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CAT Tracks for August 26, 2009
CAPE TO CAIRO CARAVAN |
From the Southeast Missourian...
From Cape to Cairo: Caravan to mark 50th of transcontinental trip
By Bridget DiCosmo ~ Southeast Missourian
When longtime Airstream trailer owner Steve Burrows met Dale "Pee-Wee" Schwamborn at an event in San Antonio last winter, he was intrigued by the older man's stories of the 1959 Airstream caravan across Africa, a trip that took about six months to complete.
Schwamborn had been an advance scout for the caravan, meaning it was his job to travel the route from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt, ahead of the group and prepare the way for them, meeting with public officials, building roads and checking camping areas.
"I said, you know, it was an amazing feat," Burrows said.
On Sept. 11 Burrows, accompanied by Schwamborn as the guest of honor, will lead a caravan of 15 or 16 Airstream trailers on a trip from Cape Girardeau to Cairo, Ill., and back on Sept. 13.
"It's going to turn some heads," Burrows said.
Burrows, of O'Fallon, Mo., decided to host his trip when he learned plans to commemorate the trip by staging a caravan on the date of 50th anniversary had fallen through. The 68 miles from Cape Girardeau to Cairo won't be quite as mammoth an accomplishment as the trek across Africa, but the trip still took a great deal of planning, Burrows said.
Burrows said he wanted an easy, short trip people would be more likely to participate in.
He made the trip to Cape Girardeau in June to meet with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, and made plans to stay at the Cape Girardeau RV Park.
"I kind of did my own advance scouting in the spirit of Pee-Wee," Burrows said.
The starting point of the journey will be the Shawnee Sports Complex, Burrows said.
In an effort to make the journey as authentic as possible, a re-creation of the meal served to the members of 1959 caravan in Cairo, Egypt, will be catered by Mollies Cafe, including shrimp, french fries, caprese salad as a stand-in for the tomato soup originally served, and Charlotte for dessert.
Burrows said he wanted to host the 50th anniversary celebration as a way of honoring Schwamborn, who turns 71 this year, and the accomplishment of the 1959 caravan, as well as give other Airstream afficionados a chance to hear Schwamborn's stories about the old days of Airstream travel,
"He's basically Airstream royalty," Burrows said of Schwamborn, whose mother, Helen Byam Schwamborn. founded the international Airstream club WBCCI.
He's also hoping to draw some interest in Airstream trailers from people who see the caravan and are intrigued, Burrows said.
