Hi Friends,
Here I am on the road again. I have spent a good time in WA since April, seeing family and fr iends and of course quilting. The family had a bit of a scare inAugust, around the time of mm's 99 th birthday. She had a particularly nasty bout of shingles which became infected, turned into septicaemia, had fluid on the lungs, you name it poor mum was doing it hard. but she rallied thru, no dubt about it, she's a fighter. Is almost back to her old self, so I felt able to head off again. Then a cousin passed away so I waited another few days until after the fneral, then wa had a heatwave. So finally on Monday I headed off om Suth yerup at about 29 degres. stayed at a lovely campsite called Louis Lookout over the first night, then pushed on to Norseman. I am so out of touch with long distance travel, I forgot to fill the water tanks!!from Norseman i it the heat again, by lunch time the outsi temp was hitting 44 and upwards, but the old /new donga kept on going with not a falter. It was me conking out. I stopped over night at Madura Pass caravan park, for th e power , and the airconditioner working all night! Took off about 7 local time and boy did it get hot. Outside temp hit 51, so I slowed down so the tyres were not going too hard , made more stops for cold drinks than fuel! and arrived at Penong S on Thursday afternoon. I didn't push on to ceduna as I could see a big bushfire ahead and didn't want to run into that. 4 hours before the aircon hot the inside temp down to 28. Yep I can sure pick my travelling dates. !!
So I carried on this morning to Ceduna booked into the foreshore caravan park, I am almost a regular now, did some washing and sitting down with a beaut view of the bay and a cool breeze blowing. Off to the pub tonight for some famous ceduna seafood. and maybe a coldie or two.
so herr I am heading for LOch in Victoria to pick up some of my stuff I had to leave behind last year and continue with my travels. send me word if you are around and we can meet up. wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy 2014.
love vickiy
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Monday, September 2, 2013
99 not out
Hi Every one,
I know this has been a really long time, But I think I have some excuses!
Apart from skipping a few months since I posted the last blog, which I faintly think I didn't advise you all of? The family has had some troubles with our Mum. She turned 99 in late August, unfortunately she was in hospital, and on the day itself, she actually looked about as bad as you could get. happily she has now recovered , mostly, and is back in her nursing home.
So after I got back from my little jaunt up to the north west, including a visit to Onslow, where my husband Doug, passed away. That was a difficult visit, but having faced it once I can say I will probably feel able to return at a later date. Then I went back to Geraldton to mind Megs' dogs while she and her husband both went away for a week. Then back down south and over to Banksia Springs up at Dwellingup for a patchwork retreat with the Pinjarra girls. and finally heading out to this place, (a farm at Yarloop), where I am farm sitting for a few weeks now and then again for a couple of months in October to December.
I have 8 chooks to feed and collect eggs and a boisterous, very spoiled blue heeler, to feed. Luckily there is a handyman to look to the cattle!! I am putting my "pink" welly boots, bought in Qld last year, to good use. We have had over 3 inchesv of rain in the last 2 weeks and I am slopping through mud and cow poo to get to the chickens. The road into the farm has been under water and basically it has been pretty wet, but I am loving it!
So all this time Mum was hospitalised initially from infected shingles resulting in septicaemia, dehydration , low grade pneumonia and fluid on the lungs.My sisters and I took it in turn to be at the hospital daily, no mean feat as we all live away from Busselton, I took the motorhome down to a caravan park close to the hsopital for the worst few days and was able to walk to and fro. She was pretty sick for a while, and lost the plot for quite a few days. but she always knew us, so that was not as bad as it could have been. Anyway now she has been discharged back to her nursing home and she seems to be getting her mojo back. So maybe 100 is still a possibility! I hope you can forgive me for my tardiness with the blog, I should be back on track now! still working on the photos, I need a class to go to to work it out.
So until next time. Good health to you all Love Vicki
I know this has been a really long time, But I think I have some excuses!
Apart from skipping a few months since I posted the last blog, which I faintly think I didn't advise you all of? The family has had some troubles with our Mum. She turned 99 in late August, unfortunately she was in hospital, and on the day itself, she actually looked about as bad as you could get. happily she has now recovered , mostly, and is back in her nursing home.
So after I got back from my little jaunt up to the north west, including a visit to Onslow, where my husband Doug, passed away. That was a difficult visit, but having faced it once I can say I will probably feel able to return at a later date. Then I went back to Geraldton to mind Megs' dogs while she and her husband both went away for a week. Then back down south and over to Banksia Springs up at Dwellingup for a patchwork retreat with the Pinjarra girls. and finally heading out to this place, (a farm at Yarloop), where I am farm sitting for a few weeks now and then again for a couple of months in October to December.
I have 8 chooks to feed and collect eggs and a boisterous, very spoiled blue heeler, to feed. Luckily there is a handyman to look to the cattle!! I am putting my "pink" welly boots, bought in Qld last year, to good use. We have had over 3 inchesv of rain in the last 2 weeks and I am slopping through mud and cow poo to get to the chickens. The road into the farm has been under water and basically it has been pretty wet, but I am loving it!
So all this time Mum was hospitalised initially from infected shingles resulting in septicaemia, dehydration , low grade pneumonia and fluid on the lungs.My sisters and I took it in turn to be at the hospital daily, no mean feat as we all live away from Busselton, I took the motorhome down to a caravan park close to the hsopital for the worst few days and was able to walk to and fro. She was pretty sick for a while, and lost the plot for quite a few days. but she always knew us, so that was not as bad as it could have been. Anyway now she has been discharged back to her nursing home and she seems to be getting her mojo back. So maybe 100 is still a possibility! I hope you can forgive me for my tardiness with the blog, I should be back on track now! still working on the photos, I need a class to go to to work it out.
So until next time. Good health to you all Love Vicki
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Red Dirt and Spinifex
Hi All,
Well it has been a while, I was surprised to realise over a month! So sorry to those of you waiting withd bated breath for the next edition!
I am currently driving in the North West, the Pilbara to be exact. I have been revisiting old hauntsKath my travelling companion from Busselton , flew up to crarvon and we have been on a journey to our old towns we lived in in the seventies. First offf I drove to Shark Bay a beautiful spot actually in the Gascoyne, I had friends who go there for up to three months in the winter, to escape Donnybrooks cold weather. so I joined them for five weeks. Upon arrival it blew a gale and poured with rain! I am going , what the heck? it is suoposed to be good weather up here and I was still in the track suit! Luckily we got over that little hickup, but we had we had six inches of rain over two days. Anyway a big surprise, after organising Kath to join me in Carnarvon, she and a "friend" drove up to Shark Bay for a week . It was lovely to see her and because they were in a caravan, it meant we had wheeels to do a bit of sightseeing, especially as distances ar so big up there.The Bay is incredibly blue, the waters are so clear, we went over to Monkey Mia , where you can feed the wild dolphins, but we just lunched there. Shell Beach was another horgeous spot, where the beach is made of millions of tiny shells washed there over millions of years and in places is manymetres deep. but so white! against the incredible turquoise of the water, I could rhapsodise for hours!
I had a really good time relaxing there, and on my second last day I took a catamaran trip out on the bay to see the dolphins, turtles and also to a local pearling setup. just gorgeous. I restrained myself from buying any more pearls, but it was hard! We also did a couple of trips to the oceanpark shark aquarium, they do a mean lunch! and it is beside the water and the views are prettty special.
So off I went to Caranvon, checked in to a park and Kath arrived by plane about an hour after. I was waiting for mail, (still am), unbelievably australia post has managed to separate 3items my sister posted to me, on the same day, and I have only received one. Lickily it was the most vital, as it was my prescription. So we stayed another couple of days waiting , but no sign of any more mail, so we left for points further north. It is a bit of a squeeze with the extra person, but we have managed. the table reduces down and the two couches cushions become the mattress, and Kath is spread across the width of the van! Not necessarily a pretty sight but fairly comfortable. We leave it up and that means we eat outside regardless of the weather conditions! So we headed north and stayed the nit at Minilya roadhouse, beside the river, and drove into Exmouth next morning, I was remembering the road in and my days when I lived in Exmouth in the seventies, and used to kow the road like the back of my hand! It was so green. they have had plenty of rain up here! We drove around the town looking at my old houses, and marvelling at the changes, you could be in the city, the houses look so suburban now, not like the old norwesters we were used to! So we stayed three nights there and then drove out via Burkett road, which is bitumen, in y day it was a goat track past a couple of stations whose people we used to know. Now it is a wonrful road cutting off a lot of miles if you are heading north. Once again I was amazed at how green everything is. lots of water lying around on the ground so they obviously had huge amounts of rain as it hasn't rained for at least a couple of weeks .
Well it has been a while, I was surprised to realise over a month! So sorry to those of you waiting withd bated breath for the next edition!
I am currently driving in the North West, the Pilbara to be exact. I have been revisiting old hauntsKath my travelling companion from Busselton , flew up to crarvon and we have been on a journey to our old towns we lived in in the seventies. First offf I drove to Shark Bay a beautiful spot actually in the Gascoyne, I had friends who go there for up to three months in the winter, to escape Donnybrooks cold weather. so I joined them for five weeks. Upon arrival it blew a gale and poured with rain! I am going , what the heck? it is suoposed to be good weather up here and I was still in the track suit! Luckily we got over that little hickup, but we had we had six inches of rain over two days. Anyway a big surprise, after organising Kath to join me in Carnarvon, she and a "friend" drove up to Shark Bay for a week . It was lovely to see her and because they were in a caravan, it meant we had wheeels to do a bit of sightseeing, especially as distances ar so big up there.The Bay is incredibly blue, the waters are so clear, we went over to Monkey Mia , where you can feed the wild dolphins, but we just lunched there. Shell Beach was another horgeous spot, where the beach is made of millions of tiny shells washed there over millions of years and in places is manymetres deep. but so white! against the incredible turquoise of the water, I could rhapsodise for hours!
I had a really good time relaxing there, and on my second last day I took a catamaran trip out on the bay to see the dolphins, turtles and also to a local pearling setup. just gorgeous. I restrained myself from buying any more pearls, but it was hard! We also did a couple of trips to the oceanpark shark aquarium, they do a mean lunch! and it is beside the water and the views are prettty special.
So off I went to Caranvon, checked in to a park and Kath arrived by plane about an hour after. I was waiting for mail, (still am), unbelievably australia post has managed to separate 3items my sister posted to me, on the same day, and I have only received one. Lickily it was the most vital, as it was my prescription. So we stayed another couple of days waiting , but no sign of any more mail, so we left for points further north. It is a bit of a squeeze with the extra person, but we have managed. the table reduces down and the two couches cushions become the mattress, and Kath is spread across the width of the van! Not necessarily a pretty sight but fairly comfortable. We leave it up and that means we eat outside regardless of the weather conditions! So we headed north and stayed the nit at Minilya roadhouse, beside the river, and drove into Exmouth next morning, I was remembering the road in and my days when I lived in Exmouth in the seventies, and used to kow the road like the back of my hand! It was so green. they have had plenty of rain up here! We drove around the town looking at my old houses, and marvelling at the changes, you could be in the city, the houses look so suburban now, not like the old norwesters we were used to! So we stayed three nights there and then drove out via Burkett road, which is bitumen, in y day it was a goat track past a couple of stations whose people we used to know. Now it is a wonrful road cutting off a lot of miles if you are heading north. Once again I was amazed at how green everything is. lots of water lying around on the ground so they obviously had huge amounts of rain as it hasn't rained for at least a couple of weeks .
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Africa, Rivers and Home
Hi Everyone,
Sorry this has been so long, I got caried away with being home and all that means, catchin up with business, family and sorting out "things"! So here we go , back to last days in Africa.
Luckily I kept my diary up to date,So we were on our houseboat on the river bordering the Chobe National Park, "The Pride of Zambezi" I thought we were on the Zambezi river but we weren't, on an offshoot. It felt like we could have been on the Okavanga delta, it had lots of broad places with tons of water growing plants including acres of waterlilies, The boat was very comfortable, I had my own cabin, and ensuite, window lookingout oveer the water. The upper decks had the dining room and bar and outdoor living with lovely comfortable seating to lounge on. tere was a spa, but we didn't utilise it, it wasn't hot enough for us.
After boarding and haveing a quick unpack, we were taken out in the largeish outboard boats for a game viewing cuise. this was the equivalent to the land rover game drives at Inyati. It was most interesting seeing the animals from the water side. Victor our boat man was very knowledgeable, there were only Rob and Carol and I and an english couple who were bird watchers. I think the boat was capable of 12 people, not positive, but I think there were 8 cabins, some were singles. So we saw all the animals we had seen already but in bigger numbers, as they came to the river to drink, there were lots of babies again, and being on the water we were able to get really close to the hippos, there babies were really cute, very pink skinned, which I hadn't expected. On the second day, the house boat moved at a very leisurely pace along the river and off we went again in the small boat , we turned off down an off shoot and there were herds of cape buffalo, elephants, Giraffes, all with young ones, and they were doing a mini migration, across the river, complete with crocodiles watching. The giraffes were very cautious and one was obviously in charge , you could almost hear him saying ," come on, this is the way" and back and forth he went herding the nervous ons across, and looking out over the grasslands for some latecomer. The elephants were washing themselves and then they rolled in the dirt. It was fascinating.
There were a few lodges along the banks, with picturesque thatched roofs (rooves?), they all had these huge tall "aerials" on them. They are lightning conductors!!I thought it wass strange all these aerials!! I think we had the best of it on the river, I highly recommend it to anyone, 3 days are about right. The biggest hassle is changing countries, and all the imigration posts. The river meet at a 3 way point and that is 3 different countries! Passport in hand for ages as we hopped in out of 3 countries over abou an hour!very confusing.
Finally that part of our trip was over and we were picked up by vehicle to go on another game drive in Chobe Park, really felt sorry for the driver as we had already seen all the animals he could find for us, in greater numbers at Inyati and from the river, he did get us some lovely shots of very close up Giraffe. They are so elegant! I am turning into an africaphile, is that a word/, but you know what I mean. So the poor man drove us a round for 3 hours and we would just nod and say yes, when he found us a sighting. If we hadn't seen the others first it probably would hav been very exciting, but alas we had already seen more animals than he could show us, so I wouldn,t recommend paying for a game drive there if you had already done sabisands and the river, this was included in our houseboat package. After the drive we were taken to a depot and transferred to a coaster bus and drove to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls , another passport post!
The hotel was very old world and victorian!, I had a room to myself again, huge with mosquito netting etc, they do the ambience very well.! One felt like you would see an old game hunter with topee walking through!The lawns have resident warthogs grazing the grass, I don't know whether they have to mow or not! Next morning we walked up to the township, Carol and I, and then about 11am we got a cab to the Falls themselves. We were advised to hire a raincoat, there are 15 scenic spots, and from 9 onwards it was too wet to take good photographs, I actually used mine to keep the camera dry. I got soaked at scenic spot 4. I thought it was raining bu t it was the spray, as the river was very full it was " full spate" I know the meaning of the word! you couldn't identify any of the divisions in the falls as the water was roaring over at full depth. fascinating!! I loved it. I got the cab back to the hotel, my walking limit was up, but Carol and Rob walked over the bridge to Zambia, put their toes over the border! After 2 nights there it was off to the airport for the flight to Johannesburg and then a 6 hour wait for our flight to Perth. There endeth the African Odyssey. wonderful, now when someone asks where is the best place I have been , it is a tie between Antarctica and Africa!
So back to Wa, stayed the night at Rob and Carols then they took me to a camera place who managed to ressurrect my photos, well some of them anyway. I could have kissed him, (dreadlocks and all), so I have some photos . They are coming!! Then I flew back to SA to pick up doigs donga version 2 and set off on Anzac day for WA. 2550 kms I think, I made really good time no wind to worry me, stayed first night at Port Augusta, next Ceduna, then freedom camped between Mundrabilla and Madura pass, then Norseman. Some friends of Carol and Rob said are you Vicki? they were on the lookout for me, they were heading east. small world!! Next stop was Merredin, then to sister Jeans. So that was quick, and I had no problems again, the Nullabor crossiing is reallythe easiest thing to do.
spent a night with jean then headed north for my patchwork retreat at Jurien bay. Important things first!!So I will stop there and finish up to date in a couple of days by that time I should have some photos to post to you all!! It will be worth it!!
love to you all
Vicki
Sorry this has been so long, I got caried away with being home and all that means, catchin up with business, family and sorting out "things"! So here we go , back to last days in Africa.
Luckily I kept my diary up to date,So we were on our houseboat on the river bordering the Chobe National Park, "The Pride of Zambezi" I thought we were on the Zambezi river but we weren't, on an offshoot. It felt like we could have been on the Okavanga delta, it had lots of broad places with tons of water growing plants including acres of waterlilies, The boat was very comfortable, I had my own cabin, and ensuite, window lookingout oveer the water. The upper decks had the dining room and bar and outdoor living with lovely comfortable seating to lounge on. tere was a spa, but we didn't utilise it, it wasn't hot enough for us.
After boarding and haveing a quick unpack, we were taken out in the largeish outboard boats for a game viewing cuise. this was the equivalent to the land rover game drives at Inyati. It was most interesting seeing the animals from the water side. Victor our boat man was very knowledgeable, there were only Rob and Carol and I and an english couple who were bird watchers. I think the boat was capable of 12 people, not positive, but I think there were 8 cabins, some were singles. So we saw all the animals we had seen already but in bigger numbers, as they came to the river to drink, there were lots of babies again, and being on the water we were able to get really close to the hippos, there babies were really cute, very pink skinned, which I hadn't expected. On the second day, the house boat moved at a very leisurely pace along the river and off we went again in the small boat , we turned off down an off shoot and there were herds of cape buffalo, elephants, Giraffes, all with young ones, and they were doing a mini migration, across the river, complete with crocodiles watching. The giraffes were very cautious and one was obviously in charge , you could almost hear him saying ," come on, this is the way" and back and forth he went herding the nervous ons across, and looking out over the grasslands for some latecomer. The elephants were washing themselves and then they rolled in the dirt. It was fascinating.
There were a few lodges along the banks, with picturesque thatched roofs (rooves?), they all had these huge tall "aerials" on them. They are lightning conductors!!I thought it wass strange all these aerials!! I think we had the best of it on the river, I highly recommend it to anyone, 3 days are about right. The biggest hassle is changing countries, and all the imigration posts. The river meet at a 3 way point and that is 3 different countries! Passport in hand for ages as we hopped in out of 3 countries over abou an hour!very confusing.
Finally that part of our trip was over and we were picked up by vehicle to go on another game drive in Chobe Park, really felt sorry for the driver as we had already seen all the animals he could find for us, in greater numbers at Inyati and from the river, he did get us some lovely shots of very close up Giraffe. They are so elegant! I am turning into an africaphile, is that a word/, but you know what I mean. So the poor man drove us a round for 3 hours and we would just nod and say yes, when he found us a sighting. If we hadn't seen the others first it probably would hav been very exciting, but alas we had already seen more animals than he could show us, so I wouldn,t recommend paying for a game drive there if you had already done sabisands and the river, this was included in our houseboat package. After the drive we were taken to a depot and transferred to a coaster bus and drove to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls , another passport post!
The hotel was very old world and victorian!, I had a room to myself again, huge with mosquito netting etc, they do the ambience very well.! One felt like you would see an old game hunter with topee walking through!The lawns have resident warthogs grazing the grass, I don't know whether they have to mow or not! Next morning we walked up to the township, Carol and I, and then about 11am we got a cab to the Falls themselves. We were advised to hire a raincoat, there are 15 scenic spots, and from 9 onwards it was too wet to take good photographs, I actually used mine to keep the camera dry. I got soaked at scenic spot 4. I thought it was raining bu t it was the spray, as the river was very full it was " full spate" I know the meaning of the word! you couldn't identify any of the divisions in the falls as the water was roaring over at full depth. fascinating!! I loved it. I got the cab back to the hotel, my walking limit was up, but Carol and Rob walked over the bridge to Zambia, put their toes over the border! After 2 nights there it was off to the airport for the flight to Johannesburg and then a 6 hour wait for our flight to Perth. There endeth the African Odyssey. wonderful, now when someone asks where is the best place I have been , it is a tie between Antarctica and Africa!
So back to Wa, stayed the night at Rob and Carols then they took me to a camera place who managed to ressurrect my photos, well some of them anyway. I could have kissed him, (dreadlocks and all), so I have some photos . They are coming!! Then I flew back to SA to pick up doigs donga version 2 and set off on Anzac day for WA. 2550 kms I think, I made really good time no wind to worry me, stayed first night at Port Augusta, next Ceduna, then freedom camped between Mundrabilla and Madura pass, then Norseman. Some friends of Carol and Rob said are you Vicki? they were on the lookout for me, they were heading east. small world!! Next stop was Merredin, then to sister Jeans. So that was quick, and I had no problems again, the Nullabor crossiing is reallythe easiest thing to do.
spent a night with jean then headed north for my patchwork retreat at Jurien bay. Important things first!!So I will stop there and finish up to date in a couple of days by that time I should have some photos to post to you all!! It will be worth it!!
love to you all
Vicki
Monday, April 22, 2013
Africa, rivers
Hi again, I really though I had it , but no, it ceased and so I start again.
We had 3 days on th.e Chobe river, cruising along at a very sedate pace, it was quite fascinating seeing the animals from the river side. T
We had 3 days on th.e Chobe river, cruising along at a very sedate pace, it was quite fascinating seeing the animals from the river side. T
Africa 3
Part 3 cont.
The disaster, was my new camera failed!!!!! I couldn't buy a new card to keep going, at the game lodge, or from anyone present. so I charged up the mobile and this tablet and proceeded for the rest of the safari lodge trip using them. I am waiting to find out if I can retreieve my photos as it appears to have gotten corrupted. Kep your fingers crossed folks.
That afternoon during my "rest" at our chalet, a small group of vervet monkeys arrived to .play around the doors and windows, sitting up on the window sill and peering in , we had had a broken pane of glass in our door, it was caused by the baboons tipping over the outdoor setting and smashing the pane. We have to keep the door locked at all times as the baboons have learnt how toopen them. A bit later I had a visit from a Nyala, a type of antelope, hecame out of the bush by our room and wandered along eating the grass, just by our window. At night we have to have lodge staff escort us to and from ourrooms, it is an unfenced wild animal area!! Next game drive we saw more male lions, out in the grass,We watched them from quite close up, luckily their stomachs looked pretty full, then an amazing sighting of a python killing a small duiker antelope, by strangling it, but it is amazing that the guides can find these happenings, there are hundreds of square kilometres of land and it is like finding a needle in a haystack. Apparentlytheyheard the little animal squealing as the python caught it. Another African fascinating experience.Later we arrived at the same leopard ess site, , it was getting on dusk, but they spotlit her as she grabbed the kill, ( a coupleof daysold now) and dragged it up a tree, about 10 foot or so the cub leapt up also and grabbed a bit of meat, but as the leopard was getting the kill up higher in the tree, she dropped. The look on her face was priceless. Another great african evevning meal in the "boma", very tasty offerings, and then we were called out of the meal to see a hippo on the lawn grazing. They come out of the water in the night to eat grass. That was the end of dinner.
Another early morning start, straight to 3 male lions, using phone and tablet, so am hoping to put some photos into blog, but don't hold your breath! Long drive to the next animal sighting, a small herd of Zebra, more timid than the first days sighting and a lot ofwaterbuck, The male had good sized antlers, and it is the season, he was trying to mate with various ladies in his harem, but he never managed it! Saw lots more elephants, they are so structive, tearing down the branches of the trees and finally pushing them over to get to the last good bits. , at the end of this morning Carol and Rob nad 4 others from iur jeep, took a guided walk back to thelodge, while I drove back. They were toldthe basic safety instructions, George was carrying the elephant gun, but it was if he said run, you ran, or if hesaid climb a tree you climbed! I would have died! so just as well I drove back. He talked about tracking etc, and they didn't come across anything threatening, but still, it must have been a bit nerve wracking.
After doing most of our packing, we had an even earlier than usual start to leave in the morning, we went on our final game drive. George and Solly took us bush bashing, trying to find some more lions, but we neever found them, Then more elephants, and our final sundowner drinks on a small waterhole where there were hippos and crocodile? (not sure about that , the waterholes begin to blur!)
Up at 4am, for our departure through the Newington Gate, and driven to Kruger airport, we rode the 13 kms in an open jeep and it was bitterly cold! From the gate we went in a toyota pajero or something of that size , the other 4 west australians, were in a different vehicle, all leaving on the same flight, but they had a flat tyre and only just made it in time A quick flight to Jo berg and then a 3 hour flight to Kasane in Botswana, to join our river cruise. Pride of the Zambezi" of course I thought that with that name it must be on the Zambezi river but no, we were on the Chobe river.
The disaster, was my new camera failed!!!!! I couldn't buy a new card to keep going, at the game lodge, or from anyone present. so I charged up the mobile and this tablet and proceeded for the rest of the safari lodge trip using them. I am waiting to find out if I can retreieve my photos as it appears to have gotten corrupted. Kep your fingers crossed folks.
That afternoon during my "rest" at our chalet, a small group of vervet monkeys arrived to .play around the doors and windows, sitting up on the window sill and peering in , we had had a broken pane of glass in our door, it was caused by the baboons tipping over the outdoor setting and smashing the pane. We have to keep the door locked at all times as the baboons have learnt how toopen them. A bit later I had a visit from a Nyala, a type of antelope, hecame out of the bush by our room and wandered along eating the grass, just by our window. At night we have to have lodge staff escort us to and from ourrooms, it is an unfenced wild animal area!! Next game drive we saw more male lions, out in the grass,We watched them from quite close up, luckily their stomachs looked pretty full, then an amazing sighting of a python killing a small duiker antelope, by strangling it, but it is amazing that the guides can find these happenings, there are hundreds of square kilometres of land and it is like finding a needle in a haystack. Apparentlytheyheard the little animal squealing as the python caught it. Another African fascinating experience.Later we arrived at the same leopard ess site, , it was getting on dusk, but they spotlit her as she grabbed the kill, ( a coupleof daysold now) and dragged it up a tree, about 10 foot or so the cub leapt up also and grabbed a bit of meat, but as the leopard was getting the kill up higher in the tree, she dropped. The look on her face was priceless. Another great african evevning meal in the "boma", very tasty offerings, and then we were called out of the meal to see a hippo on the lawn grazing. They come out of the water in the night to eat grass. That was the end of dinner.
Another early morning start, straight to 3 male lions, using phone and tablet, so am hoping to put some photos into blog, but don't hold your breath! Long drive to the next animal sighting, a small herd of Zebra, more timid than the first days sighting and a lot ofwaterbuck, The male had good sized antlers, and it is the season, he was trying to mate with various ladies in his harem, but he never managed it! Saw lots more elephants, they are so structive, tearing down the branches of the trees and finally pushing them over to get to the last good bits. , at the end of this morning Carol and Rob nad 4 others from iur jeep, took a guided walk back to thelodge, while I drove back. They were toldthe basic safety instructions, George was carrying the elephant gun, but it was if he said run, you ran, or if hesaid climb a tree you climbed! I would have died! so just as well I drove back. He talked about tracking etc, and they didn't come across anything threatening, but still, it must have been a bit nerve wracking.
After doing most of our packing, we had an even earlier than usual start to leave in the morning, we went on our final game drive. George and Solly took us bush bashing, trying to find some more lions, but we neever found them, Then more elephants, and our final sundowner drinks on a small waterhole where there were hippos and crocodile? (not sure about that , the waterholes begin to blur!)
Up at 4am, for our departure through the Newington Gate, and driven to Kruger airport, we rode the 13 kms in an open jeep and it was bitterly cold! From the gate we went in a toyota pajero or something of that size , the other 4 west australians, were in a different vehicle, all leaving on the same flight, but they had a flat tyre and only just made it in time A quick flight to Jo berg and then a 3 hour flight to Kasane in Botswana, to join our river cruise. Pride of the Zambezi" of course I thought that with that name it must be on the Zambezi river but no, we were on the Chobe river.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Africa 2
Next morning it is freezing cold, misty but there ahead of us were 3 giraffem and then another, more elephants with their very cute babies and youngsters, evidently elephant young stick with the mother for many years. Then ome real excitement we were voyeurs at a leopard mating. ind you it was so quick you didn't think anything was achieved, but, according to George our guide they mate every 10 minutes or so for about 4 days, gettng longer as the tim goes along. I can't repeat here what Geoe told us about the mechanics, it could be read by underagers! But we were in fits of laughter.We followed them through the bush, to watch about 4 matings. it is the season as there were also waterbuck trying it on, too. The male leopard had beautiful markings on him. We moved on to a waterhole where a herd of Cape Buffalo came through wallowing and drinking they are very heavy animals and their horns are so huge they seemed weighed down by them they don't often lift their heads high. About a 100 or so animals, big bulls, females and lots of calves and a it older youngsters. They pass by really close within 6 feet of the vehicle sometimes. Saw somw more giraffe and then over the two way comes a sighting of male lions, so off we went "bush bashing' through the scrub to find four male lions. they also had recently killed, 3 were around in front of us but the other was out of sight, then as we were manouevering to let another jeep in to get close, we almost ran into one down in the grass!! The grass is really long at the moment so their camouflage is very good we rmained parked about the length of the ln away.Thank heavens they had full stomachs! Then disaster!! My amer
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