50th Anniversary Cape (Town)To Cairo Caravan and Rally

[soldiermedic]

*Please note that some of the information below is tentative, and can change in the next few weeks until everything is nailed down.*

Join us in commemorating the 1959 African Caravan from Capetown to Cairo.

For the last month I have been thinking of hosting this rally to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wally's Caravan across Africa. After speaking with several forum friends, I decided to proceed with it. The dates are set, and will not change from the 11-13th. I have also spoken with Dale "Pee-Wee" Schwamborn who was on the 1959 Caravan, and asked him to join us for the caravan and rally. Hopefully Pee-Wee will be available to tell us some stories about the caravan, Wally and his mother, and Airstream during the times he worked there.

The event will start on Friday the 11th of September with a caravan from Cape (Girardeau), MO to Cairo, IL. The trip is only 34 miles each way. This is nice because it will not take a lot of time out of the day, but will give us the experience of traveling in a caravan. Many people have not participated in a caravan before, and this small journey should be a pleasant introduction. A definite start time has not been established yet, but will be once we move closer to the event. I have been in touch with the Cape Girardeau chamber of commerce, and they will be securing us a start point using the town's mall or the Show Me Convention Center.

After the caravan, we will rally Friday evening, Saturday, and head home on Sunday. Historically, September is very warm still in the Midwest, and hook-ups will most likely be wanted by those attending. The Cape RV Park in town offers 90 Pull through sites with full hook-ups, a recreation center that seats 120 people, and full amenities. I have also looked into the Trail of Tears State Park, but there is not near the amount of sites, and the will not hold spots for us while people take time to make reservations.

I am planning for a potluck on Friday evening, and a catered meal on Saturday (If people are interested). If we do the catering we will have a very small rally fee assessed. Possible ideas for the potluck would be dishes that were popular in the 50's when the caravan was going on, or dishes that would have been seen on the African trip.

Custom T-shirts will be available from artist at large, Michael Depraida (Artstream), and will cost $25.00. I urge everyone to check out his site, and see his new work.

I will post more information as I receive it. Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly encouraged and appreciated.

[Sugarfoot]

I'm bumping this thread. This sounds really cool. I can't commit quite yet, but I'm working on getting my schedule rearranged. Too many rallies, too little time, too much work!

[soldiermedic]

Hey Dacia,

The rally is a little ways off, and that is likely why there isn't a huge amount of response yet. I scheduled this rally on this weekend since there were no other rallies planned, and because Pee Wee was available.

On a side note, I have however received positive feedback from several sponsors of the event. I will list them all later once I have them confirmed on the thread and on the rally info page.

In therally bags for the event I am looking into including many fun items, but these are great.


Steve

[jcanavera]

Great idea Steve!

Jack

[soldiermedic]

I just received a call from Silver Joe's coffee. They would like to sponsor this event with free coffee and merchandise. I will gladly fly their banner or flag from my trailer for them offering their help.

Looks like coffee is covered....now on to other things.

Steve

[maccamper]

Steve, we're looking forward to the commemorative Cape to Cairo caravan in September. We've never been in a caravan so please count us in.

Cape Girardeau is one of our favorite Mississippi River towns. Homepage*-*Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau

Ok, so the cuisine isn't exactly Egyptian or African fare -- but we do love Broussard's Cajun Cuisine in downtown Cape (Official Site of Broussard's Cajun Cuisine - Home Page) and Dexter's BBQ (About Us - Dexter Bar-B-Que - The Best Ribs You'll Ever Eat!). We've also heard that the Mexican restaurant right beside Cape Camping and RV Park is one of the best in the area though we haven't tried it yet.

Yep, it's all about the food ... and of course, the fellowship!

maccamper crew of 2

[PeeWee]

For any of you great Airstreamers here is a chance to join in the celebration of the 1959 Wally Byam Caravan to Africa.

Hope to see you camp side.

[soldiermedic]

Good evening all,

Over the weekend I was at a local rally and entertained many questions on the caravan and rally. It seems that there is a lot of interest out there.

While Cairo, I'll is a shadow of what it formerly was, there is the Magnolia manor mansion that Overlander 64 told me about. I don't forsee much interest in seeing the mansion, but I will leave it open for discussion.

Another item for discussion is the caravan route. Cairo is 34 miles from Cape, and a return trip would be very easy. There is a route that would take us from Missouri to Illinoisn and just barely through Kentucky and Tennessee. Then we could take Tennessee back into Missouri.

The second route would be longer, but less monotanous.

Pee wee.....thanks for your input, and the PDF info.

Steve

[jerrypeterma]

great idea, I hope we will be able to get up North to attend.
I'll watch the post to keep in touch

[overlander64]

Greetings Steve!

You can count me in as well! Couldn't very well miss this event when it will only be 22 miles from home for me.

Kevin

[overlander64]

Greetings Steve!

Just a few thoughts on places in Cairo that might be worth a visit (it seems that there are fewer every year):

• Shemwell's Bar-B-Que on Washington Avenue (US 51). This family run establishment has been in business for decades and features pork bar-b-que that can't be beaten -- and their spicy sauce is a home-made treat.
• Magnolia Manor -- a historic mansion on Washington Avenue (US 51) that has been turned into a house museum featuring Victoria Era artifacts of the region. It is one of the more memorable house museums that I have toured.
• U.S. Customs House -- one of the few inland U.S. Customs Houses on Washington Avenue (US 51), this is now a museum of International Trade. It provides some interesting insights into the importance of the two rivers in the commerce of this region.
• The Riverlore Mansion -- another Victorian mansion on Washington Avenue (US 51) that is operated as a museum that focuses upon river life during the Victorian era.
• Fort Defiance Park -- this was once a state park but is now run locally. This might be a possibility for a group photo of the Caravan at Cairo -- the views from the park are spectacular.

There were once many more points of interest in Cairo, but the years have not been kind to this community.

Kevin

[soldiermedic]

I followed a few links on Fort Defiance to the Sons of the South website. Looks like Fort Defiance was an extremely strategic warfare site. It is also Illinois' lowest site in elevation, and southernmost area. We could easily make it to Kentucky at a minimum on the caravan.

Contacting the chamber of commerce for Cairo has been slow. I have left messages, but no returned calls. I will be in touch with the Highway patrol about the caravan as well.

On a side note, I have been in touch with a few performance troupes about performing some native African dance routines or African drum presentations. More on that later.

If my math serves me correctly, we currently have six trailers ready to go for this event. It's a great start, so let's keep the information flowing.

Steve

[Melody Ranch]

My wife is from Cape. I think she will do this one. I will just for that cool hat.
The apple orchards by Jackson will just beginning to produce and the covered bridge and mill at Burfordsville...what a photo op.

[soldiermedic]

I had to google map the area to see what Mr. Ranch was referring to.

Quite a picturesque place.

[mcair]

When is PeeWee going to be speaking? Can we invite people who aren't camping with us to hear his presentation? My dad is really interested but is most likely not staying at the park.

[soldiermedic]

Hey McAir,

We haven't designated when Pee Wee will speak, but I think he can make that choice. It may depend on if we have entertainment at the rally, and it would likely be the night that he isn't speaking. Of course...he could speak both nights, and knowing Mr. Wee, he is always available to answer questions when asked.

Doing some more research, I think that turning around at Fort Defiance would be a good idea. There is a big loop, it is a historic site, and could provide for an excellent photo op.

In the spirit of the 59 Caravan, I thought it would be nostalgic to have a military security element. Pee Wee told me about armed escorts along rough parts of the over 14,000 mile journey.

I contacted the Army National Guard armory located in Cairo, IL and spoke with the facility manager. The sergeant who just happens to be the same rank as myself was very receptive to leading us through Cairo with his HMMVW or (Humvee) down to Fort Defiance, and back out of Cairo. I thanked the good sergeant, and will keep his information on speed dial for when our plans are more in place.

Steve

[Sugarfoot]

I just RSVP'd , which by the way is on the rally calendar here. If I can't get the 10th & 11th off, I'll roll in Friday evening late. But better late than never.

Those covered bridge shots are really nice. Do you think our Airstreams will fit through them?

[soldiermedic]

Hey Dacia,

The covered bridge is not enroute to or from the destination, but isn't terribly too far from Cape. I can check it out when I make a visit to Cape soon, and take a measurement of the height.

I have contacted the local African culture center to see if we can have an African drum or dance troupe give us a taste of what the original caravaners may have experienced during their travels.

Steve

[PeeWee]

Here are two pics of mine dancers. When various groups of miners come to work in the deep gold mines in the Rand, they entertain themselves on their day off by dance competition.

Of note are the men in the black clothing. Look at their boots. They are world reknown as the "Gum Boot" dancers.

[soldiermedic]

It's a 1959 version of the movie "Bring it on"!

Pee Wee...were those Gum boots made from tree rubber similar to the rubber that King Leopold forced people to harvest?

Steve