There is not as wide a range of periods represented as at MTA; Civil War groups, lots of overlap in the "Californio" period, WWI and WWII, Vietnam right up thru Gulf war. The Red Company attended last year and was the first pre Rev-War group ever to participate. Reception to us was very positive once they came down to look at the camp and realized we were not the SCA (no offense intended).

Not too much for the women, as most of the groups are heavily "boys with guns" oriented, but I found it interesting. The view of Catalina island was breathtaking, and the weather quite hospitible for California in July.

My most memorable moment was during the complementary dinner on Saturday night- they ran the food queue through the artillery bunker, and had tables set up outside, between the back of the bunker and the adjacent offices. Since the bunker had been restored, it looked much the same as it had during the war. We were toward the end of the food line, and wound up seated surrounded by men in WWI and WWII uniforms eating their food. Brother Geoffrey stood up to say grace, and all the men at the surrounding tables stopped eating, took their hats off and bowed their heads. Brother Geoffrey prayed for the men during the uncertaintly of war, spoke of the promise of the everlasting and the assurance that God was with the men in their struggles. He worded it so that it applied to any period, and all the men at the tables nodded their heads as he spoke. At the end of the prayer, "Amen", "thank you Padre" and "well said Chaplain" came from the surrounding tables, and every hair on my head stood straight up.

They put on a "USO" show while we ate, with the "Andrews Sisters" singing WWII classics. The men in uniform got up to swing dance with a few women in 40's dresses and poufy hairdos, and even each other when the women proved too few. When the singers sang "I'll be seeing you in apple blossom time" and the mixed couples' dancing slowed, I was absolutely overcome by the words to the song and started to cry. I am very fond of 40's tunes and am familiar with that particular one, but hearing sung in that venue really brought the meaning home.

Not a huge event, but a very worthwhile one for me.

I don't know if that helps or not.

Jenn

Don't expect anything near the level of MTA- this is a pretty loosey-goosey event, and the winners of the straw poll mostly win because of air currents, or because they've won before.

Last year, the Romans won best pre-1800 camp and costume, competing against us. We had 6 tents, 12 people, 2 horses and the whole enchilada. The Roman guy's outfit had vinyl edging on it and door pulls for decoration, and the camp was 1 tent with blanket covered director's chairs and a T-shirt they were selling hanging from the center pole. HOWEVER, everyone was in an uproar over "Gladiator", so he was very popular with the attendants, so he/they won.

Have fun there, but don't get your shorts in a twist about authenticity unless you want to.