| It all started back in 1994. My boyfriend (now | | | | their tents and flies strategically placed to allow |
| husband) asked if I would consider attending a | | | | privacy when they want it. The design of the tent |
| Rendezvous... "a Rende who"? A rendezvous is | | | | (marquee, wedge, wall, tipi) also determines how |
| otherwise known as primitive camping... camping/living | | | | private your camp can be. I loved having such a huge |
| as they did according to our American History | | | | fly which meant if it rained, I could still sit outside |
| heritage. My husband had been rendezvousing in | | | | protected by the fly, and listen to the rain, read a |
| Germany since the early 1980's. He tried to explain | | | | book, or play the guitar. |
| the camping experience by describing specific events | | | | I really did get over the initial shock of camping |
| he thought might be of interest to me. First he | | | | amongst so many people. In fact I'd learned ways to |
| described my attire. I would be wearing a long white | | | | seek solitude when I wanted it... and found others |
| chemise (what the heck is a chemise? It sounds | | | | just like me... some were fishing, others played music, |
| awfully hot!), a floor length skirt made of wool, linen, | | | | some worked on crafts such as jewelry making, |
| or cotton (really sounds hot! and not particularly my | | | | leather work, pottery, some hung around the horse |
| cup of tea), moccasins (now that sounds cool!), or | | | | camp, or just sat in their camp area and read books. |
| other "period appropriate shoes," you know the kind | | | | What really made me open up and embrace this |
| with large brass buckles on the front (YUK) and | | | | scene was that everyone else was here for the |
| other strange attire our forefathers (women | | | | same reason, to get away from the stresses of a |
| hopefully) wore in the 1700-1800's. | | | | full-time job, not having to interact with ornery |
| Next he proceeded to tell me I could throw knives | | | | moody coworkers and bosses, no cell phones or |
| and tomahawks (now THAT sounds like FUN!), I | | | | computers (we are supposed to be emulating every |
| could shoot a primitive bow, target shoot or go | | | | aspect of the time period... remember?). Best of all |
| kurplunking (what the heck is that?) using his flintlock | | | | we were hundreds of miles from our everyday |
| rifle or smooth-bore... oh YIPPEE! Once I felt | | | | work-life. Depending on the site location we were |
| comfortable I could participate in many competitive | | | | nestled in the mountains, along a river, in a state |
| games/sports and show off my great skill... I'd never | | | | park, or around a lake. |
| thrown a knife or tomahawk in my life but okie | | | | Cooking is absolutely FUN at these events. So many |
| dokie... I like a challenge! | | | | people with so many recipes. I never thought cooking |
| So, I thought, 'what the heck', I'm an adventurous | | | | in a cast iron skillet, dutch oven, or other various |
| sort and I pride myself in trying new things at least | | | | pieces of cast iron cookware could be so interesting |
| once. So off we go on an adventure, back in time | | | | (depending on what you're concocting of course!). My |
| 300+ years and living out some semblance of | | | | husband and I must have 150 pounds of cast iron |
| American history...Well, here comes the interesting | | | | cookware to include a dutch oven or two, several |
| part. In my mind I envisioned several white canvas | | | | sized skillets, a waffle iron, and many other pieces. |
| tents in a campsite strategically placed over an acre | | | | The cool thing is, no one is in any hurry at the |
| or two to allow a certain amount of privacy...am I | | | | rendezvous, so if you want to cook a new recipe, |
| asking too much here? Well, I come to find the | | | | you have all day long to get creative, and most of us |
| camping arrangements are anything but private and | | | | do! |
| secluded... we're talking THOUSANDS of people | | | | Well, sixteen years later, I'm still participating in these |
| (depending on the event, often 5,000 people and | | | | events and have met some wonderful, interesting |
| 2,000 tents). Anyway, we arrive at the event and | | | | people along the way. Each new year I look forward |
| pick our campsite...the really cool thing is that our | | | | to seeing my rendezvous friends and sharing music, |
| camp alone measures about 60 feet long and about | | | | meals, and fascinating stories of their adventures |
| 30 feet wide and many of the other campers have | | | | throughout the year. |