I think it may have been around 0800 or 0900 when people started showing up.  After walking around the camp I must admit that I think that the Roman camp was the best and probably maintained more than the others.  I heard comments from people as we walked by, it really seemed to me that the other members were in awe of our professional appearance.  Our camp was squared away and it just looked great.  Later in the early morning Rusty gave us a cohort briefing on the marching drill.  I was having a little trouble with adjusting my stance and grip with the Pila.  Rusty showed us a little trick that made it really easy for me.  After that I got bashed in the nose and shins because of the way I was holding my Scutum.  It never occurred to me that hold the scutum flush against my shins so during a charge they wouldn’t be hurt, not did I consider to watch my face, and that my own shield could be used against me.  It was a lesson I have remembered and often think about when I pick up my scutum.  I also think of the things that I learned over the years in my real life military training.  It took experienced personnel to show me how to hold weapons, to tuck in a strap here or there, short cuts and tricks, tactics and procedures that just made things easier.  I in turn passed down what I learned from that senior person to new guys as I advanced.  It must have been the same 2,000 years ago.  Just something that came to mind after having sore shins. 

After a little drilling, and pila chucking, we went back to camp.  

There lots of visitors, and the crowed seemed to genuinely be interested in out cohort.  The crowd asked appropriate questions, and engaged us with lively discussion.  As always most people only knew what they had seen in a movie, or read in a historical fiction novel.  The most common question was the use of the word Caesar, how many Caesars were there and when he died.  I actually got in to a “polite” discussion that Caesar died because Commodus killed him.  I explained that Caesar was a title that was used after he dies.  The guy was very insulted; he said he knew that Caesar died in like 200AD, because that is what he saw in Gladiator.  I again explained how Octavian became Caesar Augustus; he didn’t seem to know who Octavian was…

            Later as afternoon was approaching, Saul and I decided to go harass the pirates, they kept stealing our stuff.  So we went over and started kicking their stuff around, smashing and yelling at them.  After, I heard all kinds of laughing.  I looked down and saw that the scabbard for my gladius was missing.  Everyone was laughing at me, I felt like an ass.  I just messed up their site and now had to go back an apologize to the pirates and ask them for my scabbard.   I decided to sweeten the deal by offering them so Grappa, I figured since they were drunk on Rum, they would want to try the Grappa.  Sure enough the older pirate drank it down, and said,

“Well played sir”.

I gave him a pat on the back the younger pirate gave me they scabbard back.

After more Q&A Rusty called us to form up.  We walked into the field and got into a formation.  We marched out to the demonstration area and gave them a pretty good show.  After Rusty talked about the rank and structure and took questions from the people that watched us.  

After that visitors started to trickle in and slowly stop.  After the demonstration was secured for the day we were treated to a really good dinner by the host of the Military Timeline.  I went across the street to the Museum and really just delved into the history of the area and the Civil War.  I sometimes wish I could participate in the other reenacting areas, but it is just too much.  I am happy doing just the Roman period.  The Museum was impressive, and I wanted to stay and see everything, after I almost got locked in I headed back to camp.  By that time most of the older guys were gone, and the drinking and fun was just beginning by the fire.  We sat around and just had a good time, the Scottish guy brought out some fine old scotch, one of the guys ran to the store to buy more wine, I broke out the Grappa, and a civil war re-enactor a young kid broke out his own home made wine..  We stayed up pretty late, and just had a general good time, got drunk told stories by the fire, talked about women and then I slept in the Centurions tent.  After all the drinking, I slept pretty well, train or no train.

G FC KALDES OCTOBER 2759 AUC