used a
> sleeping
> bag made for cold weather and they were fine. Being cold at night and early
> morning were our biggest problems. I hated changing into my garb in a cold
> tent.
>    Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at the End of the World withLoch  Ruadh
> 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> This is why period tents are made of awesome - you can have a rope or slat
> bed
> and sleep on a futon instead of an air mattress. Even on the ground a
> futon will
> be MUCH more insulating than an air bed, so if you can fit one in your
> vehicle, do it.
> Otherwise a fleece blanket held on by a fitted sheet will remove much of
> the
> discomfort of using a plastic air bed. I sleep in modern sleeping blankets.
> Yeah it doesn't look as nice, but that's why I close my tent flaps.
> If you purchase 2 identical bags you can zip them together for couples and
> stay much warmer (doesn't work with mummy-bags obviously).     Eve
> 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> A couple of things that will keep you extra warm are wearing the correct
> PJs.
> I bought some flannel and made a rectangular construction dress out of it
> (simple t-tunic with a slightly better fit) with a massive skirt. All the
> skirt
> then ends up bundled around my feet and legs and keeps me wonderfully warm.
> Some good quality wool hiking socks (that you keep clean to wear in bed,
> not
> the ones you've been sweating in all day) will keep your toes perfect.
> I am a HUGE fan of Smartwool Expedition Trekking socks. They're spendy but
> totally worth it and they last forever (I'm going on 10 years with mine
> now)
> and they're warm enough that I used to wear them under sandals outside
> inCanada  this time of year and was a-okay. Similarly, think of your head.
> You lose most of
> your heat from your head. At Estrella last year, where it fell below
> freezing
> every night and I was greeted with frost on the ground until well into
> mid-morning
> I bought one of those furry viking/mongolian/russian hats from Intriguing
> Designshttp://www.**intriguingdesigns.net/<http://www.intriguingdesigns.net/>
> and that made all the difference in the world. This hat was also tres
> spendy,
> but you get what you pay for. A week of sleeping in it and wearing it every
> hour of the day and it still looks like new. I'll be using this for years
> too.
> If you make your own, just make sure you use real fur, not fake as the
> fake stuff will
> probably mat up if you sleep in it and look awful.     Eve 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Humidty -
>
> One more thing: Nothing will dry out. If you think your thing will air out
> and
> be dry by morning, it won't. It is humid there. If it is not possible to
> get
> to the laundromat in town you can spritz it down with rubbing alcohol.
> It might dry out some but it also won't grow funk. Linen rarely grows funk
> but it is hard for even linen to dry out much there.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> 4) Cooking/firepit safety: emergency fire extinquishers, ground
> preparations,
> wood to use? (Hillary)
>
>
> NO CUTTING OF LIVE TREES.
>
>
> 4. Cooking/Firepit Safety: You can buy a cord of wood on site. That is
> what we did.
> We bought one cord for a group of 30 people and it lasted all week. We
> still had
> some left by week's end.    Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at the End of the
> World with
> Loch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> Wood is usually available free on site, if there is wood laying around we
> do
> the landowner a favor by burning it.     Lady Eithne ingen meic Cináeda
> 02/01/2010
>
>
>
> Cooking:
>
> I would suggest that you write out everything you are going to cook and
> make
> sure that you have all the pots, pans, utensils, and spices, etc. that you
> will need.
> I would also try out any menus that you think will be a little more
> complicated or
> time consuming.   This will be a good test to see that you "will" have
> everything
> you need. If you use something that is not on your list add it.
>
> Large ziplocks for leftovers.
>
> potholders
>
> trivets
>
> Remember: Camp cooking always takes longer.   Plan for extra cook and prep
> time.
> Don't forget a fire extinguisher - just don't keep it too close to the
> fire/burners.
> I would also suggest a large stock pot to heat water to wash your dishes
> as well
> as dish pans.    Gwynafwy 02/02/2010
>
>
> Wood and Ice -
>
> As for amenities such as ice and wood, it depends on where you camp.
> We camp at the End of the World. So, we hardly ever see wood that hasn't
> been picked over or the ice cart or much of anything else.
> So, I would suggest you take advantage of those things when you see them
> but be prepared in case you don't catch the cart or the wood is picked
> over.     Cait 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> 5) Heaters in tents: proper use of tent heaters, venting, carbon monixide
> poisoning issues? (Hillary)
>
>
> Warning about Heaters and Tents both modern nylon and heavy canvas tents,
> can be
> sealed to prevent air exchange. This is when having a heater in the tent
> will be
> extremely dangerous and have KILLED People in the TENT due to Carbon
> Monoxide level.     Paraphrase from Rhiannon 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Heaters in Tents: Be sure to use a heater that has an automatic cut-off
> system in
> place in case it turns over or runs out of fuel. Also be sure to keep your
> windows
> and doors cracked open. This will help with proper ventilation. The small
> cans of
> fuel will not cut it. It will be best to use the big 20+ pound container.
> We used the small ones and they did not last the night.     Lady Cait
> O'Hara Camping at the End of the World withLoch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> Don't forget to get the heaters that shut off if the carbon monoxide level
> goes up.     Lady Eithne ingen meic Cináeda 02/01/2010
>
>
>
> I use a "Mr Heater " propane heater in my merchant pavilion.
> I can attest that it will turn off if tipped...
> I did that twice at Autumn Melees running to the privvy in the middle of
> the night
>     THL Edrei the Quiet, Merchant and Adventurer, Shire of Smythkepe
> 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Lord Tomas mac Caoil wrote on 2/01/2010 on Tent Heaters:
>
> It can get cold at winter wars, and many of us choose to use a heater to
> warm our tents.   However, in years past, people have been severely injured
> and even killed by improperly
> using a tent heater.   Following are my annual recommendations for staying
> warm AND alive:
>
> 1. Buy a heater with a thermocouple, a device which shuts off the gas if
> the flame blows out.
>
> 2. Make sure your tent is well ventilated.
>
> 3. Use only in a canvas tent treated with flame retardant.
>
> 4. Keep all flamables away from the heater (hanging clothes, tapestries,
> etc.)
>
> 5. Make sure the heater is stable and can't easily fall over.   Ours has a
> plastic
> stand that makes it much more difficult to tip the tank over, even
> intentionally.
>
> 6. Don't leave the heater unattended, including while you're asleep.   Use
> it to warm
> the tent before going to bed, turn it off, then light it again when you
> wake up, get
> back into bed, and get up and change once the tent warms up.
>
> 7.   Don't mix alcohol and fire.   Make sure whoever is turning the heater
> on, off
> and lighting it is sober.
>
> 8. Use common sense.
>
> 9. You might want to explore a new flameless heater I've seen advertised.
>   I suspect it's a much safer alternative.     Wrote by Lord Tomas mac
> Caoil on 2/01/2010
>
>
>
>
> 6) Health issues: Hyperthermia, overheating issues, insect prevention and
> treatment? (Hillary)
>
>
>
> 6. The most important issues to be aware of are sunburn and dehydration.
> There are MANY water bearing tents so please make use of them.
> There is also one tent that serves the best pb&j and bacon sandwiches.
> They are offered for a donation. They are wonderful and the protein is a
> definite plus. Be sure to take plenty of snacks that are full of protein.
> This will help keep your strength up during the day. We took lots of peanut
> butter and crackers and beef jerky. They really helped keep the kids happy
> and full.
>           Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at the End of the World withLoch  Ruadh
> 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> As another person said, wear a hat with a brim. The basket merchant on
> site sells
> great ones that are felt hats that have minor imperfections at a
> reasonable price.
> I have several and they last a long time. They come in various colors.
> Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> Drink water every chance you get. If you are peeing every few hours,
> you are probably not drinking enough. Don't make the Chirurgeons tell y
> ou that you are dehydrated.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
>
>
> 7.) Irritant plants presention and treatment (poison ivy/oak)? (Hillary)
>
>
> Camping with Kids
>
>
> Camping with Kids: We had about 10 kids in camp with us. Here are some
> ideas
> for keeping the tots happy. There is a Minister of Children area.
> It is a wonderful resource. They have classes every day.
> They are offered for kids 6-12. They have classes for a couple of
> hours in the morning and a couple in the afternoon. Gulf War policy is
> that kids must always be in the line of sight or in hearing distance of
> their designated adult. There are also youth archery competitions and
> youth combat. As long as an adult is with the child, he or she may also
> attend various demonstrations which are fun and worth it. My kids are 8
> and 11.
> They loved playing in camp, going to class, and watching the fighting.
> They also loved watching the blacksmith in the Early Period Encampment.
> A lot of the camping is very open. This year, we are setting up tents in
> such a way as to have a closed in area for the kids to play in. Having kids
> running around a fighter's tent at o dark thirty was not a pleasant
> experience
> for the fighter I am sure.:) Pack many snacks for the kids. They will eat
> more
> than you think. We had a 12" by 12" by 36" box full of snacks. I thought
> it would be plenty. It lasted three days. I have a better idea this year.
> We plan on having a gallon baggie for each child per day.
> This will be full of snacks (peanut butter crackers, goldfish, jerky) for
> the day.
> I noticed that the kids ate more while in camp. We plan on grabbing a snack
> bag each and leaving for the day.      Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at the End
> of the World withLoch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
>
>
>
> RAIN --
>
> It isMississippi  in March, early Spring -- Rains everyday, sometimes
> light,
> sometimes heavy and in between.      Michael Kettering 02/02/2010.
>
>
> Some years we have downpours, so bring parkas to be able to work in the
> rain.
> Speaking of rain, we would all love to have period storage,
> but use plastic tubs to assure drying garb or keep your garb
> in plastic bags.
>
> The most important advice, keep a set of mundanes in your car in case
> you somehow have wet clothes.       Lady Eithne ingen meic Cináeda
> 02/01/2010
>
>
>
> Food and Merchants --
>
> There is a meal deal available, something like 9 meal tickets.
> I usually buy it for breakfast and dinner. Lunch I figure something out at
> that time of day.
> I usually stop inHattiesburg  at Wal-Mart for bottle water and ice for
> water coolers,
> deli-meat, snacks, sodas, beer, etc., My reasoning is cut down on the
> travel weight
> that has to be haul from Ansteorra to Gulf Wars site     Michael Kettering
> 02/02/2010
>
>
> More good info from Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at the End of the World
> withLoch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
> There are plenty of places to eat there. There is The Goode Bakery.
> They sell meat pies and pastries for a reasonable price. There is also a
> grill and
> a cafeteria onsite. The grill is a little pricey, but the cafeteria is not
> really.
> The cafeteria sells meals for about $6.50 a piece. For this you get a main
> item,
> two sides, bread, a drink, and a dessert. The helpings are very generous.
> They have a weekly meal plan. You can by meal tickets. You get a discount
> when you purchase them I think. There is also a gas station at the entrance
> with a grill. It is inexpensive and they have great food. They also sell
> ice
> onsite. They have a golf cart that comes around and sells it to each camp
> once a day.
> I think it ran about $2 - $2.50 a bag. They have onsite showers and
> toilets.
> They installed better water heaters last year. Now, the water actually
> gets hot
> and stays that way through most of the shower.:) They are well lit and
> have power
> outlets. Our bath house had two showers each and about 5 unisex toilets.
> There are also porta-potties but they had queues constantly and they were
> smelly.
> Be sure to get EVERYTHING out of your car that you will need. Cars must be
> moved
> early in the week and it is a good mile's hike to the car parking area. We
> forgot
> some things in the car that first day. After trekking out there once, we
> made sure
> that did not happen again.:)     Lady Cait O'Hara Camping at the End of
> the World
> withLoch  Ruadh 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> If you can bring food and cook it, you will save money. But eat with some
> of the merchants.
> It is part of the experience. If you can, bring some money to spend with
> the merchants.
> They will have stuff you really want that you will not find outside of SCA
> wars.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> If you can bring food and cook it, you will save money. But eat with some
> of the merchants.
> It is part of the experience. If you can, bring some money to spend with
> the merchants.
> They will have stuff you really want that you will not find outside of SCA
> wars.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
> This is what Loch Ruadh is doing this year for food.     Cait 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Breakfast is on our own. As a family, we are doing eggs and sausage one
> day,
> instant oatmeal another day, muffins another... If bringing breakfast, try
> and
> bring something with lots of protein. It will fill you up better and it
> isn't full of
> empty calories that will leave you quickly.     Cait 02/02/2010
>
>
> Lunch we are on our own as well. We plan on eating on site or eating on
> the bread,
> kielbasa and cheese we are taking.     Cait 02/02/2010
>
>
> For dinner we are doing one pot meals. Each family is responsible for
> making dinner
> one night for the group. We are sticking to one pot meals that will fill
> up the heavy
> fighters we have. We do everything from chili to spaghetti to beef stew.
> One night we are having an open grill. You can bring cook stoves and
> grills.
> Or if you want to go simple, you can always just bring precooked meats,
> bread and cheese.
> Dried fruits are always a hit too. For more information on camp cooking,
> check out:
>
> http://camping.about.com/od/**campingrecipes/tp/**campingrecipes.htm<http://camping.about.com/od/campingrecipes/tp/campingrecipes.htm>    Cait 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> Merchants (Other than Food) --
>
> Need to have some spending money, especially for any specials, that new
> helm,
> material, trim, rattan, etc...Michael 02/02/2010
>
>
>  Fighting --
>
> If you fight, bring spare parts and small tools to fix your armor and
> weapons.
> It is not fun to be out of the fights because you cannot find a widget to
> make
> your armor pass inspection. And be nice to the marshals doing the
> inspections.
> They are giving up their time to let you have a safe and fun experience
> fighting.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
> Repairing Items --
>
> If you fight, bring spare parts and small tools to fix your armor and
> weapons.
> It is not fun to be out of the fights because you cannot find a widget to
> make
> your armor pass inspection. And be nice to the marshals doing the
> inspections.
> They are giving up their time to let you have a safe and fun experience
> fighting.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
>
> Volunteering -
>
> And speaking of volunteering, a war could not happen without massive
> amounts of volunteering.
> Pick a couple of volunteer activities and jump in. We need you and you
> will have fun
> socializing with the other volunteers and helping make it all happen.
> Gulf War has something I've not seen at the other wars I've been to:
> you get chits for volunteer time. They entitle you to thank you gifts and
> part of
> any profits for the War are sent to the SCA group you specify when you
> sign up for
> volunteering. And there are war points to the kingdom with the most
> volunteer hours!     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon, 2/01/2010
>
>
> ID --
>
> Make sure you bring a picture ID (like a drivers' license) and
> your SCA membership if you have one.     Caelin on Andrede, a Chirurgeon,
> 2/01/2010
>
>
>
>
> Showers: Site Shower Houses andCamp  Showers  only --
>
> Please use the Showers already available on site.     Michael Kettering
> 02/02/2010.
>
>
> Gulf Wars is definitely not a place you want to be hooking up a garden
> hose to the water
> supply for real-time shower purposes.     Cynric 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> If you have never been to Gulf Wars you need to know that you cannot just
> hook up a shower to
> the local water supply. It does not have the pressure to sustain a shower
> at the times you will
> need it because everyone else will need one then, too.   Camp showers are
> required to have a reservoir of water for their use to avoid such a drain
> on the system. The needs of dinner time alone will stress the water
> pressure, you don't
>  want to be in the shower and soapy when the pressure drops or a line gets
> broken
> (which happens frequently). The reservoir need not be complicated.
> Use a large rubbermaid tub you fill from a garden hose, or a plastic
> barrel or a large ice chest.
> You can use a battery operated pump to pump the water to the shower and
> through a propane camp
> shower heater. Combine this with a sink and a large sump and you have on
> demand luxury!
>  Get it all at WalMart camping supplies or other camping stores such as
> Academy.     Claire 02/02/2010
>
>
>
> I build and maintain the Ansteorran shower at Pennsic. For years I used a
> 40 gallon propane
> water heater on concrete blocks, but last Pennsic I switched to an
> on-demand heater.
> Only a fraction of the cost, and infinite hot water as long as the propane
> holds out.
> I can't recommend it highly enough. I should have made it clear that I'm
> just extolling
> the virtues of on-demand heating vs conventional tanked hot water heaters.
> Gulf Wars is
> definitely not a place you want to be hooking up a garden hose to the
> water supply for
> real-time shower purposes.     Cynric 02/02/2010
>
>
> I am pleased we are such receptacles of knowledge and different ways of
> solving problems.
> I do have another suggestions, last year, our house had 2 showers in camp.
> Using propane
> heaters with hot water on-demand that pumps water from a reservoir.
> In a large camp, it is not a luxury, but a necessity. I have a large camp
> to run and with
> a shower in camp I can shower between cooking and serving feast.     In
> Service to the House, the Shire & the Kingdom, and to the Pursuit of True
> Honor,
> Lady Eithne ingen meic Cináeda GrandeDamme FalconRose Keep at Loch
> Callendre,Kingdom  of
> Ansteorra, SCA    02/02/2010
>
>
>
>
> Anything else forgotten that might be good to share with newcomers
> preparing for their
> first camping? (Hillary)
>
>
> Here are a few links that might help in your preparations from a variety
> of great
> SCA war websites: (Hillary)
>
> http://www.gulfwars.org/rules.**html <http://www.gulfwars.org/rules.html>
>
> http://www.gulfwars.org/faq.**html <http://www.gulfwars.org/faq.html>
>
>
> Camping ideas from other great wars, these may not apply to Gulf Wars:
> (Hillary)
>
> http://www.estrellawar.org/**Portals/EstrellaWar/articles/**PACK-LST.pdf<http://www.estrellawar.org/Portals/EstrellaWar/articles/PACK-LST.pdf>
>
> http://www.estrellawar.org/**PreparingToAttend/Weather.aspx<http://www.estrellawar.org/PreparingToAttend/Weather.aspx>
>
> http://www.pennsicwar.org/**penn39/GENERAL/pack.html<http://www.pennsicwar.org/penn39/GENERAL/pack.html>
>
> http://www.pennsicwar.org/**penn39/GENERAL/guide.html<http://www.pennsicwar.org/penn39/GENERAL/guide.html>
>
>
> Happy planning and packing, (Hillary)
>
> On 2/1/2013 20:53, Jennifer Kroyer wrote:
>
>> I am new to the SCA and have a few comments in regarding to my newbie
>> status.It  Is not for my lack of trying to become involved, But I feel
>> that
>> the older SCA members who have been involved for many years do not embrace
>> the new members,  I essentially  have tried to delve myself into many
>> different activities and found more of cold shoulder type of attitude then
>> a welcoming one, this pattern has pretty much turned me off of the SCA
>> where I am located at. I have read many of your comments and concerns
>> about
>> retention and gaining of new members though what I have experienced, is
>> any
>> indication of the way things are the SCA will never be able to gain or
>> retain new members. Granted this is just my personal experience, And many
>> others may have a more positive experience. With Gulf Wars  coming up
>> I  will not attend, I have not been formed at how it works and with this
>> being my first Gulf Wars I have no clue as to what to do, how to set up a
>> camp ( which I dont have a tent anyway), and no one really has given me
>> any
>> direction in that process. I have attempted to get and gain as much
>> information as possible in reference to the Gulf Wars but there seems to
>> be
>> a lack of communication in my Barony. Every time I attempt to attend an
>> event locally or to assist in some manner with preparation I am pretty
>> much
>> received with a cold shoulder and ignored this is completely leading me
>> out
>> of the SCA before I haven't even really began, I truly think this is a
>> great organization but there is some serious flaws in it.
>>
>> Very Respectfully,
>>
>> Isabeau DeSchamps
>> ______________________________**_________________
>> Ansteorra mailing list
>> Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
>> In order to make changes and manage your account please go to:
>> http://lists.ansteorra.org/**listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-**ansteorra.org<http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org>
>>
>
> ______________________________**_________________
> Ansteorra mailing list
> Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
> In order to make changes and manage your account please go to:
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/**listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-**ansteorra.org<http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org>
>