When all the furs were traded and provisions were purchased, the story telling completed, drinking, womanizing, shooting contests and horse racing were taken care of, they would sober off and drift back into the mountains.

Upon their return to the hills, they would hunt and trap and try to keep their hair the rest of the year until the next rendezvous and then do it all over again.

Well, the rendezvous I went to in Florida was somewhat different than the old time one\'s were. There was no public drinking and no womanizing \"that I saw\".

The rendezvous was at Homeland Heritage Park in Homeland, Florida. It lasted about a week.

The last two days the general public was invited in to walk, talk, look and take lots of photos.

There was plenty of food all cooked over an open fire. All the people that were there for the week were dressed in pre-1860 period attire - even the children.

Most everyone carried a big knife and burned wood for heat and cooking. There were competitions with contestants shooting muzzleloaders and throwing knives and tomahawks at a big block of wood.

Now did I have a good time? I had a wonderful time! Everyone was really friendly, willing to pose for photos and answer any questions that I had about anything.

It all happens every year at Homeland, Florida. Don\'t miss it.