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Blackbeard Pirate Festival, June 2008 - Hampton, VA
Chapter 6th - Sunday, Day - The author recounts things he never saw, so you're going to get a lot of pictures and precious little information here; relating various adventures had by the Archangel crew whilst learning to row and fighting the last desperate battle with three ships as he heard it.
As you may have determined, your surgeon happily stayed in his spot in the Living History exhibit, explaining all the grotesque tools and procedures, picking up tips and ideas from patrons and their re-actions for three hours until it was time to leave. In doing so, he missed an opportunity to row the Explorer - which basically sounded like a lot of work anyhow. The Explorer is a longboat with several banks of oars, a steersman and room for a couple of passengers. I heard from Michael Bagley that he and Mary Diamond rowed under the tutelage of Dutch (bcddutchman) while Kate and Cheeky rode as passengers.
Below: the little peaceful long boat the Explorer, sitting calmly at dock, all unawares of the chaos to follow. On the right, the Archangel crew getting situated. From left: starting with Cheeky Actress (in red) & Kate Souris, Sarah Sterling, Aminjiria/Mad Jack, Michael Bagley/Micky Souris, Captain Sterling and, at the helm, Dutch.
(Photo: Michael Bagley)
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(Photo: Mary Diamond)
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(Photo: Michael Bagley)
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(Photo: Mary Diamond)
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Above left: The rowers receive their instructions from Dutch (love those sloppy slops): "OK, I want a good clean row, no rowing below the belt, no shirking, no sniveling and no, I repeat no breaking into "Row, Row, Row Your Boat! And I mean it!" Above right: Heaving ho. Looks like fun, doesn't it? (I didn't think so either.)
Below left: More rowing. Yep, sorry I missed that. Center: No fools they; passengers Cheeky Actress and Kate Souris not rowing. Right: Mary Diamond holding her oar perpendicular to the water - At first I assumed she was signaling for assistance, but there were several such pictures taken. I can only guess this was some sort of exercise to limber up your rowing muscles. To find out, I'd have had to go on the boat and, well...no.
(Photo: Cheeky Actress)
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(Photo: Michael Bagley)
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(Photo: Mary Diamond)
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At 1:30, we living historical surgeons working the campsite also heard a great deal of noise as the pirates on shore attacked three ships who were sailing through the harbor and returning tit for tat with cannon fire. It sounded quite exciting, but I was enjoying explaining my surgical tools so much that I missed it as well. Too bad, because the Royaliste was one of the ships involved.
Below: The battle unfolds. Actually, it wasn't so much of a battle as an attempt to fill the entire area with smoke. Three tall ships sailed through the harbor firing their cannon while everyone who wasn't busy and who had a black powder gun fired back. Below top left: Michael Bagley (in his cool new coat) and Amanjiria/Mad Jack wait; Top center: Amanjiria and Edward O'Keefe (with his new gun) prepare to fire; Top right: Michael fires at the ships. Center left: Amanjiria, Lily, Edward, Mary and Michael prepare their guns, Center right: Firing at a ship. Bottom: the ships fire back! (I knew there was a flaw in this plan...)
(Photo: Kate Souris)
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(Photo: Kate Souris)
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(Photo: Kate Souris)
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(Photo: Kate Souris)
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(Photo: Kate Souris)
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(Photo: Duncan McGuyver,
Crew of the Vigilant Site)
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(Photo: Duncan McGuyver,
Crew of the Vigilant Site)
Although Michael, Kate and I had to leave by 4pm (crummy jobs...),
several people were able to stay Sunday night when
this photo of the crew was taken. This is probably half
of the pirate crew members that were at the event as it is very well
attended. While I don't know everyone's name (not by a long shot) it's
amazing how many people I recognize - you make fast friends working with
pirates.