As Wally Byam looks on, the Golden Airstream #1 is being towed through the Southern Ethiopian quagmire, pushed by Caravanners and Ethiopian Imperial guards. His International Harvester truck had broken an axle, so was being towed separately.
The first days going through mud, rock, and roads that had all but crumbled and fallen apart weighted heavily on Wally, and on the entire Caravan.
One evening, he sat down with his typewriter and his feelings became words.
After reading “A Trailerman’s Prayer” for the first time a number of years ago, it brought back the hard reality I’d experienced in an uncommon environment. It made my appreciation of Wally soar when I saw this more intimate side of the man I so admired.
His strength poured out through his words, and I saw the man whose leadership through tough times in Africa kept us together.
What follows is the prayer, as written by Wally Byam. Click here to read it.
Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn has silver in his blood. Each week, Pee Wee shares one of his many stories, including his experiences on the iconic Airstream Caravans, his time spent working in the Airstream factory, and the many Airstreamers he’s befriended, far and wide.
