[Sca-cooks] straw bales at Pennsic

[Stefan li Rous]

Brangwayna commented:
<<< My understanding on the hay bale thing is that you are to buy them
from the
Coopers because that way they know which camps will have hay that needs
cleaned  up at the end of war.  Since it's a real pain to clean up, I
think that's reasonable.  >>>

I happen to agree. However, I bought a bale of straw from them for  
Pennsics 27, 28 and 29. I never had them ask me which camp I was  
taking the straw bale to.

Since I was flying in and therefor didn't have space for a better  
bed, I sewed up a tablecloth into a bag, bought the straw bale when I  
got there, broke it up and stuffed the bag with that for my mattress.  
Smaller than an air mattress and no distressing "hisssssss." in the  
middle of some night at Pennsic.

$5 per bale wasn't too bad for this, even if it might have been over  
the going rate. I only needed one bale and that fee included the  
disposal fee. I can see where they might want to regulate what types  
of straw or hay bales got brought in, especially since that could  
easily bring in pests or seeds they don't want.

After seeing a neighboring camp spread the straw in piles around  
their campsite and then stick loosely supported tiki torches near   
and in among the piles, I'm rather surprised they allow the straw at  
all.  I kept wondering if I was going to have to grab a bucket or  
fire extinguisher and run across the road sometime.

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 ****