Introducing New Sojourners, Earl and Pearl Traveler, Miles the Poodle, and Miss Gypsy the Orange Tabby

Join us as we meet Green Dots Earl and Pearl Traveler, along with their trusty companions, Miles the poodle and Miss Gypsy the orange tabby, as they experience one of the great rites of passage for every Sojourner: arriving at camp, finding your spot, and discovering that parking a big rig under pressure may require prayer, patience, and preferably Pearl giving directions.

This is the unforgettable tale of enthusiasm, confusion, community laughter, and one poor Area A sign that never saw it coming.

So grab your favorite road snack, settle into your camp chair, and get ready to laugh, because sometimes the road to belonging begins with a wrong turn and a very memorable CRRRRRUNCH.

Welcome to Earl Traveler and the Great Area A Sign Flattening at Camp Bee. Let’s hit the road.

Transcript

Speaker 0:05

Hello, fellow SojoJourners. I'm your host, Dave Laton, and welcome to Travel with a Purpose, a podcast designed to keep sojourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.

Speaker 0:24

In today's episode, I'm going to introduce you to a new Sojourner couple. You are going to hear a lot about Earl and Pearl Traveler and their poodle Miles and the orange tabby cat Miss Gypsy. We plan to make them a regular feature in the Enlightenment newsletter.

Speaker 0:47

Well this new Sojourner couple are not real people, but they sure could be. I made them up to add humor and perhaps some lessons for us as sojourners. Now Pearl is a sweet, patient, and dutiful wife. Earl is the adventurous one in the family. But sometimes Earl gets into situations. Well, as we all know, one of the greatest challenges with being a sojourner is setting up the rig.

Speaker 1:20

It all begins with getting the rig into position at a campground. And although we have lots of room at Camp B Oh and by the way, there is lots of room at Camp B for you. Come on by and visit for a while. Well back to the story.

Speaker 1:38

Although there is lots of room at Camp B, it can still be a challenge to get things just right. Well this was the first time Earl and Pearl, Miles and Miss Gypsy, had visited Camp B. They stopped by the office to meet Sally and Jimmy and to get directions on where to park.

Speaker 1:59

It happened to be a Thursday evening, so Sally said Set up in section A, and if you'll hurry, we're having our weekly potluck and you are just in time. Well, of course that gave motivation to Earl. Like all sojourners, other than hand and foot, eating is our favorite pastime. Sally said, Follow us and we'll show you where Section A is.

Speaker 2:27

So Sally and Jimmy jumped into their trusty white golf cart and scooted around the curve by the pond with Earl, Pearl, Miles, and Miss Gypsy rumbling along behind them. Earl and Pearl smiled as they approached area A. It already felt like home sweet camp B. Earl nodded confidently, gripping the steering wheel like a man piloting a moon landing. We'll be parked before you know it, he said. Now, those words should have worried everyone, because while Earl was an excellent driver going forward, backing the RV into a campsite was challenging, threatening, and usually entertaining.

Speaker 3:15

As we know, several sojourners were spending a couple of weeks at Camp B helping around the camp. They were excited to see Earl and Pearl arrive in their big Class A RV. Like all experienced campers, they immediately assumed their official positions. One person on the left, another on the right, and all shouting instructions trying to help Earl get it centered just right. And Pearl, along with Sally and Jimmy, stood at a safe distance away, not sure what to anticipate.

unknown 3:52

J. Roundsville, the camp B manager and his ever attentive wife Carol strolled over to meet the new sojourners. Meanwhile, the Section A campsite sign stood proudly nearby. It was sturdy and visible. It had survived wind, rain, and years of Harold Lambright mowing. What it had never faced was Earl.

unknown 4:20

All right, Earl called out through the driver's window. Guide me in. One sojourner motioned right. No, my right, he called out. The other yelled straighten up. Then someone in the back yelled the other way. Earl just sighed as if she knew the inevitable.

unknown 4:42

At this point, Earl had received enough conflicting directions to qualify for emotional whitlash. Still, he pressed on, slowly, carefully, mostly. The rig crept backwards. Miles barked encouragement. Miss Gypsy disappeared under the kitchen table, having already read the situation better than anyone else. Then Pearl suddenly raised her voice Pearl stop Now, every husband knows there are certain tones in marriage that deserve immediate obedience. This was one of them. Unfortunately, Pearl wasn't wearing his hearing aid, but he clearly heard crunch.. Then silence. Not normal silence. This was the kind of silence where birds stopped singing. Earl froze. Jay removed his hat and bowed his head. Carol covered her mouth and said Oh my.

unknown 5:57

Well, not vanished exactly. It was now laying beneath the back wheel like it had lost a theological debate with gravity. The wooden post was leaning sideways like an undecided voter.

unknown 6:11

Earl steps out of the RV and stared. Well, one brother said, You found area A. For one long second nobody moved. Then Carol started to laugh. Another joined in. Pretty soon everyone was laughing. Even Earl joined in. I was aiming for close, Earl said proudly. Turns out I achieved intimate.

unknown 6:38

From that moment on, Earl became a can't be legend. Jay sauntered over like a farmer approaching a major decision about corn and placed caution tape around the remains. Jimmy made a cardboard replacement sign that read Section A, back up cautiously. Jay eventually repaired the Section A sign, though it still has a slight lean to it as if it's ready to make a run for it.

unknown 7:06

To this day, whenever Earl backs into a campsite, someone inevitably shouts Remember Area A and Earl, with all the dignity of a man who has embraced his legacy, simply smiles and says I do. That sign sure don't.

unknown 7:26

Now, every good story has to have a moral. So the moral of the story is never underestimate the power of potluck motivation, the danger of too many directions, and a missed turn can flatten a sign, bruise your pride, and earn you campground fame faster than dessert on Thursday night. When in doubt, slow down. Turn down the advice. And remember, signs are temporary, but sojourner stories are forever.

unknown 8:02

Well, thanks for listening to this podcast. I invite you to subscribe and share it with others. I'm your host, Dave Leighton, and remember we glorify God as together we travel with a purpose. Happy sojourning.