Ten years after I had become a member of the Asatru Free Assembly, in 1996 I was able to attend my first Althing. With the fine kinsmen of Raven Kindred serving as the hosts of the event, this one was nearly in my back yard (give or take a couple hours of driving!). In fact, the site at Barton Flats in the San Bernardino Mountains was familiar to me. The previous June I had taken the drive up into the mountains from the coast (where 60 degrees is "cold" and 75 degrees is "hot") for the Thorr's Hammer Kindred Folkmoot only to be caught in a nice little snowstorm.
Suzanne and I packed up the camping gear and a bunch of my Asatru Nation mead, including some less than successful experiments (about which more later), and headed away from the ocean in the Battlehyundai. We exited the cool coastal breezes and entered the dry inland heat, past the unmistakable aroma of cattle just past Corona, munching on the native California cuisine of McDonald's and finally up into the beautiful mountains on a bright afternoon.
Familiar faces from Raven Kindred guided us in and we began to set up our tent on a nice little rise of land between an encampment of Wulfings and another encampment of Thorr's Hammer Kindred, the glorious Ponderosa forest all around with the invigorating scent of pine reminding Suzanne of the Southern pine forest where she grew up. Doug and Marion came by to help us set up, and Jason and others swung by as well. We brought up some of our beer and Shaun (who doesn't miss these things) came by to socialize with his best friend Jim from the Bay Area. And that's how things went for much of that afternoon, greeting friends and kinsmen, who introduced us to new folks as we introduced our various friends that hadn't met.
Dan and Diana Gilek, with their great teens Jason and Amber, drove up as we readied to eat so we put everything aside to greet them, and as we settled down again, Bragi Odinnsson, poet, scholar and kinsman, drove up, so once again we bounded off from the meal to greet a friend.
There were neighboring campsites and folks had brought up a lot of belongings for the Free Market, so when most of the Folk headed to Sumbel, Suzanne and I patrolled the campsite with others from THK- the mighty Redbeard, Magni Nashadda, Thorolf, Jason. Ah, but the Norns are kind to those who serve the Folk. Sitting near a tree was a partially consumed bottle of mead brewed by the master brewer, Valgard Murray- we thanked the gods and drank of it. The now-empty bottle was propped back against the tree as we continued our patrol. We spent time socializing even then as we came upon others who'd by-passed the Sumbel.
After the Folk returned from Sumbel, we made our way to Valgard's camp as Redbeard wished to share some of his finest brews. As we waited, I opened some of my experimental meads, including a molasses mead which had already quickly earned a place in the annals of infamy- the dreaded Hillbilly Berserker Brew. My THK kinsmen courageously held out their horns, showing no flicker of fear as I poured the potion. Horns were raised and emptied. The nightmarish faces and blood-curdling beastial growls that escaped from the peeled back lips were seen by many, and my Kindred then earned its reputation as madmen. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little- but it was some foul stuff (and being the kind of mischievious fellow I am I continue to brew it!).
Valgard joined us. Among the drinks Redbeard shared was a 20 plus year old wine he had made and some potent meads. Some of the Arizona Kindred added their fine brews to the table and soon I noted that Suzanne was starting to wobble. I decided it was time to head for the tent. It was a cool night, and particularly so because with typical female perfidy, Suzanne took all the blankets during the night. Throughout the history of mankind, some things have not changed.
The next day was very eventful. Early on we shared conversation with Redbeard and Thor Sannhet. In a beautiful ceremony, Jason and Renee were married with Redbeard officiating. The Thing met surrounded by the colorful banners, Shaun being the Thorr's Hammer representative, to consider the applications for membership of a number of Kindreds. The Viking Games were held- had the target been about ten feet further away I might've done a bit better (somehow people scrambling to escape an errant axe is a good indication that you've overthrown the target again). Suzanne put me to shame with the calm accuracy of her tosses (and I realized how lucky I am that when she's angry she doesn't throw dishes). We wandered from encampment to encampment, sharing laughs with the Gileks, congratulating Ken on the great job he'd done setting up the Althing, swinging by to urge Skadi and Caroline on as they prepared the Feast (but unable to steal a taste), sharing some Guinnesses with Doug and Marion. We also roamed around the Free Market a bit, making purchases especially at the World Tree tables.
In all honesty, we weren't at our best. The mead-tasting the night before had had some predictable after effects. So we disappeared into the woods for awhile just to recharge. When we came back we took a seat at the table where the Kindred was selling books, enjoying a conversation with Emily, Renee and Shaun and being joined by Michael of the Wulfings for a discussion of music. In the warm afternoon sun, speckled by the shifting shadows of the trees, we felt- without being sentimental or mawkish- that we were among our people.
Later, I wandered over to the AFA table and introduced myself to Steve McNallen. He greeted me like an old friend, and the conversation went beyond shallow topics quickly into deep questions of the nature of the Faith. I'd always been impressed by his writings and respected his accomplishments as the man who made, ultimately, the gathering of we Asatruar into a community possible, but I had not expected to find such easy rapport with him. Soon, Magni and Thorolf joined us and then a circle of people gathered.
The Feast that night was glorious. I'll probably thank Skadi and Caroline every time I see them for that treat. The Folk gathered, not quite enough space for all the people but each generously making room for others. I had one leg over the bench, my arms pinned to my side, squeezed in between my wife and another pretty woman- quite a pleasant meal!
Ty wanted to get the whole Kindred together for our first picture since the Scottish Games- he's another of the really great people drawn back to the old gods of our Folk- but as the meal ended Suzanne and I had to say farewell, before all could be gathered for the picture, to get the Battlehyundai down the mountain and head back home to the sea.
It was an experience I'll not forget, being among my honorable kinsmen. I hope to see you all in Utah!
Get your own Free Home Page