Clinton War

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Clinton War is held annually over the August long weekend (first Monday in August) near the community of Clinton, B.C. Hosted by the Barony of Lions Gate.

On-site preparations for the War begin the weekend before with the Work Weekend. Many people stay for the week between the Work Weekend and the War itself.

Notes About Clinton War

Weather/Climate

The site is classified as high desert. During the Clinton War weekend, average temperatures are high (30 deg C) during the day and quite chilly (14 deg C) at night, but has been known to reach 40c+(104f+) and near freezing at night.

One thing I can't stress enough is to be prepared for all types of weather. Better to bring too many blankets and not have to use them, than to wake up shivering in the cold and not have them. Oh, and bring an umbrella along even if the weather forecast doesn't mention rain. (It's my one bid at superstition, I bring it along and sure enough it never rains, forget it once...and I'm drowing ;) --Cerridwen

Cell Phones

Most cell phones do not work in either Clinton BC or at the event site. Satellite phones work fine.

What I discovered last year (2005) was that my phone (on the Rogers network) lost service about 10 minutes north of Cache Creek or about 20 minutes south of Clinton. I could not get service downtown Clinton.The only person I know of to manage "on site" calls is His Excellency Devon - Baron Lions Gate who has managed to obtain cell servce from his in truck unit which has more power than portables. So the only way short of having a sattelite phone at present of making a phone call (emergencies clearly excepted) during the war is to go downtown and use the payphone outside of the Telus building. To BE contacted in the event of a family emergency etc. the only way is have the Clinton RCMP detachment contacted. * Alastair

Packing

There are some on-site food merchants at Clinton War. [...] also towels, shampoo etc, for there are showers and baths on the Clinton site. Going off site from Clinton can be a massive pain in the rear considering the road and distance. There is the stream to put things into for cooling, just make sure you have them in a container that can be roped securely to something so it doesn't take a trip ;) Others will have plenty of other good tips I'm sure. --Cerridwen

A handy container to keep things in the creek is a plastic milk crate as it has holes on all sides and the bottom so it sinks easily and water flows through it. If you have "way" too much for just a small crate as that, consider the "Superstore" greenbox (re-usable container for carrying groceries home) - just remember as Cerridwen advises to secure your container well! I tie a rope around mine and use a big plastic tent peg to anchor the other end into the bank.

Water

Many people think that the creek water is not drinkable and will readily attest that they have heard from a friend who heard from a friend who heard froma friend that "one year" people got sick.

It may be the case that some people who are so used to city water might find this water too different for their system, but remember it is the source of the town's drinking water and there is no "big city" filtration/chlorination plant to treat it.

If the water were unsafe, considering we have usually a population of over 1000, lots more people would be gettting sick. For any who are really concerned however, there is always the option of the spring down behind the gate, cabins etc.

DO NOT drink the water from the drainage ditch ! It is impure and I have seen reports of people who by their own admission regretted ignoring this advice ! * Alastair

Pictures

Clinton War Over the Years by Yolande Chastellain

Memories

My first Clinton was in 1983, if I recall correctly. I remember driving up with a Gentle who no longer plays; Alastair McCauly was an old timer then and the main trainer of newbies. I was in for just under a year at that point. In those days no body camped above the main bridge. It was a small war against Montengarde, and only arriving Friday night and leaving Monday. Avacal and Tir Righ were maybe dreams in some people's heads in those days, but it was not talked about. Anyone who is familiar with Clinton and my field heralding voice may judge the size of the event by the fact that I could get everybody's attention in just 2 bellows! It stayed small for the next few years.

Then one winter tragedy struck! An old barn that was used for castle battles, (way way up the creek, it is now the site where the Sargeantry start their stroll on Sunday mornings with the Baroness of Lions Gate and any other Baroness' in the region of the day!) burnt down. Word reached the ears of Sir Harold of Warrington, and he proposed building a castle. So up a lot of us went 2 weeks before the War and built a Castle. (No event that weekend but there was the next!) Of the original builders and assorted folk that were there that weekend, not that many play anymore, [[Einar Guntharson|Sir Oak], myself, Mistress Maelen, Sir Scellanus, Baroness (Yeah I know she is a Viscountess, but she was my Baroness for so long, it is hard to change her title!) Amanda and Alastair the Eastern Traveler are the only ones that I can think of. There is a photo by Zoe lurking around somewhere of Castle Builders union local #1, if I find it I will see who is still around.

The next year we went back for a weekend and stayed and puttered on the site for a week. The official work stopped Sunday at roughly 4:00 P.M. This changed after a few years, when too many came up after 4:00 P.M. Sunday and did nothing the rest of the week. No one has ever put a time clock on anyone but some work is expected from all in attendance. It has been pointed out to some concerned gentles that cooking and looking after a campfull of workers counts as work for the site!:-) (The Lady in charge of a large camp was worried and asked permission "just" to do that little! If only some others did nearly as much, however I digress.)

The Castle and the event grew slowly, then suddenly King Gunnar and Queen Gabriella, having heard about this nice little war, came and graced us with their presence. A lot of people came with them, suddenly Clinton was a big event and we were not prepared! No roads no formal boundaries nothing! It was so large that the local Mounties came up to see what on earth was going on! They were impressed with the Castle battles, especially after His Majesty stalked away from the Castle in mock anger having fallen to a pike shot. "They can't do that to me, can they?! I'm King darnit!"

Well all those people told two friends about Clinton and they came the next year, and they told two friends etc etc etc!

Other memories involve King Rorik (First King from what is now Avacal) who was mundanely an Edmonton City Policeman. The local Mounties again came to see the war, and on learning that a "cop" was King they had to meet him. On hearing His Majesty explain that in An Tir HE WAS THE LAW, and did not have to worry about small things like lawyers and courts etc, it could be seen that the Mounties thought seriously about joining and bringing in some of their favourite clients! Also that year as Her Majesty was also Baroness of Borealis, His Majesty let his knights know that he was joining his Queen, who was joining with Baroness Amanda on a pleasant Sunday morning stroll, so his Knights had best join him, as there were rumours of Brigands in the woods. I have been in on all the walkdowns, I forget what year they Started, Amanda or Melissa (of the incomparable memory) might, but never has there been such an easy stroll!

This has gone on far too long and there are many other memories floating around, so if you want more, drop by my encampment any evening of the work week, or for a morning coffee before the work party meeting, and dredge my memory bank. My SCA year like a number of other Gentles revolves around Clinton, and as long as there is a Clinton War and I am able, I will be there!

Colin Mackay of Balmaghie

What was *your* first Clinton? What do you remember?

I think it was Clinton 3. We showed up and it was raining. Everyone onsite was under Gerhard and Amanda's sunshade. The green and yellow one - remember it? I miss it. Colin was sitting just at the edge. I'm the bossy type, so I told him to move in closer to the center because rain was running down his cloak and into his clothes. Folks were depressed.

But the site was beautiful. The air had that clean edge we city folks forget. There was a scope and a feel to the site. Like being next to the ocean and looking out - knowing the next land was Japan. Clinton is like that. The next land is... I wonder.

Sometimes I just want to put on a pack and walk in a straight line - anywhere. Just to see what's there. Clinton draws me out.

I don't remember much else from that even, except that all of us spent most of our time where the Royal Encampment is. The castles hadn't been built. I don't even remember what I did that weekend. But we were delighted that you could come Thursday, so we showed up early the next year. We even camped around the corner (north of the car bridge). Folks asked us why we wanted to be so far away. We said we were concerned it would be noisy. We camped there for years, as the war grew around us...

I arranging Friday Night Light inspections for a few years. Hearding marshals is harder than herding fighters! Setting up check-sheets so we didn't forget anything, running lights between us juniors (to check for competence and do armor inspection) and the Seniors, who checked lights for safety. The last one was a huge, loud, confusing crowd. It was wonderful, though I had to bounce someone for demonstrating his form in the middle of he crowd, by putting arrow to string and almost shooting. Straight ahead. At a group of people. (Clinton taught me that some folks shouldn't play with war toys.)

I remember huge arrow-checking groups after every lights battle. Dump the arrows in a pile in the middle, everyone kneel on the edge. Check each arrow - is it broken? Is the blunt on tight? Toss the rejects in one pile (make sure the new lights don't try to re-use them), and the good ones in another (can't get your arrows untill they're all checked!).

I remember watching a certain Yeoman come down the east side of the valley during the walk-down. About 20 or 30 brigands in the valley saw him. He was known for his accuracy. They ran into a copse of trees. The heavies yelled to the lights to go up the slope and Get Him! Get Him! The lights went up and flanked the Yeoman. It took them 10-15 minutes to get him into their best position, then they picked him off.

I was marshalling, so I also got to see the Sergeants and Yeoman of Lions Gate walk Amanda down the other side of the valley, in full view of this battle. Walk her across the bridge and to the second castle. I love Lions Gate!

I remember King (Rorik?) coming onto the field during another walk-down. There's been talk all war that the Sergeants and Yeoman would be badly outnumbered. I was marshalling at the End of the World. I heard a heavy drum, double-timed. Then around the trees and over the bridge ran a large man in yellow and gold, a black lion on his surcoat. Behind him were his guard, and the drummer. They ran across the field. His cloak flowed behind him. They ran to the beat of the drum. They ran into the woods. My feet weren't touching the ground.

I remember marshalling at that bridge when Amanda and her guards were passing over, at the end of another walk-down. Suddenly a fighter popped out of the brush. His sword came down on a light's head. The next thing I knew, my marshalling staff was between him and the light. Suddenly, everyone was stopping. I realized I'd called 'Hold'! Two more marshal staffs appeared. I'd never felt that way before. Outraged, angry, afraid, disbelieving, protective, justified, tentative, righteous... (It turned out it was his first war. He didn't know the rules.) The light wasn't hurt. I still get queasy thinking about it.

I remember working on the guarderobes (I don't think any I repaired still exist.) And working on the 2nd castle. And the gate house, the tavern, the bridges, and the bake house. Everyone should work on everything. This makes it part of them. (I painted that wall. I figured out how to put in the hinges so they don't tear out. I filled that hole so people don't stumble. I gathered wood. I grubbed out aspen over there... you know. If you've been to the work week, you know.)

I remember taking nectar from water bearers. Shooting my friends and being shot. Spending the day with Aurora, walking up valley until the tents of the war were touches of color in a green sea. I remember seeing bear and lynx and moose tracks. I remember amazing potlucks. Learning to bake in a Real! Stone! Oven! I remember walking down to the town, tieing white ribbons on the bushes.

I remember swallowing enough dust to grow a garden, slathering on enough sunscreen to protect an army of children, and using enough bug juice to scare every mosquito between here and Clinton (does anyone remember the Clinton that the mosquitos were armored?).

I remember when there were cows onsite, not horses. Anyone who complains of the horse dung... And the cow flies! They took chunks out of you.

I remember being stared at Thursday night, carrying that one last board we needed up to Tavern. Why wasn't I in garb? I should have said "Oh, you poor child. You don't know that the work week is more fun than the War, although the War is the best of events."

It soaks in your soul, Clinton does.

Meresigha