Rucker's Tavern Tales: Spring OVPR–March 21st

Once again its march and time for the Olde Virginia Primitive Riflemen’s Spring Rendezvous. Well OK, it was cold, unpleasantly cold for the whole event but what’s a little cold for Your Intrepid Blogger. I’m from the Great Frozen Northern State of Michigan after all.

My Camp on Wednesday Afternoon

I arrived on site Wednesday afternoon after visiting the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg. By 4 in the afternoon my lodge was up, the trade blanket was out and I was ready to rendezvous.

Now 1st & foremost I want to thank the wonderful folks of OVPR who make this whole thing happen. The site needs prepping, wood heeds splitting and stacking, hooters need cleaning (ugh), ranges need staffing. You get the picture.

These folks are manning the gate so folks can register. There’s a heater in the shed, but that only makes things a little less cold. It doesn’t make them really warm.

This group of ladies might be socializing now but they were all busy as bees earlier trying to make sure we could all come play in the woods.

Hootie Owl runs the Tavern on Friday & Saturday night but that’s only the work we all see him do. Like most OVPR folks he works on the event long before the event.

That’s Tim there in the center. For years and years he has seen to it that we get fine BBQ chicken for the camp feed on Saturday evening.

He’s got a crew of helpers too. By mid-morning Saturday the fires are going (thus the smoky picture) and the grates are getting a final cleaning before they’re oiled up for the chicken quarters.

More OVPR Folks Wednesday Afternoon

I could do a whole album of folks who make this fine event happen. Your labors are much appreciated. Hugs to you all.

Wandering John

This is Wandering John. Wandering John has a very nice Marque know as the Music Emporium. It’s a grand space for making music, having dinner, playing Cribbage or just hanging out. It also has a lovely wood stove, so I hung out there a lot this ‘Vous.

The music is usually an evening thing. Here its lunch of cheese & sausage.

This fine fellow from North Carolina joined Wandering John for the ‘Vous. It turns out he also does Crusader era Living History in armor and everything. Whod-a-Thunk.

Of course this ‘Vous is very much a family affair. Its not unusual to have 3 generations of a family all here and busy having fun.

This warmly dresses little lady was running around playing with several other kids.

These folks had their lodge in a section of the camp I haven’t had the opportunity to stay in. I stopped by there lodge one afternoon for a nice visit. I also saw them early on at some of the singing.

Dulcimer Dave

Dulcimer Dave hosts a music session at his marque every night. There’s also music around the fire at various lodges throughout the camp. Shooting by day, music by night.

There’s also usually music at the Spider Inn when its open. The Spider Band plays there plus there’s an open session on Friday night.

Dulcimer Dave and Preacher Ken play at the Saturday Ladies Social too. Ken was a bit under the weather so he sat this year out.

The Ladies Social is a lot about socializing,

but its about sashaying too. Besides a bit of dancing really warms one up.

With dancing it’s the more the merrier

Several years ago 2 ladies starting hosting an afternoon ladies tea on Friday. Its now a regular part of an OVPR ‘Vous.

The Hostesses standing behind the table richly laden.

It’s a grand time to just meet and chat, although given how cold it was a cup of hot tea is a wonderfully grand and glorious thing. thing.

Fortunately it wasn’t windy and the sun was warming during the tea.

Lou (on the right) in his camp with a friend

The Crazy Russian Trader of Old Dominion Mercantile. He came last year after another event booking fell through. He liked us so much he’s put us on his circuit. Which is grand because he sells stuff that no one else carries. Besides his fiancé lives in tidewater.