[MR] Tales of the GS-12 Vikings - washingtonpost.com

[Davitt il Bigollo da Pisa]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061803149.html

Video in the original
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/06/18/PH2008061802980.jpg
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2008/06/13/VI2008061302093.html

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/?nav=pf>
washingtonpost.com


Tales of the GS-12 Vikings
On a boat out of the Middle Ages, middle-age men 
with a hunger for history row and sweat their fantasy into life.

By Matt Zapotosky
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 19, 2008; B01

One of the hardest things about pretending to be 
a Viking, it seems, is that people tend to mistake you for a pirate.

Just ask the crew of the Sae Hrafn, a 
reproduction Viking ship based in Southern 
Maryland. On a recent afternoon, passing boaters 
on the 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Potomac+River?tid=informline>Potomac 
River cried out, "Avast ye, mateys!" and "Show me your swords!"

"Wrong fantasy," muttered Viking enthusiast David Tristan.

Tristan, 55, and his shipmates were acting out 
the fantasy of their choosing, as they do on 
regular outings. As they sailed the 38-foot 
longship, its bow adorned with a carved dragon 
head, they verbally accosted other boaters.

"I give you three sheep for the woman!" captain 
Bruce Blackistone roared at a passing sailboat, 
its white-haired female passenger waving and smiling nervously.

<<<snip, snip, snip>>>

"After eight hours of rowing, you're going to 
feel authentic," Blackistone said. "You're even going to smell authentic."


© 2008 The Washington Post Company




--

Davitt il Bigollo da Piƒa
Goldƒmith's Agent in Livorno
Fa¢or in the lands of the Mughuls
Coral and Emeralds from Inde and Serendip

Checky argent and azure, two cheƒs rooks or in 
chief, a cheƒs knight or, a three-turret tower or in baƒe