First Friday~November 2008

Photos of last nights festivities stolen from Ogl'n Ophelia
and I tried to put the most embarrassin' first and foremost...yar!

The Legend of Topknot's Boots

I got my wonderful, thigh-high bucket boots from Museum Replicas a couple of years ago. They were way too clean and nice, and I had to take off the poofy leather dongle thing on the front strap, but they were cheaper than anything else I'd seen like them and a few cans of mink oil knocked down the fancy suede to an acceptable level. The soles were a little flimsy, but what do you expect from costume boots, right?

Over the last 2 years I've worn these boots in parades, on ships, island, beaches, taverns, and wherever my piratical feet might take me. They've been the but of jokes, the subject of compliments, and the final resting place of one dead mouse, and I hope to wear them for as long as I have both my legs.

I mentioned the flimsy soles, and that's the point of this post. See, on Tortuga last, while enjoying the blazing fire at our lovely tavern, I burned the bejeezus out of the sole of my right boot. The thing actually melted and crumpled, bringing to light just how cheaply made these boots had been. My foot was unharmed - thanks to the copious volume of Nelson's blood I had consumed I actually didn't feel a thing - but the boot sole was history.

After much hilarity and derision from my compatriots, I, wielding the awesome authority of my temporary position of Tavern Keep, decreed that from that point onward, at all pirate events involving fire of any kind, Kate would be responsible for reminding me not to get drunk and burn my boots.

So where to turn when your pirate boots need to be resoled? I searched for shoe repair shops and found that most of them had negative feedback through Citysearch. Then I put out a call to my mates on Portlandia and received a couple of recommendations. One was from the Quartermaster, for a place called Dorian's Shoe Repair on 6th downtown. I decided to brave the traffic and construction on my lunch break today and drop my beloved boots at Dorian's.

I was immediately put at ease by the proprietor, a bearded young cobbler whose name I did not get. He showed me exactly the soles I needed, and assured me that they'd be more robust and slip-free than the originals. They would not, alas, be fireproof, so Kate still has a job. He told me that he has done costume pieces before, and that he could extend existing boots into bucket boots for a modest price, should anyone requre that service. He's a member of a recreationist group and has made, repaired and modified boots for trappers, english soldiers, knights and kings. I feel my feet are in good hands.

I pick up my boots in 2 weeks (or so I'm told). I will report as to my satisfaction with the repair at that time.

Topknot

First Friday Reminder~November 7th

Don't forget to come join in the gathering of the brethern this friday. We start around 7pm and for those as have powder monkeys, they are welcome until 9pm. If you have lost your map and compass here be the directions...

201 Second Street
at the intersection of
Highway 99E,
Oregon City, Oregon 97045

Bring your coin, someone may have a game of Morgan's Revenge going.

Beach Cleanup~Pirate style

We Pirates lend style and panache to every event, but some are more deserving of our presence than others. We did this back in the spring of 2007 and had a grand time. (see photos below)

When: March 28th 2009, 10am – 1pm

Where: TBD (we tend to work the beaches around Depoe Bay)

Who: You!!

Details: You may come down for the clean up or for the week end. We rent a house at Bella Beach (3 miles N of Depoe Bay) for Friday and Saturday nights for those who wish to indulge in a bit of grub, grog and hot tubbing after. Cost for the house is $65.00 per person, this covers BOTH nights, you also need to BYOB and add to the communal galley. Day trippers are welcome to join us for lunch after the clean up.

Drop me a message in a bottle or send a pigeon aloft if interested. More information as we get closer to the event date.

New link in Ports of Call

Ahoy! I've added a link to 2 Turtlz Studio, a venture operated by my friend and coworker Dave Manuel and his wife. Dave's pirate friendly and is working on a number of pirate leatherworking projects, including a great new baldric design (not yet available) that I've been helping him R&D. Not a lot of piratical stuff there yet, but keep an eye on this site, as his work is beautiful and there will be lots more leather listed in the future.

Topknot

1776 Punch

At the Tavern I mentioned a drink that's served at Annapolis called
"1776 Punch". It's a pretty authentic naval/pirate drink recipe -
sweetened grog, really. Here's the recipe:

four parts dark rum, two parts lime juice, one part maple syrup, and a
small amount of grenadine"

enjoy

Tortuga~October 18th~The Tavern

The building of the Tavern...



We need to rethink this...




Lord Rafe and Red Banshee(in stealth pirate mode) grommeting the canvas...


Powder monkeys digging post holes...they have the right sized hands and arms for measuring...

The canvas being set...

Lord Rafe snarls prettily for posterity while Topknot ponders the next step...

Topknot and Lord Rafe anchoring the front edge of the Tavern...

Setting up the 'Bar'

The hard part is done and the decorating begins!

Artwork, wanted poster, and fish bones lend an air of 'something'...

Wherein candles are lit and finishing touches are added by Roger and his wench Candy.

Pirates of Portlandia...we're everywhere you want to be...

Roger tying a final knot...

Piratical Fire starting techniques...

By this time it is too dark for more visuals, Topknots Tortuga Tavern was a hit with everyone. The bar was a 'take something from here and leave something in here' sort...don't know what the finale tally was, but it hopefully helped to replenish the rum. Coffee Pirate had left a full bottle of Blackstrap and the makings of grog. There was a Rum basted ham and sausage links donated by the nicest pair of Pirates I have ever had the privilege to know (Bob and Marsha, I forgot your Pirate monikers, forgive this senile old woman).

Much fun was had around the fire, we sang a bit, drank lot's and laughed much. Be sure to congratulate Topknot when you see him next...and asked him if he has 'toasted' his other boot yet...

Best line of the weekend goes to Crimson Gypsy, said during the Smores session of the fire...."Don't Harsh your Mallow"