[Artemisia] The shire needs an opinion

[BECKY LEISHMAN]

-- 
  From: Cheryl Robertson<mailto:bcecilia at mac.com> 
  To: Aries<mailto:artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 1:20 PM
  Subject: [Artemisia] The shire needs an opinion


  Greetings Aries,

  In this day and age we are all watching our pences and here in the Shire we
  are doing the same.  So with that in mind we would like to ask your opinion.

  If you were planning on attending our fine event in August, Hearthwarming,
  this year and the date had to be moved to the 28th of August would you still
  attend?   If you were planning on attending and found out that even though
  the date hadn't changed but the site would change from its tranditional site
  down at the Niagara Springs Park, would that change your plans?

  Thanks for playing along,

  Mst. Cecilia
  Seneschal of Twae Linnes.

  Our response: 
  We have attended Hearthwarming several times in the past, and it's one of my all time favorites. The people are friendly, the event itself is very laid back and the Niagara Springs site is beautiful - lots of trees, lots of mowed grass, flushing toilets what more could you ask for. Oh yeah the waterfall, and the weekend meal deal is also a plus (less cooking for me) The only bad thing about this site is getting there... that one lane, really steep slope, with the really sharp turn and long drop off scares the bee-jeebers outta me every time we went up or down it. But hey, it was well worth the fear in the end. 

  There is also a very yummy restaurant just up the hill from the site (right before the freeway entrance).  If it's still there. 

  Whether or not we go to this event has little to nothing to do with the date (unless of course it interfered with some work schedule or another more 'local' event that I also liked)
  Moving the date actually makes it easier for us to come - spreads out the events we go to a little more.

  For us, we didn't come the last two years because: :  
  we no longer camp in a tent, we now have a very long trailer that is pulled behind our truck so it would scare me even more to go down that hill. Maybe after a little 'practice' turning that monster over that type of terrain... the rest of the ride is very easy breezy. 

  This event has been moved to a different site in the past, can't remember where it was, but I do remember that there was
  . a lot of water near the site 
  . a lot of really pretty birds flying around and roosting on plant tops.  
  .  and I think the mosquito's were imported from Texas or the Amazon... they were huge and bloodthirsty for sure. 

  If memory serves, when the event moved to that location, the attendance dropped dramatically, not sure why. Could it have been that the long time attendees were upset due to the change in venue?  Don't know, but I do know that even with the mosquito's, we had a nice time, but then it doesn't take much to entertain us and I had a closed screen room with mosquito candles burning in all 4 corners.  

  If the site changed, I'd like to see pictures of it posted on the web... (current stuff, not from 10 years ago or from the last snow fall) and would also want to know what amenities are present on site (I'm a creature of comfort)...  and how difficult it is to get to....before making the decision to come again. 

  If the date changes but not the site... well, we probably wouldn't make it unless my lord got to feeling 'very adventurous' with the trailer and put me on lot's of tranquilizers for that last part of the journey (lol)

  You folks are a great group to camp with, and we miss coming to this event a lot. 

  Not that it matters, but that's my two pence worth
  Bethoc & Brokha