June 19-20, 1999
Sunna was at her highest but the hot weather broke and became pleasantly cool as the kindred gathered to celebrate Midsummer. Bandy Creek Campground in the Big South Fork NPS area near Oneida, TN provided the setting. Most of the participants arrived by noon and set up camp. James and his son Eric from Nordstrom Kindred in Alabama won the prize for the longest distance traveled.
Steve and Tracy provided a nice surprise for the group as they unfurled a new flag for the kindred. It has a red hammer on a field of white with red trim and the name "Thrudheim" spelled out in black runes below the hammer. Everyone remarked on how well it looked. Proving that "great minds think alike" ;-) , Bernhard presented a banner that his wife Shari had made. It features a gold hammer on a field of red. Both should help folks find future encampments.
A large field was used for the Viking games. In the men's division, Brian took top honors in loggits with a score of 19 - the highest yet seen. He also won the cut-n-plunder course with a time of only 19 seconds. I think we've found our hunter. Of course, Steve won the caber and hammer toss again. (We really need more competition guys!) Dragonryder brought the spears and claimed it was pure coincidence that he won the spear toss. Hmmm... Our newest member, Make, won the sword fight event. In the women's class, Starr scored 14 in loggits and completed the cut-n-plunder course in 25 seconds. Tracy won the caber toss and even managed to stick a spear in the handle of another spear! Elise won the hammer toss and sword fight in spite of her "handicap". Both Tracy and Elise scored bonus points for hitting James' Geo Metro the most during loggits. ;-) Finally in the kid's division, Steffi won the caber and hammer toss and had the quickest time for cut-n-pluder with 25 seconds. Erika won at loggits, sword fighting, and the caber toss. Both Eric and Naya made valiant efforts. After the games, some of the kindred made good use of the park swimming pool to cool off.
After dinner it was time for the blót. Some of the members of KAPOW, whom Bernhard had met the night before, showed up to participate. As everyone gathered in a small clearing in the forest, Cliff explained the history and significance of the blót to the newcomers. He then led the group in honoring the Aesir and Vanir and the ancestors. Steffi and Erika served as valkyries carrying the horn around the circle. Make, a native of Finland and husband of Starr, took a probationary oath of membership and was sponsored by Dragonryder. Dragonryder also swore his final oath and was warmly welcomed into the kindred as a full member.
The next order of business was the sumbel. Many toasts and a few boasts were made. Cliff tested the group with questions about the lore. Good conversation followed the formal rounds lasting well into the night.
Sunday morning dawned clear and bright - the gods and goddesses had again provided great weather for the celebration. As a few had to leave early, Cliff led the group in a short closing ceremony thanking the Aesir and Vanir and the landwights for their hospitality.
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