[Sca-cooks] other things they dont explain about Pennsic

[Stefan li Rous]

Master Cariadoc declared:
> > I used to use a candle lantern at Pennsic, but eventually concluded
> > that it wasn't worth the trouble. There's usually a fair amount of
> > light, what with moon, torches, other people's lanterns, and the
> > like. If you don't have a bright light to blind yourself with, you
> > can manage pretty well without--unless, of course, you have unusually
> > bad night vision. I think it's one more example of something we are
> > used to and so simply assume we have to have--but don't actually 
> need.
Yes and no. I understand the idea and it is applaudable but the 
implementation has problems. Among them, I think it is rather 
idealistic to think medieval folks wandered around without bringing 
lighting. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I get the impression that in 
general they feared the dark and being out and about in it, 
particularly in unfamiliar terrain, was not done if it could be 
avoided. Yes, it happened. For many reasons.

Scurrying around in towns after dark would likely have gotten you in 
trouble with the watch, if they saw you.

Much lighting at Pennsic, both handheld and otherwise, could be turned 
down. The "street lights" on the Serrengetti I could do without for 
instance.
Jadwiga said:
> I think it may depend on whether you know where you are/where you are
> going. When I have to go out to someplace I don't know at night, I 
> bring a
> lantern so I can read signs, etc.
Yes and it is also hard to read the Pennsic map without some kind of 
light.
> I can manage fine going to a friend's
> camp or to the portajohn, but if I get lost I'll need light. Of course,
> for the founder of Pennsic that might not be a problem. :)
I think it would be more that he has been there recently and year after 
year. I suspect that if you took Cariadoc of Pennsic    7 and dropped 
him in the middle of Pennsic 32, he would probably be as lost as gentle 
for whom that was their first or second Pennsic. Cariadoc?

I have also walked long sections of Pennsic without a light. But I 
carry a small flashlight with me. Lighting it briefly has kept folks 
from walking into *me*. I have also tripped and twisted my leg when 
dark shadows in the road actually turned out to be deep ruts or holes. 
A small flashlight can also be very handy in the privy.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****