Virtual Botswana: African Skies

Before our virtual journey ends...perhaps the most amazing thing about this place is not the red earth or the endless wildlife...the vast grassland...incredible trees or the open friendly people...but simply the skies.

Time Lapse Part 1

https://youtu.be/HT7-Qp-XdL8


Time Lapse Part 2

https://youtu.be/ePkDmpbgg00

 

 

And Paul Simon, of course...

https://youtu.be/85rr5SqrCZI

I hope you have enjoyed this virtual adventure as much as I have!

 More Anon...

Kaylee is 15...and the Grands...Big Fish....Demise of an Old Nemesis and the Weekend Update

Kaylee and I finally got to celebrate her 15th over pizza and chat/catch up.

She is getting so grown up.

And we shared her brownies with the rest of the grands and Nicole when they got back from swimming!

Life is good!

Chris is getting ready for his camping trip with the guys soon...and spending a lot of time checking out the lake.

He finally caught this guy!

A largemouth who had been eluding him for some time in a bankside hole in Yellowwood.  He would come out and check  out the bait...Chris would watch him...but never take it.

Not anymore!

And a damned fine fish dinner.

The FAIRIES now relocated to the nearby Glen.

Everything green and growing in the Borders and Patio Garden.

The beginnings of tiny new pink rosebuds.

Everything thriving after the heat, sunshine and rain...

Except poor Medusa.

(...remember the silvery gray spiky floof of a Spanish Lavender...) 

It shriveled up into a soggy brown wet ball...and summarily died.

(...I'm melting...what a world...what a world...)

And the death of an old nemesis this week, as well.

It was a relief, quite frankly.

We had an over 20+ year love/hate relationship.

There were times I would check obsessively...daily...although that was quite a while back...

And this ne'er-do-well would be there...mocking me...letting me know how fat I had gotten or in more recent years how many pounds I had put back and needed to adjust.

Who needs that kind of negativity in their life?

Monday, when I gave it its pre-cordial thump...the display window was blank.

I gave it a second.

Just to make sure, you know.

Then a third.

Still nothing.

After years...the bathroom scales were dead.

At first I admit, a bit of panic set in.

"OMG..I must replace them! Immediately!"

Thinking of all the years spent adjusting the numbers up and down.

First too thin.

Then too fat.

Sometimes just right.

(...but is it ever...are we ever???)

Then the slow realization that since 2014 I have been wearing the same size. Have stayed within 5-10 pounds of my target body weight.

And I slid the wretched judgmental thing into the Bin Bag...the way I should have years ago.

It was quite satisfying.

I am sixty.

I will NEVER buy another scale.

EVER.

I will never let myself get horribly overweight again...I'll continue with the 5:2 if I feel my clothing get snug.

But I will never be a number on the scales in the morning...ever again.

And I feel pretty damned great about that!

Still no new film and just did a Friday night re-run...but my library and Outreach Program is back in full swing...and not a moment too soon.

This Week's Book

Man-oh-man have I needed this!!!

(...and you do, too...you just don't know it yet...)

The title coming from the old news axiom

"If it Bleeds...it Leads"

Four short stories.
Unrelated to each other.

Each complete...amazing...significant in their own way.

I have read a lot of King...both of his boys, and even one novel by his wife...but this may be the very best, yet.

He just gets better and better...drawing you into each story with the first paragraph.

A must read for the Stephen King

"Constant Reader"



A bask, a bath, a good nap, and maybe some painting tonight!

Have a Great Weekend!

 

Virtual Botswana: Night Safari

After the evening fire is extinguished comes the Adventure we have been waiting for-  Night Game Drives.

Simply put...

Night Safari.

Where the night sounds become visible.

And our first visitor is alarmingly nearby!

A jaguar.

Wide awake now, and ready to hunt.

A Serval is also hunting for small game near the camp.

We are treated to not only Ellies in the distance...grouped together for the night...but also a spectacular view of the Milky Way.

The starry skies over this vast grassland is indescribable.

And make me want to paint them!

We pass the earlier pride of lions...now asleep...although a single female is wary and watches our truck as we pass.

And sometimes we just stop and photograph the night skies.

More often than not we run across someone enjoying their late night dinner.

"Hey....eating here...pal..."

"Is that MY Wildebeest, you're gnawing????"

"Christ, here they come again...we're trying to get some sleep here...enough with the headlights, already!!!"

 "Oh Cedric...don't be a stick in the mud...give them a good roar...that's all they're waiting for..."

"If they don't turn those bloody headlamps off..I'm going to give them a bit more than a roar..."

's

"...snork...snuffle...what...who...errrr...oh it's them..."

(...and aren't bushbabies the cutest things...)

"...trying to get some sleep here...effing tourists..."

"Ya come any closer, I'll QUILL ya..."

"You see, Chester, you just have to take control of the situation!"

"PISS OFF!!!"

"While the lionesses are asleep we can graze in peace!"

"I'm telling you, honey...this neighborhood is goin' straight to hell!!!"

 "That's it...if he hits me with that freakin' spotlight one more time I'm adding some variety to my diet...that's all I'm sayin'..."

"...thanks for the grub, Bub!"

"I've GOT to cut back on the CAFFEINE."

"Been bothering you too, eh????"

"Hey...just having a little midnight snack...I'm starting that diet tomorrow...really."

"Now Cedric, calm yourself before you get us in all sorts of trouble!"

"Damn it, Cedric...where'd ya even get a lighter???"


Hope you've enjoyed the night safari...now to get this fire out.

"No...I've no idea how he got my lighter...bloody lion!"

More Anon...

Virtual Botswana: A Mokoro Safari Adventure

Today we set out on a virtual Mokoro Safari from Camp Machaba!

This is a Mokoro boat.

Traditionally a form of dugout made from a single tree that has been burned and dug out.  Modern Mokoro are generally made of fiberglass.

The man with the pole who guides and propels the Mokoro is called a Poler.

These have been referred to as the Gondola of Africa.

Come along...and let's explore the watery avenues of the Delta.

Mokoro Experience

https://youtu.be/0KuHX2Hqr3Q

Some of the wildlife we spot from the Mokoro

as we silently glide through the water...becoming one with the Delta.

Out here you really get a feel for how many elephants call this place home.

As well as the vastness of the grass sea of the Okavango Delta.

The Mokoro is also the best way to see the Hippos. Often submersed until only their nose and ears and eyes are above the surface of the water.

Only when you see them at the shoreline can you grasp how HUGE these water-horses really are.

An adult can be 11-17 feet long and weigh in excess of 4000 pounds.

Their canine teeth can be over a foot long.

They are quite territorial and are fierce.

A Canine for scale...

A Hippo takes down an Impala.

And are fearless.

Seriously fearless...

Hippo taking on Nile Crocodiles

https://youtu.be/zBnchVmArKE

Oh...and yes..there are crocs here.

 

But mostly this place is just silent and beautiful.

The Delta from the Air

Mack Air

https://youtu.be/iJtQeuMmIWw

Remember when your parents said they didn't want to go to Timbuktu to look for you...well this actually is Timbuktu...

Make sense now???

And at last evening approaches and we make our way off the water.

And even darkness is lovely in the Delta...

Next up:  Our Night Safari...