Across the Pond

On the same day as their successful compass practice, the Knights convened for a voyage across the dangerous waters of Dogfish Bay. Or, depending on whom you ask, they may have set out for a leisurely paddle across tranquil Liberty Bay. For the sake of this update, we will continue to refer to the bay by its earlier, more Jawsian name. Leaving the shore from two different locations, the two parties effected a mid-channel rendezvous that would have made Admiral Sprague jealous in preparation for the crossing. The fleet was comprised of an entire flotilla of kayaks and a two-man canoe, and the Knights were so fortunate as to be voyaging with both Hayley and Nate, as well as the lovely Miss Leslie. Once again, Nick’s injured leg forced him to remain home, where he remained on his crutches for exactly two more days until the first opportunity to play ultimate Frisbee popped up, at which point he literally tossed aside his crutches and made a flying catch to score a touchdown. But such glorious insanity was in the future, and the Knights were sadly bereft of his company on this expedition.

As the flotilla crossed the bay, the grey, wizened visage of a seal periodically surfaced to monitor their progress. Jelly fish were sadly in absentia, except for one that had decided the sun was too much to resist that day, and was promptly plucked out of the water to be examined for its trouble. After its release, the Knights paddled their way across the sapphire waters, and prepared to land. Arriving in Poulsbo by sea gives you a fantastic feeling, as the kayak glides smoothly through the shallows up to the dock like a Viking returning from plundering voyages long ago. After a quick docking, the Knights were able to enjoy a fantastic afternoon at the waterfront, and while no pillaging was done, it was a lovely time indeed.

Lensatic Compass Practice

On a glorious spring day in late May, the Knights of the Blue set off to practice their orienteering skills. The destination? The ice-clad North face of the Eigar? The sun-drenched canyons of Wadi Haifa? The frigid, wind-swept plains of Vostok Station? No, the destination of choice was rather closer, being the idyllic fields of Battle Point Park, which were chosen as a veritable paradise for their practice.

Leaving behind the Knight General of the Order, Nick, who had recently suffered a terrible foot injury during a game of extreme water balloons, the rest of the Knights saddled up the intrepid Subaru, its white flanks glistening in the morning dew in a manner reminiscent of the steeds of Balaclava. “Death or Glory” being the usual motto of the KBE, they were pleased to see that the beast ran smoothly and it was clearly a day destined for glory and not death that lay ahead of them!

And what a day indeed! The sun shone in a splendor that had been woefully absent for the last six rain-soaked months. The fields of the park, freshly washed in dew, were beautiful in the shimmering sunlight, and the distant horizon melted into a large wall of cedar and fir. Overhead, perched on his nest at the very pinnacle of a water tower, sat a proud Osprey, his eyes flashing back and forth as he prepared to swoop down and capture a meal for his chicks. It was lovely indeed!

Practicing a simple geometric pattern, the Knights were able to familiarize themselves with their new lensatic compass quickly. In their attempts to emulate such men as Livingstone and Perry, they would need to know this tool inside and out. With some quick review, the Knights were able to follow a course to perfection, and even managed to work in a game of Frisbee to celebrate their success. Great explorations lie in the near future.

Map and Compass

After a lengthy hiatus, the Knights reconvened for their weekly meeting Tuesday night to prepare for their upcoming expedition to Mount Townsend. The plan is to drive until the snow gets too deep for the intrepid Subaru, and then to proceed by snowshoe to the trailhead. Once there, the Knights will be practicing their new orienteering skills.

Some helpful tips from the army manual include distances you should keep from some common objects when using a compass to prevent interference:

High-tension power lines .................................. 55 meters.
Field gun, truck, or tank ................................... 18 meters.
Telephone wires & barbed wire ....................... 10 meters.
Machine gun ........................................................ 2 meters.
Steel helmet or rifle ............................................ 1/2 meter.

Perhaps its time to find a civilian manual. I haven’t run across too many tanks or machine guns in my scrambling of late.

Do Elephants Wheeze?

The night was dark and bitterly cold, the sort of night when you wish for a roaring fire and a warm blanket. Instead, a small contingent of children were playing soccer beneath the flooding stadium lights, not realizing what they were about to witness. From the far end of the track that surrounded the field came suddenly the thundering of many feet. Looking up in surprise, they beheld a surging mass at top speed. The image of the indomitable horde as it broke into sight, with harsh breath flaring at their nostrils, was a sight to behold, for it was nothing short of the Charge of the Blue Elephants!

Turning much bluer than usual, with hands on the verge of frostbite and the frozen breath hanging on their beardless faces, the brave KBE took to the track at a gallop! In the forefront, despite a raging elephantine migraine, raced the long-striding Nick! Behind him, ruing the choice of Fish and Chips a mere 45 minutes prior, strode Derek. Close at hand ran Ben, laughing at the bitter cold in a heroically Norse fashion. Marley too surged along, rounding out the glorious company, and finished with her characteristically fast finishing charge that none can hope to match.

Then, as suddenly as the charge began, it ended. The awestruck children stood still, their idle soccer balls momentarily forgotten, for they had just witnessed a historic event, the very beginning of the rise to dominance of the Knights of the Blue Elephant! The Knights, all of whom had finished a good strong mile run, were breathless but invigorated, and they too knew that they were on the verge of a historical undertaking.

And so begins the training of the elite KBE, as they prepare for a year of glorious adventure. In order to ensure that they not only strive strongly, but actually attain legendary victories, they begin a grueling training period. Whether to summit distant ice-clad mountains, to travel the dark cavernous wastes of the Ape Caves, or to run immeasurable distances to exotic locales, the Knights will be ready!

First Public Meeting

On Monday, January 19th, the first public meeting of the KBE was held at Virginia Point. On the agenda for the evening were four presentations. An impromptu podium and easel were created by KBE member Marley, and combined with the couches for the audience made for a comfortable lecture setting.

To begin the presentations, the Supreme Commander of the Order of the Blue Elephant, Derek, began with a simple demonstration of techniques for creating a snow shelter. The information presented had been culled from several survival sources, including the SAS and US Army survival manuals.

Following on this presentation, the Guardian of the Inexhaustible Treasury, Marley, gave an excellent demonstration on building a shelter using a poncho and string or twine. Her excellent use of hand-sketched illustrations helped to ensure that all members were able to understand thoroughly the proper techniques and some secret tips to improve their shelters. Some of these tips include tying the hood of your poncho shut to avoid leaks, how to use small rocks to secure corners of a poncho that lacks grommets, and how to face the shelter to avoid wind-related problems.

Immediately afterward, the Scribe of the Immortal Elephant, Ben, gave an exciting presentation about interacting with nature's cute but cantankerous bear family, the Ursids. Bears being fairly common in the Olympic and Cascade ranges made the talk all the more apropos, and Ben's suggestions of avoiding eye contact, "bowing down to Mr. Bear," and his discussions of different bear species gave the entire Company a better understanding of how to interact with these creatures should they run across one in the wild.

Finally, the Knight General of the Order of the Blue Elephant, Nick, gave a presentation on that difficult task, building a fire without matches. In spite of his joke that you simply use a lighter, Nick presented some excellent tips on how to deal with this life or death situation. Tips included using a magnifying glass and how to use a bow and drill (and the difficulties inherent to this technique), and helped reinforce why we carry waterproof matches as part of our basic survival kit.

The meeting concluded with a discussion of Physical Fitness plans to prepare for the upcoming scrambling season, and a final story of survival from the SAS in the windswept wastelands of the Falkland Islands.

Subjects for next weeks presentations are based on a common theme: Survival stories. Each member of the KBE will present on a different area of survival: at sea, in the desert, in the mountains, and in the woods.

Elephantis non Capit Murem!

The Knights of the Blue Elephant are now officially formed! Stay tuned for a photographic foray as we prepare to publish the first pictures of our weekly meeting.