Pirates In The Plaza

Day 318: Although yesterday's "Pirates in the Plaza" event in Washougal wasn't quite what I expected it to be, it was good to be in the company of some of the Pacific Northwest's most notorious (if to me nameless) scallywags and scoundrels. I had thought the gathering would be more along the lines of the Portland Pirate Festival with vendors hawking garb and weapons, displays of nautical gear and art, and a welter of buskers to fill in the voids between stage acts; a venue packed with activities and things to look at (if perhaps not buy). This it was not. Nor was it a bustling place packed with pirates of various ilk rubbing shoulders with one another in their go-to-shore best kit, although enough of us were costumed to give the group some flavour. However, if you could put aside the shortfall of atmosphere, there was entertainment to be had (not all of it in period) and sea shanties to be sung, occasional conversation to be passed amongst captains and crews, and one or two engagements may have required skilfully planned action in the interest of avoiding confrontation. There was cannonfire and swordsmanship, grog and song, and best of all, there were Morris dancers. Let's hear it for Renegade Rose! Huzzah!