In 2001 I was interested in black powder and started using a small 8 inch cannon but of course I had to buy a larger one and later used a 24 inch barrel for which I built a carriage.  That was great!!  After hearing about cannon school  in St. Augustine at the Castillo de San Marco I attended where you could fire a  6 foot cannon with a pound of powder.  Wow!  Awesome!  I was hooked.  Cannons led me to pyracy with a local pirate group, entertaining for children and charity events.  Knowledge of  pirate history and Florida history led me to St. Augustine, Drake's Men, Searles Buccaneers, period camping, and reenacting actuay event through the streets of old St. Augustine.