Note: Pee Wee has had conversations with those planning this proposed 2009 African Caravan almost since it's inception. For many reasons, including discussions on various forums Pee Wee decided he should clarify some of the facts of the original 1959 African Caravan and some of his reasons for not supporting the proposed 2009 Caravan. These are his forum posts.
In 1959 Nick Charles (the son of Andy Charles,
President of Airstream Ohio) and I were the advance scouts on the
African Caravan. Nick was 17 and I was 20. It was not an easy
Caravan. There were many things going for the trip. We had 41 plus
vehicles, we had four or five doctors, we had Wally Byam, and
excellent communications with the support groups for gasoline, tires,
mechanical requirements and such. It was still a tough
trip.
Political climate was excellent. Countries were still
colonial, or autocratic. Only a few areas in Ethiopia were scary.
There were no major conflicts. There were no epidemics. The weather
was better than good most of the way.
Today there may be better roads. Today there may
be routing avoiding the highlights of the 1959 Caravan. Certainly the
respect of the United States has diminished. Poverty is wide spread.
There are several major epidemics. Aids, malaria and a new disease of
devastating proportions.
I believe that many of the problem
areas have been researched. Hopefully if the Caravan goes it will be
a good one. I had told Bert that I wanted to go. I have no changed my
mind. There are too many changes. And many of the areas that I hold
dear will not be visited.
The original Africa Caravan in 1959-1960 had the following areas covered.
Political stability in the areas of travel. Colonialism, protectorates, autocratic control of nations gave safe going from Cape Town to Cairo. Only two occasions did we have to have extraordinary protection. The Emperor Haile Selaise had twenty of his palace guards ride with the Caravan through most of Southern Ethiopia. This area was under tribal control. When we left the U.S. Army base in Asmara we had two jeeps with mounted 50 caliber machine guns escort through bandit territory on our way to the Sudan.
There is no doubt that there is safety in numbers. With 41 rigs, four or five doctors, a factory mechanic, paid advance scouts, and Wally Byam there was an infrastructure. Many of the Caravaners had been with Wally on several Caravans. Europe, Mexico, Central America, and Canada. The Wagon Boss, Louis Mousely had been wagon boss in Eastern Canada, Europe…what a guy to be at the head of the Caravan, he orchestrated the parking at the camp sites, and he held the Caravan in-line.
Backing up the group was the Wally Byam Caravan Headquarters. They made the arrangements, they wrote the letters, and they arranged for visas, they arranged for transportation of the rigs. Under the control of Helen Byam Schwamborn.
The doctors carried a full range of medicines and medical equipment. If you became sick go to trailer xyz and see the doctor. If you were sick you had a doctor in camp not 200 miles away.
Over the years the Caravaners that traveled with Wally on three or four Caravans were mechanics, not by trade, but by travel. They could work on gear boxes, cabinets in the trailer, anything that needed correcting. This group of 8 or 10 families helped make the trip go from south to north.
Let’s not forgot Art Ruiz from the factory. With his product knowledge and the support of the Caravan mechanics mountains were moved at times.
The advance scouts check out the roads in most areas. There were several times that it was necessary for them to remain with group on travel days. They checked campsites, talked with national, regional and city officials. They posted signs to the camp grounds. Checked out market areas. Took passports to embassies for visas, Bulgaria is an example of that chore.
But the shinning glory was Wally Byam. The world traveler, the entrepreneur, the engineer, the diplomat, and a leader. Wally was always in charge. There have been many Caravan leaders over the year…but no Wally Byam. The can do man.
That was then what about now.
It is gone. Tribal law, tribal fighting, and lawlessness reigns in most of Africa. Also the United States has lost most of its esteem. United States equals Americans. What does this mean? In too many areas of the world American citizens have a target on their backs.
A high profile expedition like a caravan of Airstreams in Africa is tempting to bandits, radicals, and terrorists. Even with armed mercenaries for protection, can you survive a heavy fire fight, what about land mines? If captured what about ransoms? Beheading? Torture? Execution?
Is Africa safe today? Not really.
There was only one Wally Byam.
Africa has many epidemics. Some are communicable diseases without any form of treatment. (They might threaten the Caravanners.) This alone brings on wide spread poverty. In 1959 people were poor but self-reliant. Today there is poverty so wide spread, and so deep that survival is the motivation to do anything.
How many people going to Africa can raise there hands and say I have been of three or more Caravan’s of extreme conditions? The age range in 1959 was four years of age, to Doctor Monroe in his 80’s. The average age of our group was 50.
The little I know about the big picture…my answer is NO GO.
I’m concerned that the trip is a 60/40 chance of making it without some form of international news of a serious nature. The only way a trip like should be conducted is if you are 100% sure that you are not putting its members in harms way.
In 2005 at the Springfield Rally I had a small discussion with a meeting of those planning to go to Africa. In fact I was willing, at that time, to go. Not now. I will not associate my name or my family name (Schwamborn and Byam) to an undertaking that has a high risk threatening the lives of fellow Caravaners.
I have talked with a friend of mine from that trip. The person when asked to do something for the adventure, declined. The person didn’t want his name even remotely associated with the 2009 tour. We both agreed about the almost recklessness of doing the 1959 trip today.
I am not currently associated with Airstream or the Wally Byam Caravan Club, Int. Both of these organizations need to be careful in choosing their endorsements of the venture. If the trip goes okay what a wonderful publicity coo. If it goes bad over 76 years of great stuff goes away. Personally the tour should be canceled.
An evaluation needs to be made by the group.
First will the safety, security and well-being of the group be at 100%?
Second will medical needs be availability at all times, in a timely manner?
Third with the apparent risks involved do you want to tarnish the name and image of Airstream?
Fourth, with the apparent risks involved do you want to tarnish the name and image of Wally Byam Caravans, and the Wally Byam Caravan Club, International?
Fifth with the apparent risks involved do you want to tarnish the name and image of Wally Byam? A man who would never put his owners at the risk of this upcoming trip to Africa.
Please excuse by bluntness. But there is more to this trip than just the fever to re-enact the past.
Unicorns are gone forever! Out of Africa!
(response to a post by someone commenting that Wally would be bummed if the caravan was canceled.)
Gee whiz! Wally would be bummed. No. He would not
be bummed. Wally's integrity would not allow him to put Airstream
owners in harm's way. The WBCCI is the arm of the Airstream owners.
Wally was Airstream. The only Caravan to Africa was Wally's baby and
it was done under the auspices of Airstream.
That was then,
this is now. I
If anyone should be bummed it is all of us that
should be fed up with global politics and what has happened in fifty
years to change the security and character of Africa. And the rest of
the world.
In South Africa Jack joined the Caravan to drive for one of the Caravanners. Jack was Afrikanns. He made the entire trip through Africa. He keeps in contact with his friends throughout Africa. He now resides in England.
Here is the response from Jack. I might note that
outside the United States people from other countries appear to be
more tuned in to global politics and global problems.
From
Jack:
"Hi Dale,
I agree 100 % with all your
thoughts re the proposed 2009 repeat Cape to Cairo trip.
Africa
2007 is a totally different kettle of fish compared to Africa 1959.
As it happened, I believe we were lucky to get through the Congo
before the Civil War started in 1960.
Sudan is a no-go area
for sure and even South Africa which must have seemed so peaceful in
1959 now has the highest rate of murders( 50 per day, according to
U.N. statistics) in the world. I have probably been back there more
than 40 times since my first return trip in 1972 and I am looking
over my shoulder all the time expecting trouble.
As you
rightly point out Americans are No 1 targets nowadays for terrorists
worldwide.
1959 was indeed a one-off trip and I will always be
grateful that I was given the chance to travel with the Wally Byam
Caravan Club on what turned out to be a life changing experience for
me.
Go well Jack"
This was a non-Airstreamer, who
became a Caravanner, who understands the conditions in Africa today.
I just thought the Airstream and Club family might find this
interesting.
Dale
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