We're back home!

We made it home. What an amazing journey, though we both are running on empty after our 26 hour flight home. After I get adjusted to Pacific time, I will start sorting through the photos and share some of the highlights of our trip. In the meantime, before I fall back to sleep, I will give you an idea of a few of the things we experienced.

We participated in a bush walk, luckily with two heavily armed rangers, and were fortunate to find two male lions, and watch them disappear into the bush from about 50 feet.

I learned to drive quickly in reverse for over 150 yards (137 metres) while attempting to get out of the way of a very large Elephant bull walking down the road.

(Photos to follow)

We had the rare fortune of seeing 8 Cheetah all at the same time - a mother and her 5 cubs at her fresh kill were intimidated out of the kill by two male Cheetah, while we watched from 100 feet (30 metres) or less.

More to come later, must sleep and cuddle with the Tortie clan!

Less than 64 hours

Tricia and I are getting excited! Friday we board the plane for our 2009 African Adventure. We have both been packing and repacking our checked and carry-on luggage, making sure we have everything we need. After all my advance work, I am sure I'll still forget something, hopefully it won't be too important.

The last couple of days before a big adventure are always torture for me. My mind races through countless checklists, and I wonder what our trip will bring. This time I add driving on the opposite side of the road to what we Americans are accustomed to. Should be an interesting trip, and hopefully a short learning curve. I hope that driving a right hand drive postal vehicle for 12 years will help me with the adjustment.

We will keep you informed is possible, and hope to bring photos and a diary of our trip to the blog.

Peace to all,

Tricia and Norm

Eleven Days until Takeoff

In eleven days Tricia and I will "Take off" our work clothes, and take off on our second African Adventure.

No, we won't be catching a ride with the blue angels!

We won't even be taking a Ferry!

We are taking the scenic route from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, connecting to London-Heathrow, and then traveling on to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Yes it is a long trip, twenty hours in the air, plus layover time in B.C. and London.

We are prepared for the long haul, with reading material, iPod tunes, pillows and sleeping pills.

Once we arrive in Jo'berg, we hit the ground running, and will drive on the left side of the road for five hours until we reach our first destination: The Sanwild Wildlife Sanctuary.

We hope to be able to post while we are in Africa, but it will be dependent on our ability to connect to the internet.

Look for new posts from the African Bush.

Peace,

Norm

Seventeen Days and counting!

Africa here we come.

It has been almost a year since our last visit, and we can't wait to return.

I guess it is true what they say about going to africa. It does get in your blood, and you will always long to return.

We started planning our upcoming trip while we were still in Africa last year. We apparently got bit by the Africa bug, and want to return and explore.

We leave on Seattle on September 11th in the afternoon – fly to London with a 9 hour layover – (We’re going to take the tube into the city and go to one of the street markets)

We fly out of Heathrow at 7:20pm – arrive Jo’Berg 7:00am on the 13th. Then drive 5 hours to the SanWild sanctuary. After a week there, we drive a couple of hours to Kruger National Park where we are spending an additional week. We fly back out on Friday September 25th and arrive at Dulles Saturday morning, short layover and back in Seattle around noon September 26th.

I hope to get a broadband account in South Africa so that I can upload photos during our trip, but will have to wait until we get to Johannesburg to find out.

Ode to an Old Soul

Wise beyond her years, an even keel, Dora Jean, an elder in our Torti Clan left us today after a short battle with Heart Disease. She will be missed by all those who knew her, her passing so profound that the skies opened and cried a torrent.

Loved by her Torti sisters, Dora Jean was the cat that everyone respected and looked to. She made it a point to supervise all of our projects, checking our work to ensure that it was done correctly.

Building our deck two summers ago was quite an undertaking, yet Dora Jean was right there, making sure all was correct. When she took a break it was to roll in the dust under the deck, coming out completely covered.

Though suffering for a number of years from arthritis and a Herpes infection in her eyes, Dora Jean was our rock, always there to give encouragement, and to snuggle up against us on cold winter nights.

Her almost constant shadow was Hana, one of our feral sisters, who thought the world of Dora Jean. Hana would almost smother Dora Jean, and most definitely encroached on her personal space. Dora Jean would put up with her clinging to a point, then it was one loud hiss, and off she would go, with Hana following behind, giving Dora Jean breathing room and little more space until she felt it safe to attach herself again to Dora Jean’s side.

We are convinced that Dora Jean has been here on earth many times, learning and sharing joy, love and her sense of humor with all who have crossed her path. Tricia and I feel as though a part of us has gone, but will never be forgotten. We will step into tomorrow’s light, holding Dora Jean in our hearts and minds forever.

Dora Jean – rest your weary bones, and open those eyes that no longer hurt. Run to chase a blowing leaf, or stop to smell the flowers. Know that our lives are much better for having been fortunate enough to have shared our place on earth with an Old Soul named Dora Jean.

Building blocks

Portobello Road Market, London

In my travels, I am always interested in buildings and architectural styles. The monuments that men erect are sometimes fanciful, sometimes puzzling. Good and bad, they make you stop and wonder about the thought behind the building, or the decorative touches.

Art Deco meets Fried bread dough at Elephant Ear Universe in Seaside Oregon.

The Driskill Hotel - Austin, Texas

I saw this odd sculpture on a building on Portobello Road in London. Yes those are infants and starfish!

Imagination and building materials can create some amazing things, and some that make you scratch your head and say "huh?".

All in all, it is fun to ponder and to photograph.

The Fickle Finger of Fate

The deaths of four celebrities this past week, gives us a chance to explore mortality, and as Dick Martin of "Laugh In" used to say ' The Fickle Finger of Fate". What is the reason that some leave this world in sudden unexpected ways, while others hold on to life for as long as they are able? Why do we wage wars, which snatch the breath of life from so many young people?

I have no answers, but then maybe we're not supposed to have the answers. Maybe our lot is to question the unexplained, and life's little mysteries . Without the quest for answers, the great leaps of science and technology would not have taken place, without the searches of areas unknown, we wouldn't know about our earth, our solar system, and the vast space beyond.

Maybe we're meant to question, look in awe upon the little things, and just enjoy the ride.

"Live Long and Prosper"

Vulcan Salute