For driver Tee Harris, DOT inspections are more than awkward. He knows that when the latch is popped and the storage compartment is opened, he's going to have some explaining to do, like why he's carrying a 48-inch-long sword, a Roman helmet and breastplates in addition to the usual fire extinguisher and safety triangles.
The answer is simple: He's a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), an organization devoted to reenactments of the Medieval era. The weaponry and the unique clothing he carries (called "garb" in SCA circles) are part of the outfit he wears at events. As long as the sword is in a sheath and out of reach, the DOT lets him pass.
Harris is on the road every week for C. Bean. He structures his routes so he can attend SCA events on weekends, mostly in the South. His wife and his stepsons meet him at the events, and they settle into the camp that springs up wherever SCA holds tournaments and feasts. His truck is a common fixture at these events, and often several weeks pass until he parks it in front of his home in Higdon, Ark.
"I can relax more at an event than I can at home," he says. "It's a way to completely step out of the Monday-to-Friday world."
Everyone in the SCA is encouraged to dress in garb from the period they are reenacting (including guests, so these authors found themselves dressed in medieval costumes too). The possibilities for reenactment are endless, because the SCA recognizes the time span from the fall of the Roman Empire to the birth of Colonial America, which encompasses most of recorded history.
Most members adopt personas and create elaborate back stories to flesh out their characters. Harris is "Cameron Campbell," a Scottish lower noble who was taken out of the country as a child and raised in the Far East. "Campbell" returned to his homeland where he met his Welsh trader wife, "Caitlind Ghreigh" - played by Harris' wife, Kitty.
In the world of SCA, Cameron is a mercenary and a merchant. At events, he and Kitty have shops housed under one tent, where they sell garb, jewelry, trinkets, boots and weaponry. This funds their hobby.
Often, Harris carries the merchandise with him on the road. He's fortunate that his employer supports his interests.
"I've been with this company for two years, and they do their best to get me to events. They don't mind if I pick up a load and carry it to an event site, as long as I deliver it on time. There's a real advantage to driving a truck and being in the SCA, because I can go to so many different places."
Driver Bruce Towle, who's employed by J.B. Hunt, found long-hauling more difficult to fit in with his hobby. An SCA member for 15 years, he missed a lot of events during the nine years he drove over the road. "I just couldn't get the routes going by where I wanted to go," he says. For the last two years that he's driven locally, he has been able to fully participate in the SCA.
Towle's character is "Victor Ivanovitch," which reflects his interest in Russian history. "You can do as much research as you want," he says. "It depends on how much realism you want to put into your character. I keep it as a hobby. It's family-oriented. It relieves a lot of stress, and driving a truck can be very stressful."
Towle and Harris both talk about the camaraderie in the SCA. Here is a national network of people with a common interest. "It's like having AAA, but better," is the way Tee describes it. Fellow SCA members are quick to come to the aid of a member whose vehicle has broken down. They will offer places to stay and showers. It's a big extended family, and everyone looks out for each other.
Sometimes at a truckstop, Harris runs into another SCA member. "Trucking dissolves instantly, and we begin gossiping about the SCA. We bring stories from one kingdom to another."
The U.S. is divided into kingdoms, local areas into baronies, shires, keeps or cantons. Harris and Towle belong to the Barony of Grey Niche in the Kingdom of Meridies, though they are welcome at all SCA events.
A typical weekend might draw several hundred members who camp on-site. Elaborate battles are staged with fighters dressed in armor using long weapons made from rattan, but that's just one of the activities offered.
A lot of families attend, and there is something for everyone. There are guilds devoted to leather and metal working, calligraphy, dance, music and cuisine, and there are any number of classes and demonstrations offered.
Evening events include a feast, where the king and queen of the kingdom hold court. A grand ball follows a multi-course meal and the most elegant costumes are worn. A huge bonfire is set ablaze outside, and people gathering around sing ancient folk songs.
Whenever SCA members gather, they address each other as "Milord" or "Milady." Everyone is assumed to be a gentleman or gentlelady, though some may have higher titles. Strict attention is paid to chivalry.
One of the things that Harris likes most about the SCA is the consistency that it affords. "I can go anywhere and walk into something familiar."
Maybe one day he'll get lucky, and that DOT inspector will spot his gear and say, "Sorry to trouble you, Milord."
