Irregular Muster
2005
We had our
normal (so far) attendance of three at this year's H. Beam Piper event. Fred (Hostigos) and Dennis (Nyklos)
provided the local contingent and tour guides. Bill came up from the Harphax area to join us.
The day's event
began at Webster's Bookshop in State College. Fred brought a draft of the Atlas Hostigi.
It's looking great! You can
see the copy lying on the topo map of Hostigos on the table. That's Fred in black, Bill in the
middle and Dennis on the right . A
hairy bunch if nothing else. Our
tour began at the insertion point on the edge of Nittany Valley "just across
the Clinton County line." We're
reasonably confident about the spot as it fits Piper's description very well.
After a rather
circuitous trek from Nittany Valley into Seven Hills Valley following one of
the paths that Piper may have been thinking of as he had his characters moving
through the action of the story, we passed through Dombra Gap and headed to a
fine lunch at the Olive Tree in Williamsport. Highly recommended!
As we journeyed southwest from Fitra we passed through Hostigos Town,
where I've finally found a decent spot for viewing the gap. Tarr Hostigos would be sited on the
right side of the gap. One may see
the Listra Valley through the
gap.
Rain broke up
the normal flow of the tour so we headed south to Sask. We found Piper's grave on the first try
this year. Fred pointed out that
the grave site is just a hundred yards, or so, from Piper's home.
The last photo
is looking from the grave down the street towards where Piper lived much of his
life. His side of the street, on
the right, is now a parking lot and helipad for the hospital. Our tour finished with visits to the
Fyk and Esdreth sites on our way back to State College.
Another fine day
in the world of Lord Kalvan.