Breightenbush

Twice a year, once in February and once in August, the Radical Faeries gather at a hot springs resort in central Oregon called Breightenbush. There are about 180 of us, maybe a few more. Most stay in shared cabins, some in tents and at least one in the main lodge, and that's me. I'm having a rather bad case of muscular dystrophy these days and can't manage the stairs into the cabins but the lodge is accessible.

I shared a ride from Vancouver with 2 rather unfocused drivers, a gay couple whose wedding I attended just over a year ago, who managed to get lost and so consumed with errands along the way that they stretched an 8 hr trip into 10.5 hrs. If they had bothered to buy a map I would have navigated for them, but that wasn't going to happen when that afforded them so many reasons to nag at and accuse each other. Really, just because we've won the right to marry up here doesn't mean that we should do it. Actually, it was quite a bit of fun when I just zoned out and promised myself not to get involved unless they asked.

The gathering felt wonderfully comfortable this time, this being my 4th one in three years. I must have known almost a quarter of the guys and they were happy to see me and full of compliments. I usually get sick on Breightenbush food, though it is healthy vegetarian fare, because they use a whack of ginger in many dishes and I am allergic to ginger. I'm the only person I have ever met who is allergic to ginger. In spite of me specifying my allergy on my application no meals were labeled when it was used. I learned that curries also have ginger in them, which explains why they give me trouble too. So I did OK with the food at the gathering but the highway food upset me each day. Thank gawd for Immodium.

One of the best things about the gatherings is of course the hot pools, but the weather was so hot (over 100F, or about 40C) that soaking in the pools was uncomfortable. I only visited them early in the mornings when the air was coolest. The other problem was the wet winter that provided a record number of flies and mosquitoes. The flies where everywhere inside and out, crawling on the food, the furniture, our clothes (the parts of us that were still covered up) and our skin. During the hottest parts of the day I stayed in my somewhat cooler, north-facing room in the lodge that was somehow free of flies. I slept so much the first day after we arrived but it was too anti-social to remain alone for too long.

One of the my favourite aspects of Faerie gatherings is all the gender-fuck drag and other outrageous costumes. Those who dress up arrive late for dinner and parade around the front deck, through the lobby and around the dining room before visiting the back deck. Hoots, cheers and the tinkling of forks on glasses follow them as they move around. Most never parade but others come with trunks of outfits. I don't mind relaxing in a T-shirt and a pair of embroidered silk granny panties, in a comfortable shirt, negligee or too-too but I can't be bothered with all the other accessories like make-up and wigs. I love being a boy but prefer to wear comfortable clothes without drawing too much attention to myself.

There was a fashion show on Thursday and a Talent/No Talent show on Friday, both held out on the lawn in the evenings when the air began to cool down. They were both fun and funny with very little "No Talent" in the talent show. The auction to raise Faerie funds for those who cannot afford the whole fare was held on the last night. My "Penis In A Too-too" window never made it. I managed to crack one piece in the window when I was loading it into the car. The driver ran a large speed bump somewhere in WA state and broke another piece and then shortly before the auction it was broken again by someone stealing a peak at it or perhaps by throwing something on top of it. I just wrapped it up and took it back home. :o(

My good friend Bad Dog (aka Joe) drove me back to Vancouver after stopping for a night in Salem, his new home. It's a pretty little town and it's pretty quiet too. BD surprised me with a knitted comforter/blanket for my bed. I was really blown away. He showered me with other smaller gifts too, a Bodem coffee press, a little toy and other souvenirs. What a treat to be away from all those flies, and the unbearable was replaced by cool rain.