Renaissance Fair at Thanksgiving Point

 Last Saturday I went to the Renaissance Fair at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi Utah.  It's the first in the Valley, I believe, could be super wrong about that, so all my friends were talking about it.  The event took place last Friday and Saturday with a cost of $10 an adult, which, in retrospect, is overpriced.

I was going to go on Friday, but I'm glad I didn't, instead going to the Gem Fair in Sandy  (had free Friday tickets, and that's where my Mom buys a lot of her jewelry material).  Around noon time, which is when I passed Thansgiving Point, there was an absolute downpour, and when going around the point of the mountain the rain turned into snow.  In short, terrible weather, and a terrible day to do anything outside.  Hopefully it cleared up for anyone who showed up later that afternoon.  That would have been miserable.

The Renaissance Fair was fun, but it's nothing like the Ren. fairs I went to in Tulare Country, CA.  They're a big deal there, and the atmosphere is different.  I didn't join any of the guilds, but there were a few, and when you join you take on a role and class, and there is a strict adherence to being historically correct, even down to the right fabric.  It's super cool, and even all the booths are as historically close as they can be.  At Thanksgiving Point it was all over the place with attendees confusing Fantasy and Steam Punk with the period between 1400-1600 AD.  I know it's all in good fun, but I did find myself missing the Renaissance Fairs of my youth.  

Members of the court.

Only in Utah do you find modest belly dancers.

Knights of Mayhem!!  The World jousting champion Charlie Andrews, who's from Utah, was there to joust.  First time seeing it in person! 

And my big splurge, which I promised I wouldn't do, was to buy two Scottish Country Dance books from the 1950's.  The piece shown above is from 1796.  Not from the Renaissance period, but it's cool to have.  Can't wait to learn the music; wish I can figure out the dance pattern.

The above picture was taken my senior year of high school.  We had a class project to put together and host a Renaissance Fair.  I made the above dress!  The first, and only time, I've sewn an outfit.  My Grandma helped me, guiding me through the steps, but I did all the hands on work.  I would go over to her house everyday for a few weeks, spending several hours at a time.  Good memories.

. . . I Don't Mean To Brag.

(I was Omega!!!)

Last night I went to the Seven Peaks Fun Center in Lehi to play mini bowling and Laser Tag.  We were only able to play one round of Laser Tag, the last game, because we got there too late to reserve an earlier time (AKA We got there at 7:15 and had to wait till 8:45 pm). 

To fill in the time we first raced with the go-karts, a dismal small track, but I still lost miserably, putting my foot on the brake without realizing and getting lapped twice . . . ehhhhh.

Then we played mini bowling!  Now, I suck at bowling, big time, both the small and the large version.  Usually I crack self depreciating jokes and hope I manage to get more then 60 points.  That's winning.  But with 7 people playing I got the highest score with 96 points!  Okay, I've yet to crack 100, none of us managed, but that was awesome!

Then I totally rocked it in laser tag, and I was going against some fierce competition.  I've gotten first place before, but with an acuracy around 36%.  This time I got first with 12,750 points and an accuracy of 59%!  The best I've ever done.  Honestly I've found that going into enemy territory and being willing to stand in the open, hiding when needs be, is the best strategy.

*^-^* 

Biking Along the Information Highway

I biked along the Murdock Canal Trail for the first time today.  My brothers have been raving about it, having biked along the nicely paved path a couple times in the last two weeks.  I had never heard of the biking trail before, and as I was biking along today I couldn't believe I hadn't done this sooner.  The trail is amazing!  It's set up for walking, running, biking, and riding horses.  So beautiful and relaxing.  And there's rest stops, picnic stops, and drinking fountains along the way.

Anyway, as I went along the path today I noticed these orange polls, and that it mentioned Fiber Optic Cable running under the path.  I don't know what they're used for, but there's been a lot of talk around here about high speed internet via fiber optic cables.  So, as I biked, I was literally biking along the information highway!  At least the thought gave me a giggle.

Any who, when I got home I looked up the Murdock Trail, because I wanted to see how long its been around  Turns out the trail is so new it hasn't officially opened yet!  There were a lot of people going along it, though. No signs were posted stating the trail was closed, though according to the website they don't want anyone on it just yet.

The official opening is this Saturday, May 18, 2013!  The Murdock Canal Trail Website has a list of all the events going on, and there are so many!  It looks like the first of many ribbon cuttings is at the Orem 800 N point, and the celebrations, passport stations, more ribbon cuttings, etc, continue onward up through Lehi, at different times so you can go along the trail and enjoy each one.  All I know is what's on the site.  There doesn't seem to be more information then that.

Kinda cool to discover the trail right when it's been finished!  I think biking has just become my Summer addiction.