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| Since 2009, The
Vikings of Bjornstad have been associated with events at the Castello di
Amorosa, a winery in Calistoga, California built as a 14th century castle.
Each year in June the winery hosts a medieval festival and banquet,
complete with jousting. Bjornstad members bring their 14th century
gear - and a trebuchet. Photos by Melinda Hughes, Ed Berland and Jack
Garrett. | ||||
 The Castello di Amorosa. |
 A banquet under the stars. |
 A
castle tower in the glow of the setting sun. |
 Brian, Henrik and Ed - enjoying the day. |
 The star of the Bjornstad show - a trebuchet. |
 Its view downrange - the lake is the target. |
The
Bjornstad Trebuchet - Launching stones into the Castello lake
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 Steve, Brian, Henrik, Ed, Rick, Dan and Jack. |
 Great settings for pictures. |
 Melinda is behind the camera. |
 Medieval Bjornstad. |
 Henrik obviously enjoys the 14th century. |
 A gray-beard conversation. |
 Annie is all smiles. |
 The artillerists prepare the trebuchet. |
 Rick follows the stone into the lake. |
 Brian approves of the shot. |
 The horn section. |
 The trebuchet crew. |
 One of the festival guests looses a stone. |
 Another guest steps up for her turn. |
 Rick watches closely. |
 Then you pull the lanyard... |
 And the stone is on its way... |
 Ed keeps guests from getting too close. |
 Another stone heads toward the lake. |
 Rick, Henrik and Steve are ready for the next shot. |
 Our encampment in 2010. |
 The trebuchet is being prepped. |
 Flung Rocks 'R' Us. |
 A celebrity sighting. That's Matt LeBlanc (Joey from Friends) in the musketeer outfit. |
 Our stone throwing over, Bjornstad relaxes at dinner. |
 The wine was excellent. |
 And now for a tour of the castle's lower depths. |
 Helmets in the armory. |
 Winery weaponry. |
 The dungeon diet: guaranteed weight loss. |
 One of the many corridors filled with wine casks. |
 The torture chamber. |
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© 2011 For information contact Jack Garrett at garrett@pacbell.net |