THE RUMPKINS

Map showing their 4-month journey:

Introduction and List of Characters

     This is the story of a simple fishing trip getting complicated, snagged into politics and terrorism.  Instead of two of us going fishing for a couple months, seven of us ended up traveling America post Donald Trump’s presidency.  Instead of trout fishing in Montana, we happened upon a small-town murder mystery.  Instead of fishing for croakers off the Santa Monica Pier, we fell into a terrorist plot to blow up Dodger Stadium.

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     Before telling the story, let’s introduce the main characters, the seven of us who left Saint Paul, Minnesota in September, 2022:

     First, there’s Skip.  It was Skip’s idea to buy an old RV and go traveling.  It didn’t take long to find six others excited to hop on.  To get on you had to know at least five people to visit around the country who wouldn’t mind an RV parked in their driveway overnight.

     Then there’s Patty who turned everything that happened into a movie.  Patty and Skip got to know each other playing softball on Sunday mornings at Lynwood Park.

     Patty brought Huck, an old boyfriend, and the musician in our group.

     It was Max, Skip’s long-time doctor and fishing buddy, who first came up with the idea of going on a fishing trip (now that both were retired). 

     Max’s fishing chum, Sally, got on board. After a successful career as an investment counselor, Sally was ready to pursue her childhood dream of being an avid fisherwoman, and not so happy how many times it turned out we needed a lawyer.

     Fortunately, Steve was on board, Skip’s long-time lawyer buddy.

     Finally, Rocky, one of Skip’s best friends since college days, got on the bus.

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     As events unfold, you’ll meet the following characters (in order of appearance):

     Eloise Johnson, a school teacher and school board candidate in Boulder, Montana;

     Susie Cole, a waitress and single mom in Boulder, Montana;

     Charlie Furbush, a hunting guide on trial for murder in Boulder, Montana;

     Stephanie Cole, Susie’s daughter living on an apple farm along the Skagit River;

     Joey Cole, Susie’s son living in Vancouver, British Columbia;

     Jesse, a Portland, Oregon, Forward Party computer whiz, the originator of The Rumpkins;

     Ken Vardaman, Max’s ex-brother-in-law, a Hollywood gigolo who started all the trouble;

     Abdul, the murder victim;

     “Pirate Jack,” a Silicon Valley tycoon and member of the California Pirate Party;

     Gordy Ettinger, a former Symbionese Liberation Army member and friend of Ken’s;

     “John Doe” (actually Dougherty, aka Jamie Rafferty), Gordy’s cell mate from prison days;

     Jane, a former girlfriend of Gordy’s, now “John Doe’s” girlfriend;

     Shadya Warsame, Abdul’s partner in a sex trafficking ring operating out of Vancouver; and

     J. L. Stover, the FBI Bureau Chief in New York City.

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     After RV’g through 26 states in four months, we made international headlines on Christmas Eve, 2022, foiling a terrorist plot to blow up St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.  When we first set out, little did we know how many new friends would touch our lives.  More surprisingly, we never expected our journey would find us crossing swords with terrorists, corrupt government officials and human sex traffickers.

     We call ourselves The Rumpkins, and this is our story.