Victorial Falls, Zambia

I started my Africa trip in the town of Livingstone, Zambia. After close to 35 hours travelling, I finally arrived and the first thing I did was go to Victoria Falls (of course).
This is Trevor, the general driver/tour guide from the lodge. We ended up spending a lot of time together and he was a really cool guy. Too bad I don't have a good picture of him, alas

The falls were spectacular, but very hard to capture in a picture, they just kept going and going. This is just a tiny cornerA picture of me, for you sticklers who pester me. See, I really was there

Who knew there was such a thing as vertical rainbows?

I couldn't decide between these 2 pictures, so you get both (this may become a common theme as I try to choose from the 4000 pictures I took on this trip)

It was rather wet standing here to take this picture. The local name, Mosi-oa-tunya, translates to something like the smoke that thunders. Smoke, right.

Many of the pictures you see of this place show it all green, but I was there in the dry season. Less water, and sparse vegetation, but still spectacular

Trevor and I stayed to watch the sunset

That's Zimbabwe over there

My pictures don't come close to doing justice to the way the mist from the falls turned everything golden pink as the sun set

This is a terrible pic, but the best one I have of Trevor and I, so...Isn't it lovely?

So, none of my sunset pics show the true beauty of the African sunsets I saw. I guess I needed filters or whatnot. But just so you know, the sun was bright red on the horizon.

Another one of me, Trevor stole my camera. Don't expect so many later in the trip (thank goodness)

This is one of my absolute favorite shots. No idea why, but I love it.

We stayed at the falls until we got chased out by some elephant who decided they wanted to be where we were. Elephants are BIG when there is nothing between you and them. No need to argue here.

Home (sort of)

I made it home, to the US at least. It was a very long flight, but reasonably uneventful. I slept something like 18 hours last night though, not waking up till 3 in the afternoon. Can't believe I did that. I'm going through pictures now, but it will take me ages. I will start making my drive home tomorrow or the next day, but I get to pick up my boy tomorrow morning! I don't relish the idea of a 10 hour drive after my 24 hour flight though. ugh.

Cape Town

I am in Cape town right now. The tour ended this morning with everyone skedadling every which way. It was both sad and relieving. I have one more day and then I head home. Boy do I miss home. For once, my end date matches with my desire to go home. Africa is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but I'm ready for a cuddle with my dog, a conversation with people who love me, and a chance not to spend SO much money! Wait till you see my pictures though

Swakopmund

Well, I'm still alive and now in Namibia. It's been grand, but I'm really having issues with the group thing. The only reason I have time to sit on the computer this morning is because 4 of my group members signed up to go kayaking with me this morning but stood me / the tour guide up. So, no tours for single people (man do they like to make you feel like shit for being single here). And I'm up at 6 am to write on my blog. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Maun, Botswana

Hello all
I am still alive and having a grand time. Internet access is sketchy and this is my first since the last post. And, it may disappear at any second. But, Life is grand. It is beautiful here. The Okavango Delta is spectacular. I had elephants come to drink at the swimming pool as I stood not 20 feet away. Many are they huge! There are hippos, giraffes, and elephants galore. I even saw a few lions! Though, through the bush so no good pictures. Tomorrow we head into the Kalahari. Love you all lots and I promise lots of pictures when I get to a good internet connection.
Hugs

Zambia

Hey all you loved ones. I made it safe to Zambia. Last night I went to Victoria falls, watched the sun set, and got chased away by elephants (they are so BIG when there is no fence between you and them!). I took lots of pictures of course, but I'm using the hotel office computer and have to be very quick. So, no pictures for you quite yet.
Lots o love

Day at the Deschutes

I spent the day in one of my favorite places yesterday, in the Oregon desert by the banks of the Deschutes river.
It was seriously hot that day. When I got back to civilization in the 'cool' of the evening, the thermometer said it was 95. So, if 95 feels cool...

The heat actually meant I couldn't go as far as I wanted too. Rin was getting seriously overheated and did his best to convince me to find some water and stay still for a while.

I gave in (not very reluctantly) and found a good shady spot, trampled down enough to reduce the chance of unobserved rattlesnakes, and spent the rest of the day swimming, reading, watching an idiot fisherman almost get pulled in the water by a fish...

ahh... bliss

In the late afternoon a storm started moving in

The sky got pretty dramatic, with black clouds looming ominously over the horizon...

This picture of us is so ridiculous, I had to share

I started getting mildly nervous about halfway back to the car, I hadn't planned on getting that kind of wet!

It was pretty though. I love the smell of our desert!

Rin kept flushing deer. This one didn't approve, and once it got on this rock, it watched us till we were out of site. I think he was mad that Rin had the nerve to chase him.

I took the long way home, over the mountain pass, to see the sunset. And what a sunset it was

The mountain was glowing ever so slightly in the pink light (I know, this picture doesn't really capture that, but I liked it anyways)

There was a whole stretch of cars pulled over to the side of the road to watch. Isn't it fun when people actually slow down enough to notice the good things in life?

Adorable Alexandria

Lexie Lou! Isn't she adorable?

Dasa!

Wonder of wonders, I actually got to talk to Dasa last night. Between school, children, and time zones, we never get to communicate, but miracles do happen. She sent me this wonderful picture of her and Hugo. Isn't he getting big?

Bella, Lexie, and Katherine at my house!

My girls came to visit me last weekend, aren't they beautiful?

Isabella is wearing the outfit Grandma and I made while I was down there last month.
Bella got to pick berries, play with llamas, and run around like a country girl. She wasn't so sure of what to make of me taking pictures though.

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Alexandria is really starting to grow and get her personality

hmmm... what am I thinking?

Dad teaching Bella about cooking

It was so much fun to have them here. Not sure if it will ever happen again though, poor Katherine had a heck of a drive home.