scout
truck
Art
Ruiz
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Q - Tell me more about that scout truck. Looks like an interesting vehicle. Who created it? What did it look like inside? What accommodations did it have? Did it have two gas tanks?
A - The chassis was a 1-1/2 ton Chevy truck frame. The shell is Airstream ribs and aluminum, built in Jackson Center (there were two built one for the Scouts and the other for the Mechanic.) I believe the over all interior length was 14 feet. The front had a bed with a back that lifted up and hung from the ceiling for the second bed. It had a small bath with a toilet and shower. The appliance were marginal. The hot water was wall mounted and instantaneous. There was a special filtration system developed at UCLA. It took out particles smaller that bilharzia, a parasite small enough to enter your body through the pores of your skin. Nick and I never boiled water, we were never sick. The several doctors on the trip were anxious for us. They believed untreated water would catch up with us and make us very sick. It never did, and we never did.
The truck had the original 30 gallon gas tank and two axillary 50 gallon tanks.
Q - What did the caravan do about mechanical supplies for the vehicles? I've read a little about this but would like to hear what you have to say. What kind of spare parts did you carry (or each traveler)? How many extra tires, hoses, gaskets, etc? What about axels and other big stuff? Did you ever have a situation where you didn't have a needed part? What did you do?
A - Unfortunately I’m not up on all of the spare parts and such. Arthur Ruiz pulled a small utility trailer with trailer extras.
The one major issue to address is the International Harvester Trucks. Wally felt that this was a trusty, tow vehicle. That’s what he had, and most Caravaners followed his example. One coupe use a Land Rover, there were Dodges, Fords, Chevy’s etc.
There was a severe engineering problem with the IH product. The spider gears, axles and drive trains had flaws. The trucks began breaking at the first signs of bad roads. Spider gears broke, axles snapped. Art and other Caravaners, with mechanical inclinations, were on their backs working.
The first depletion was all of the spare parts in Africa. We drained the entire supply of available parts. Then we sucked all of the part out of Europe. Then it became a situation that International Harvester was flying parts from the United States to Africa. This was a major problem. Of course we made it, but with difficulties.
Q - Also just curious, how did you know where you were going and if you were going the right direction when there were no roads. I guess there were some sort of trails and that you used a compass.
A - There were maps by Shell, Mobil, and travel books. And signs. I may had a compass, but never needed it.
Q - Did you know approximately how far it was from where you were to where you wanted to go?
A - Actually distances were known before we went to Africa.
Q - You must have used radios. where you usually in contact with the main caravan?
A - No radios. Contact was either made by direct contact, or by informed local officials who would meet the Wagon Master, Louis Mousley. Lou was always lead vehicle with the main body of the Caravan.
Read Pee Wee's comments regarding a gift from his Mother
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I have copied the original letter and envelope that was mailed to my parents from Aswan, Egypt in 1960. I find it interesting that the letter tells of the eight day, tough trip through the sand in the Nubian Desert. Also I point out that I am cooking for five people. Wally, Pete Turner, Nick Charles, Arthur Ruiz and myself. Wally during this period talked with me about going to the Sorbonne in Paris. He felt that I might go to their cooking school. It is wonderful to read this letter after so many years. I have more letters. Many of them are without margins, top to bottom, and 3 to 5 pages in length. I didn't write letters on a scheduled basis. Doing advance scout duties and then working hard on the bad roads and desert didn't lend to timely letters. When I wrote letters they were comprehensive, and dealt with my experiences in relationship to Africa, Wally, the Caravan and Caravanners. Hopefully I will find the letters in time to have them scanned for the 50th anniversary year in 2009. No promises. |
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Song Book (PDF file) - When the African Caravan reached Cairo, it was a time to celebrate. We had done it, Capetown to Cairo. Wow! A trip never to be duplicated. South Africa, the Rhodesia's, the darkest Congo, Uganda, Kenya, mysterious Ethiopia, the barren deserts of the Sudan, and the ancient land of Egypt. We had a group of great Caravanner's, but also we had children from the age of four up, maybe 17 or 18 (I don't have my file on the number, but a significant head count for a trip like Africa, it was a great group.) The children and young adults put on a skit at our banquet at the Nile Hilton. The skit dealt with our transit in song. I'm quite sure that many of the youths helped write the songs. The key to organizing the program was Anne Monroe. Ann had graduated from the University of Redlands in 1959. She was the granddaughter of Dr. Duncan Monroe. Dr. Monroe had been on other Caravans. I first met him on the 1956 European Caravan. For those that want to relive our trip through the song limericks. My Mother, Helen Byam Schwamborn, made copies at the Headquarters Office in Bakersfield and mailed them to the African Caravanner's. Best, Dale ( I know page 5 is in the PDF two times, I liked it.) |
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The documents provided and the pictures in these photo galleries have been used with permission of Dale Schwamborn. They are intended for personal viewing and enjoyment only and are not to be used in part or in full on other websites, for commercial purpose, or for any other use. For information on this material you can contact Dale at peewee@sierranevadaairstreams.org
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