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My Rendezvous Camp

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Cruzatte

50 Cal.
Joined
May 13, 2005
Messages
2,227
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Location
Lawrence, KS
These were taken at a rendezvous I just got back from held this week end. The event hosted by the First Santa Fe Trail Plainsmen was located on the club's range near Overbrook, KS
Primitive_Camp2.jpg
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Primitive_Camp3.jpg
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Low 30s, I believe on Sat/Sun. All day Saturday was very windy and temperatures probably never broke above 45°F. Sure made shooting challenging, to say the least. :haha:

But with that straw mattress and plenty of wool blankets, I've survived overnight weather down into the teens.
 
It's made of cotton duck (I think that's the right name for the fabric). Anyway rather heavy but not quite like denim. Finished, it measures roughly 6 ft. by 3 ft. and holds about half or 2/3 of a standard sized, rectangular cuboid bale of straw.

I didn't use a pattern at all, but simply sewed up the sides of a piece of fabric 4 yards long. At the top, I sewed two rows of button holes, and took a long leather string and laced it through the holes shoe lace fashion, and tied the string off at the end.

That may have been a bit of over engineering on my part, I think. Perhaps six larger button holes with matching buttons on the opposite side might have been better.

I got the idea for it from seeing a reproduced French army knapsack copied from an original which was captured by the British forces along with other plunder when they took Ft. Louisbourg in 1747. Only mine's much larger, the original being only a mere 50 inches long, I believe. I also omitted the knapsack's belt.

It's a pain in the butt to travel with, taking up so much space in the back of a vehicle. But if I'm out winter camping, all of a sudden that pain in the butt goes away PDQ. :haha: And it sure does make that hard, hard prairie ground a mighty soft place to lay yer tired bones after a day at rendezvous.
 
I commend you for getting out this early in the season. Started doing that too with some friends last year, and those temps in the teens can get to you.
 
Aw shucks....'tweren't nothin'. :grin: I've learned the secret is in layers; as in clothing, so in bedding. And I've also learned that the more insulation you have between your backside and the ground, the warmer and more comfortable you'll be.
 
Cruzatte said:
Low 30s, I believe on Sat/Sun. All day Saturday was very windy and temperatures probably never broke above 45°F. Sure made shooting challenging, to say the least. :haha:

But with that straw mattress and plenty of wool blankets, I've survived overnight weather down into the teens.

Your a braver man than me, Gunga Din. That cold weather is something I just cannot handle anymore. Nice camp and congrats to doing a good job of keeping the spirit of this avocation alive.
 
Rifleman1776 said:
Cruzatte said:
Low 30s, I believe on Sat/Sun. All day Saturday was very windy and temperatures probably never broke above 45°F. Sure made shooting challenging, to say the least. :haha:

But with that straw mattress and plenty of wool blankets, I've survived overnight weather down into the teens.

Your a braver man than me, Gunga Din. That cold weather is something I just cannot handle anymore. Nice camp and congrats to doing a good job of keeping the spirit of this avocation alive.
I hear you. I often say that I don't mind the cold. It's being cold that I mind. And therein lies the difference. Layering is crucial. Lacking a buffalo robe, or a bear skin, plenty of thick wool blankets sees me through the night. Another tip I've picked up over the years is that it's more important to have a thick layer of insulation between you and the ground. Because sleeping on the hard, cold ground will suck the warmth right out of you.

Now having said all that one other lesson that I took away from that week end is: Man, do I ever need a capote! :haha:
 
There is an old story about a white man in great coat scarf hat coat weskit woolen shirt trousers leggings and boots. He sees an Indian with leggings shirt and match coat. He asked ”˜ how do you stand it when it’s so cold. The Indian ask how the white man stands not having his face covered. He answered he can stand it on his face. The Indian said he is all face.
I’m not all face. I don’t mind the cold weather but I hate being cold and bundle up for sure.
A good layer under you does make a lot of difference, have a good coat and lots of layers... and dry foot ware is a must.
 
I remember seeing a lot of people wearing long johns under their outfits....Women especially.

I wore a union suit as to at least try and stay within the period. :haha:
 
Obviously I did not succumb to hypothermia. In place of a capote, I used one of my blankets as a match coat. It worked sort of OK, I guess....in between gusts of wind.....near the fire. :haha:
 
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You do need layers. Over the last couple-three years I’ve added the short working mans coat to my kit. Just to trousers tops or a little lower made with an upright collar after the 1790s or so sans collar before. Definitely helps when added to a good shirt and maybe weskit below.
You can make your capote from a blanket but if you get about four yards of a heavy blanketing you can make both coats matching.
It’s good to add a lining to your capote, I like a lighter wool. Should you go with a Taylor’s coat the better fit is easier to move in and more comfortable and I think pound for pound warmer then a loose style capote.
 
The original link seems to be missing, or doesn't work. So.....herewith are the original photos with a new link.
Primitive_Camp1.jpg
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