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[at-l] re: travelling garveys

scott wrote:

>>>   there is a very small and loyal group of ALDHA
memberships that honors him. Each person who joins the group is called a
Traveling Garvey. Does any one have any information about how it all
started and how do I go about joining this great group?   <<<

first, some background.  if you've read garvey's book (who hasn't) you'll
notice that he's always meeting with friends and reporters etc at trail
crossings, and always getting put up in people's homes and getting a fine
meal.  the fine art of being able to conjure up Trail Magic like this is
now called garveying.

in 92, bill Sprained Rice o'brien and andrew Medicine Man sam decided to
emulate ed on their hike, meeting with lots of people on the way.  they
called themselves the Travelling Garveys, and with ed's approval fashioned
the "Garvey Approved" seal, after the good housekeeping seal of approval.
this they bestowed liberally in registers and hostels along the way.

along the way, they began to indoctrinate others into this clan.  the first
was fairhope, who hiked with them in so. va.  there is a classic video
taken in the atkins motel, fairhope standing somewhat befuddled, right hand
raised, left hand placed reverently on a copy of wingfoot, repeating after
bill the sacred words.

other members include fairhope's parents (annie and the salesman), JESTER!,
and myself and little debbie.  traditional greetings involve prostrating
oneself (in a somewhat coincidental froggy position) while repeating "we
are not worthy!" over and over.

joining the group is getting harder and harder.  they are a fickle bunch to
begin with, but membership was bestowed by bill and andrew only after
selfless acts of trail magic were heaped upon them while they were hiking.
since it's been a while since their long-distance hikes (AT92, JMT93)
membership has stagnated.

that may change, however.  at trail days, andrew confided to me that it was
much too noisy at the back of the thruhikers parade, with all those sirens
blaring - it was time to do another thruhike and move to the front of the
line again.

at aldha gatherings and trail days, keep an eye out for the bright green
t-shirts with "Garvey Approved, 1992" (ed usually wears his).  who knows,
if you're appropriately humble, honorary membership may be in your future.

mike
ke kaahawe
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