beaglemama
Contributing Member
Thanks, Kathy!
Story Aunt Gus and Little Bear's Adventure Book 4
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you dear lady.Garden picking yesterday, anddddddddd doing a closet. I decided that some of my shoes that were 20 to 30 years old didn't need to reside in there anymore. They looked their age anyway.
Plus my 3 pair of very pretty high heels can be sent to a daughter since with arthritis in my feet I couldn't really wear them anymore. 
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July 6 - Cape Town: The Big 5
Benny was in heaven most of the day’s nine-hour trek. And where did this nine-hour trek take us? We went to a private game reserve.
Over breakfast Hugh reminded us not to let any valuables out of our site. It was an unfortunate fact that at some tourist locations in South Africa – in many countries in Africa – people make the mistake of assuming their valuables will be safe in a locked room or similar.
“In the Villa you have the safe and I’d take advantage of it while you can. Once we start the safari … you’ll make use of those money belts and carry bags at all times. I’ll do what I can, but you’ll have to use some sense as well.”
Not the greatest lecture to start off with but Lev had already warned me that the economies we were going to find did not have the same moral playing ground that we did in the States. Or they did, they simply had a different view of what morals entail and who they apply to. There is a lot of “Robin Hood” thinking in that area of the world … steal from the rich to give to the poor.
We were picked up at 6:30 am. Early morning after a late night, but I prefer early mornings. It appears the rest of our team did as well. We were in an air-conditioned “coach” … in the US we would have called it a small bus … to what was repeatedly touted as a “private and malaria-free game reserve (Aquila Game Reserve) in the midst of the southern Karoo semi-desert region.” Er … just gimme a map. And what is the deal with the heavy emphasis on being malaria-free? I should have updated my training to include things like this. Why did I not?!
I had two hours for the hamster to go absolutely bonkers with worst-case scenarios. Stomped by elephants? Check. Gored by a Cape buffalo? Check. Tasty snack for a lioness who was PMSing? Check. Leopards falling on us out of the trees? Rhinos playing crash derby with the jeep? Hippos trying to drown us? Giraffes turning ominously angry and head butting us through open windows? Check, check, check, check. I know it sounds ridiculous but any worst-case is a possibility to the hamster that lives in my head. A couple of times I came real close to an anxiety attack. Add malaria on to that? Yeah. I needed some gorilla tape for the fuzzy butt that was trying to take me over.
Too much new, not of my choosing, too little preparation, and it was coming at me too fast, and I was feeling a little too overwhelmed. Lack of sleep and the other stuff that has happened the last couple of days didn’t help. Had Lev been sitting beside me I would have been all but sitting in his lap, but he wasn’t. He was in the seat in front of Benny and I, sitting with Hugh. I suspect they were talking about old times … and that Lev didn’t want me to know some of it.
“Sorry,” I muttered to Benny. “Aunt Gus isn’t real good company right now huh.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. How long are we going to be stuck in the bus?”
“Drive is supposed to be two hours. I’m thrilled I tell you. Thrilled,” I told him sounding anything but.
That got me a secret grin then he showed the sense of humor he’s been developing by saying, “We need some Elvis tunes. That would make things better.”
Yep, I still listen to Elvis a lot of the time … and a lot of the time it can be loud. It is also a bit of a joke to those that know me. The wistful look on my face made Benny laugh and Lev turned in his seat to see what we were getting up to. With a straight face I said, “Bosa Nova Baby.” Lev looked worried until he realized we were joking. However, I noticed he kept a closer watch over us without trying to be obvious about it.
Named after the endangered black or verreaux eagle (Aquila verreauxii), Aquila Game Reserve’s[1] story began in 1999 when its owner, driven by a desire to share his passion for the wild with Cape Town, set about searching for the perfect piece of land to re-introduce the Big 5 to the Western Cape. He was fortunate enough to come across a nature reserve that would later become Aquila Private Game Reserve. Or at least that is the story the guide on the bus gave us.
Situated in the historic town of Touws River, in a valley between the Langeberg and the Outeniqua Mountains in the Karoo, the almost 25,000 acres conservancy has evolved from its early days of being residence to various antelope species only to becoming the home of the Big 5 – elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard – as well as a significant number of other wild game, which roam freely on the reserve.
Aquila’s stated purpose is to protect and preserve Africa’s increasingly threatened wildlife and is fully committed to what they call “social upliftment,” job creation, skills development, and various sustainable empowerment programs. It is supposed to create the ideal, sustainable balance between nature conservation and the empowerment of the local community of Touws River. I’ve heard similar from places in the States. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. Don’t blame them for trying and Aquila was apparently a place that it was working out.
We arrived a little before nine o’clock in the morning to find welcome drinks waiting on us. After a two-hour drive everyone was thirsty. They didn’t give us much time to chit-chat (thank you Creator) or explore (boo) because we started a three-hour game drive at 9:30. The short blurb by the guide described it as a morning safari drive with certified-discipline rangers in open 4×4 autos accompanied by flowing wine, grape juice, water, and snacks corresponding to biltong, ‘drowners’, nuts and dried fruits served at numerous lookout factors.
In actual English we met our guide and game ranger and from there climbed into an open-air safari vehicle to begin our game drive. We learned about the so-called ‘Big Five’ - African elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, and rhinos – and were instructed to keep our eyes peeled for any sign of them as well as giraffes, hippos and other animals.
The Aquila Game Reserve is particularly known for its abundant bird species, thanks in part to its large wetland area. There are over 170 species of birds that make their home in the park, including the endangered ‘Aquila’ Black Eagle from which the reserve takes its name. Lev has already got a ton of pictures to go through and pick a few while discarding the rest.
“Don’t throw them away!”
“Babe …”
“Lev …”
“Do you know how much space all of these pictures would take up if I keep them all Mrs. Minimalist?” he said with a laugh.
“Do you know how ridiculously huge the external memory dots are that Townzen gave me to beta?” He blinked, I won, and he can delete them later has he has time to go through them with an eye to maybe making a book of our travels with the ones he doesn’t use for this project.
Now comes the squealing and the “oh my gawd” and seat bouncing. Of course, I didn’t actually do that, but the hamster was making like a chimpanzee on speed inside my head. Un-freakin’-believable. I’m in Africa and I’m actually getting to share this with Benny and watch Lawrence’s son get stars in his eyes.
At the end of our safari drive, we returned for a buffet lunch. I’m not sure any of us even remember what we ate. About all I can tell you at the moment is that it was gluten-free, delish, and African.
After lunch we had nearly three hours on our own which we spent on the Junior Ranger Program, an unexpected bonus that thrilled Benny to no end. The program’s purpose is to stimulate young minds and introduce them to some simple conservation practices:
- Spoor, animal and plant identification
- Trees, and how animals use them
- Learning about rock paintings
- Conservation and insights into Aquila‘s wildlife
At 4:30 we departed. The two-hour drive back to the villa nearly drove me nuts. I’m going to bring my own flip-pad and stub pencil from here on out. Or maybe I’ll just use my phone. I need to do something useful and maybe I can sketch out new entries for the blog.
I think Benny may have been floating, rather than walking, as we left the game reserve. He nodded off during the drive back but nearly everyone looked like they could have done that. That, unfortunately, pinged my hamster and my eyes were tired by the time we got back to the villa from all the rolling around and keeping my eyes open for what was going on around us. I’m not exaggerating, I had to put a compress on them before I could even serve the dinner that had been left for us.
Tonight’s main dish was a one-pot kind of thing made of lentils, tomatoes, and spinach[2]. Very good, just different from what I was used to, including the texture. Hugh said it was more North African than South African. I’m not sure how he could tell but I’ll take his word on it.
Benny didn’t last long after his meal but he volunteered to help with the dishes so Lev could go to work, and so that Fred could have a night to himself. I’m not sure Fred knew what to make of it when Benny said, “You helped us, now I’m going to help too. Mr. Hugh says you are taking a class. That’s important.”
Good kid but not everyone knows how to take him at times. But that was the last of the energy Benny had and I sent him off to bed after another scrub, this time including his teeth and ears, and no complaints once he found we’d moved a cot into the bedroom with us. Lev and I could have used the privacy but we might as well practice as we mean to continue.
That left me trying to figure out how not to have a social situation with Hugh.
Instead the man chuckled. “Don’t try so hard. You’ll steam up the place.”
“I … don’t do this very well.” At his questioning look I explained, “Socialize.”
“Lev told me. So instead of socializing, let’s just go over that list that Lev gave you and you let me know if you’ve run into any questions.”
I had a few and after I got my answers it was time for all of us to wind down for tomorrow. I left off and went to the bedroom and gave some thought to what we’d been exposed to thus far. None of the “traps” had been triggered that would have let me know that someone had been in the room or in our gear. That was good. Hugh hadn’t heard any more noise on the crazy front. That was good. Bob et al were leaving Lev alone – for now – and letting get work done without drying him crazy. That is good. Now if I can just stop listening for the sound of falling shoes, I’d be able to settle in and figure out just where I fit on this assignment. That would be very good.
I hear Lev finally coming to bed so I’ll close this log entry. Tomorrow should be a good day and we’ll get some wiggles out.
[1] AQUILA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE | Big 5 Safari Close To Cape Town
[2] Quick One Pot Lentil, Tomato and Spinach Stew (Gluten-Free)
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Came in for another break and here is another chapter.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you so very much Kathy!
July 7 - Cape Town: Sunrise Hike, Ziplining and Cable Car
Breakfast was Plantain Crepes[1] . Had I known such things were not only possible, but were also gluten free, you can bet I would have been making them already. I could have grown the Plantain in the River House’s greenhouse like I did all the micro greens that I used to stretch our supplies.
Not only was breakfast delish, I was excited for the day. My anxiety level was nearly back to zero. Of course, that would be when Hugh pulled Lev and I aside and reported that Meike was arrested last night, and it wasn’t looking good. Her “rich American boyfriend” was a fraud and not even American but Eastern European or North African.
“Russian?” I asked.
“No. Or let’s say that ‘they’ aren’t saying what he is except he isn’t American, and he isn’t Russian.”
“But you suspect … something.”
Hugh got a little agitated. “You aren’t going to trap me into saying it is an African problem.”
*PING* “Don’t pull the jackhole routine with me,” I told him with some growl in my tone. “I’m asking you, not telling you. You’ve got the experience, otherwise our Stateside team wouldn’t have hired you. Just don’t be blinded by your emotions Dude. Facts are what I’m looking for, not your frelling hanky stomping.”
Lev was stuck looking at me with “that” look because apparently he gets the hots when my Barrymore starts sneaking out, and getting pizzed with Hugh for causing my Barrymore to start leaking out because he knows I don’t like it.
Hugh wiped his face and muttered, “Damn Yanks. Pain in my ass.” I could see him pulling his control back together before he admitted, “Probably North African if he could pass for an American footballer. And we’ve had our own problems with religious extremists, which is what some of this is looking like.”
I gave it a thought. “Well the fem is one less problem on my list. At least for now. We’ll be on safari in three days and it won’t be as easy for her or anyone else to sneak up on us unless they are wearing animal skins.”
Hugh checked my relief by saying cryptically, “People can be bought off.”
“Do you think someone will have eyes on us?”
“I’ll have eyes on you. And we have a rich bloke that will have his own security so that’s a second layer. And the safari company itself will be a third and sometimes fourth layer. That still doesn’t mean you should lose your situational awareness.”
“Understood,” I said, agreeing with him and surprising him at the same time. But while I will remain situationally aware, that doesn’t mean that I’m not capable of multitasking – the hamster demands it these days – and I planned on enjoying the activities before us.
First activity was we hiked to the top of Table Mountain via a lessor known and more adventurous and rugged route than what is normally taken by most of the tourists. Yeehaw. The route we took involved scrambling up a more off the beaten path. Once on top we made our way towards the upper Cable Car Station where we took the cable car back down. We got a rare opportunity to walk along the rim of Table Mountain where we stop to enjoy the stunning views from the edge of the table only accessible with local knowledge. If the cable car is open, we will then make our way to the Cable Car Station and view sites before going back down with the cable car (ticket fare not included - if the cable car is closed, we will hike down a common route) We also accessed some off the beaten track viewpoints with stunning photo opportunities for Lev. There were some steep/exposed sections along the route. I had to help Benny scramble up a few steep parts but it was reminiscent of some of the hikes we did in places like Guam. Benny has gotten taller and started filling out since then so the “help” was all relative and more for my sanity than his safety. Hugh was a little surprised at how ready-to-go all three of us were. This hike requires you to be comfortable with heights and be relatively fit. The hike up is steep and rocky going for at least 3.5 hours.
I would be remiss not to include Skeleton Gorge in this log when describing the Table Mountain hike. Despite its sinister name, it has achieved classic status as a Table Mountain hiking route. However, it’s not for everyone. Let’s start at the starting point, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are part of the route’s popularity. It’s a convenient “preamble,” – Hugh’s word, not mine as anyone that knows me could guess - to hiking Table Mountain. Saves time and effort from having to plan a separate trip to visit the Gardens which are considered a “must see” on every tourist list of things to see and do.
A lot of what I’m blathering on about is what I remember Hugh blathering on about. The man can talk when he is in the mood and I think he has grown too used to the type of tourist that needs constant entertaining and motivating.
It’s important to understand what exactly constitutes Skeleton Gorge. As the name suggests, it’s a gorge – a rather small one at that, more accurately referred to as a ravine (which they did pre-1960, but for some reason they switched it to Gorge). This gorge / ravine leads up the forested eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It terminates on the Back Table, or Lower Plateau: an extensive and undulating plateau located behind the famous tabletop summit of Table Mountain at about two-thirds the summit’s elevation. Therefore, strictly speaking, hiking up Skeleton Gorge does not get you to the summit of Table Mountain. Quite far from it. From the top of the gorge proper, it’s still about an hour to the summit. And then another 45 minutes across the summit to the upper cable station – because you would want a cable car descent after hiking Skeleton Gorge to the summit.
There are three route segments for the hike. The first segment, Skeleton Gorge proper (the actual gorge / ravine) is the part where you experience one of the route’s key distinguishing features: forest. To be more precise, indigenous Afro-temperate forest, a type of Afromontane forest that resembles equatorial forest in appearance. Think Amazon jungle: ferns, moss-covered rocks, lianas trailing down from the canopy – only it’s far less humid, and there are far fewer insects. The walk starts in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, but the heart of this route begins at the intersection of Skeleton Gorge and the Contour Path. The first part in the forest – you will be encountering and ascending on climbing log and stone steps. About two-thirds of the way up – a series of wooden ladders eases the way over steep rocks, which can be slippery when wet. This route should be avoided after heavy rain.
The weather has been nearly perfect, better than the sauna-like heat we were experiencing in Florida. I saw some other hikers that were pouring sweat. I could have used a wind breaker first thing in the morning. Crazy how different people experience their environment.
Skeleton Gorge’s forest setting is an important aspect to consider when deciding on a Table Mountain route. Some people love jungles, finding them to be exotic, soothing, and pleasantly mysterious; others regard them as claustrophobic and monotonous. If you are of the latter opinion, Skeleton Gorge might not be the best route for you, as the first 1.5 hours lead through forest.
The second segment, known as the Smuts Track, stretches from the top of the gorge to Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. The elevation gain totals about a third of the overall gain. [Hugh’s way of saying he didn’t do the maffs and it was only an approximate guess.] Indigenous shrub known as fynbos characterizes this segment, providing longed-for views after the gloom of the forest and a stimulating change in landscape.
The final leg, from Maclear’s Beacon across the length of the famous tabletop summit of Table Mountain to the upper cable station, provides a welcome denouement [had look that word up and I’m sure Hugh did it on purpose] to the ascent. Two options exist: along the front (northern) edge of the mountain, overlooking the city and Table Bay, or further back with views over the Lower Plateau and down the spine of the Cape Peninsula. The traverse is mostly level, the going easy, and you get to really appreciate the extent and flatness of the famous Table.
A notable attraction is the ‘beach’ at the head of the gorge. A 5-minute detour leads to the Hely-Hutchinson dam, built in the early 1900s. Its fluctuating water level lays bare a piece of the sandy bottom reminiscent of a beach. The size of the beach fluctuates along with the water level: during the drier months, it extends midway into the reservoir. The reservoir sometimes dries up completely in summer, leaving a barren patch of plateau resembling a lunar landscape – accentuated in misty conditions.
To sum it up, Skeleton Gorge involved a minimal bit of scrambling and high narrow ledges. There were a series of four wooden, inclined ladders. I wouldn’t call it a true technical climb, but this section required considerable care in wet or damp conditions because the rock becomes slippery.
Skeleton Gorge was a strenuous route. In summer it often goes from strenuous to gruelling due to the heat. Sunrise in summer is around 5:30 am, but access to Skeleton Gorge is much later – 8am when the Botanical Gardens open – so the sun is already high by the time you hit the trail. The forest section gets humid, and the upper sections offer little shade. This is an important consideration. If you opt to hike Skeleton Gorge in summer, you need to be in good shape and prepared to sweat and swelter. However, we weren’t there in “summer,” it was “winter” because this is the Southern Hemisphere and is the opposite of the seasons as they are back home.
Winter serves up different challenges: a gushing watercourse and slippery rock. Cape Town is a winter rainfall area, so the city gets most of its annual rainfall June to August and we were right there smack dab in the middle. Skeleton Gorge is located on the eastern side of Table Mountain, which gets three times more rain than the northern and western sides. After rain, the tree-shaded gorge also takes longer to dry off. These conditions all combine to make Skeleton Gorge slippery and wet for a sizeable chunk of the year. If you are unstable on your feet or don’t have good balance, wet conditions in Skeleton Gorge will be challenging. Actually just go ahead and avoid it because it isn’t the safest place for you to be. The gorge gets practically impassable directly after heavy winter rains. Most people hearing this would say why even bother? Yeah well, most people can’t see much beyond the end of their nose and the idea of sweating horrifies them.
Firstly, Skeleton Gorge takes in all the floral zones on the mountain, from forest to what they call fynbos (shrubland) to the marshy and tussocky expanses of the summit plateau. Secondly, it tops out at the highest point on Table Mountain 80 feet higher than the Table. Thirdly, it takes you across the length of the famous tabletop summit of Table Mountain, so you get to experience the famous part of the mountain in its entirety. There’s also the beach. That’s right … a beach.
Who should avoid the route? The unfit, the adrenaline junky only after pure adventure, and those indifferent about forest settings. The route scores low on the adventure scale – except in winter after heavy rain, when the gorge is gushing – so if you’re an adrenalin junkie looking for a fix, then Skeleton Gorge will leave you yawning. And if forests don’t float your boat, then the first hour and a half of the route will not impress.
The route takes about 4 hours. Of this, about an hour and a half leads through forest, so no views. That is the part where you are in dense forest. The next hour and a half leads up to Maclear’s Beacon, highest point on Table Mountain, offering inland views (Cape Town suburbs; distant mountains) and, further up, views down the Cape Peninsula as well as the rest of the Table Mountain range. The last hour or so across the summit offers city views (along the front path). You only get sea views at the end of the route, at the upper cable station.
Hugh really was impressed with “The Lad” and was glad he had arranged for our mid-afternoon activity. When Benny found out he tried so hard to not spazz out but then lost it and did the Snoopy dance completely surprising Hugh and nearly making him bust a gut.
Ziplining. We were transported from a meeting point with via a 4x4 vehicle into the mountain area. There were eleven platforms and seven very long cables towers overlooking Cape Town. It was a real bird`s eye view. We started the journey down a large canyon on one of the shorter cables in between the Cape Floral kingdom. Apart from the tour of cables we also walked within the mountain range and took in the beautiful scenery and explored small paths along the fynbos area. The tour itself is one of Africa`s longest Zipline Tours with approximately a mile and a half of cables in total. The highest cable from the ground in the canyon is 508 feet from the canyon floor. The platforms had some terrific vantage points and Lev got some stupendous shots. Benny and I also wore GoPro cameras and got some added film that way.
For some reason, after we got back to the Villa, Hugh struck me as being a little melancholy. He ate his dinner, but it wasn’t wit the same gusto as the other three men. Fred seemed happy to have us back, though proud to report to Hugh that he’d patrolled several times while we were gone.
Hugh clapped him on the back and said, “Show me.”
While they were off doing that I cleared the dishes, made sure Benny was cleaned up and then to bed, then took care of our clothes for the day and prepped for tomorrow. Let me tell you, it is going to be a stupendous adventure.
[1] Plantain Pancakes Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you
July 8 - Cape Town: The Marine 5
Another plantain dish for breakfast and another yum that was gluten-free; mini plaintain frittata[1]. I need to find out from Hugh the Jackhole how to leave a thank you. The food is gluten-free and freakin’ tasty.
Something else that was freakin’ tasty to ye ol’ brain hamster was today’s “safari” to see the Marine 5. I’ll describe it as we went along on what was called the Dyer Island Cruise. First off, what is the Marine Big 5? Southern Right / Humpback / Bryde’s Whales, Great White Sharks around the renowned Shark Alley, Cape Fur Seals, the endangered African Penguin[2], and various visiting dolphin species. The area is also home to a variety of seabirds, while not technically on the Marine 5 list, it don’t hurt when you are playing animal bingo with a sharp-eyed Little Bear.
The Southern Right Whale Season is normally from June through December, but for the rest of the year you can occasionally see Humpback[3] and Bryde’s whales in the area. There was an on-board Marine biologist and the crew was experienced and kid-friendly. Benny was in heaven.
Trip times vary with weather and tide conditions meant that we didn’t know when our boarding would be until last night. Luckily we had a morning time. Once we have arrived at The Great White House, we received a brief introductory talk about the route, safety, and what to look out for. We were also fitted with comfortable life-jackets and waterproof jackets. Safety was of the outmost importance and Hugh was definitely in need of the reassurance.
Trip lengths normally lasted between 2 and 2.5 hours, depending on sightings and weather conditions. Ours lasted almost three hours and it was worth every minute. All cruises depart from Kleinbaai harbour near Gansbaai. We were definitely ready by the time we left the dock.
Found only in Gansbaai, Dyer Island is located five miles from shore and is an access controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) for the conservation of its many resident bird species, including African penguins. Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000 strong Cape fur seal colony. These seals are present all year round. Cape fur seals are “endemic” to Namibia and South Africa. They are mammals, like us, which means they give live birth and feed their young with milk. Their main diet is mostly boney fish, but they also eat squid, octopus, and crayfish. Female seals and their young are present year-round and an adult female seal can weigh around 185 pounds. Fully grown male seals, or “bulls” can weigh upwards of 660 pounds, so you can definitely tell the difference in their genders. Bull seals are only present during the breeding season from October to December of every year. We saw some young males, but not the big ones. Breeding season is when the big male seals set up “harems” or territories of females to mate with. A female will raise one pup per year, and it is estimated that Geyser Rock can produce 10-12,000 seals pups per year (but not all survive their first year). Cape fur seals are famously the main prey for great white sharks.
From there the captain took us into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world-famous ‘Shark Alley’. He then took us to the whale hot spots in the bay. With over two decades of experience, not only did the crew know where to expect the best whale viewings, but the whales had also learned where to expect them. The boat we were on boasted South Africa’s largest boat-based whale identity catalogue with re-sightings of the same individual whales year after year.
Then it was back to the thatched-roof restaurant[4] where we had started from. It can accommodate up to 140 guests at a time and is open all day. Benny and Lev had Bobotie, yellow rice and raisins, banana and apricot chutney with in-season vegetables. I had Chargrilled chicken, pineapple, and avocado salad with garlic and cumin dressing. Hugh ate lightly with the equivalent of a Dramamine tablet … boats really aren’t his thing.
Next, we headed to The African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS). It serves as a custom-designed, world class, marine bird rehabilitation center in the Overstrand area. The sanctuary provides temporary rehabilitative care to diseased, displaced, injured, oiled and abandoned marine birds with special focus on the endangered African Penguin. Marine bird rescue, rehabilitation and release form part of the conservation management plan to conserve and maintain African Penguin populations, and other seabirds. Through continued research, education and awareness programs, their aim is to mitigate human impacts on the colonies. I was definitely using all of that for Benny’s portfolio which I was keeping up with. I had decided, due to our schedule even at home, that I would document his learning experiences year-round whether he realized he was doing school-ish things or not.
This next part was my thrill of the day. Lev was not pleased but I was not going to miss this chance. Hugh was being a big baby about it as well. Following our briefing, which the crew insisted on giving everyone before allowing them onto the chartered boat, we set sail on the open seas for an incredibly exciting three hours of freakin’ shark cage diving. Oh, I kid you not. Benny was too young and was at first disappointed, but Lev headed it off by telling him he needed some amateur photos to go with his professional one.
The trip to Shark Alley was via Geyser Rock, which is where the favorite meal on the Great White’s menu lives. The smell was awful, even worse than Hugh’s breath which, trust me, was saying something. Rotting fish, and I had a hard time not laughing at how green Hugh was getting even with a cup of ginger tea in him, a Dramamine, and a sea band on both wrists. The smell of 60,000 Cape Fur Seals’ feces was almost overwhelming. They were extremely noisy too, like they knew we were there to stir things up and weren’t happy about it.
I got suited up while Hugh tried to give me a lecture between “urps.”
“Will you go suck on some peppermints or something. Your breath is going to kill me,” I finally said grossed out as I could handle.
He got down in my face and I pushed him away. “Now you listen to me Missy,” he snapped. “You will not do anything foolish or foolhardy.”
“They’re the same thing.”
Aggravated he snapped, “Are you listening?!”
“Trying to, but your breath is really gross Hugh. Besides, why would you think I would do anything to upset Benny or Lev? I’ve swum with sharks before. The Gulf of Mexico is full of them. At least here I will be in a cage. Now back off or I’m going to hurl. Thank gawd you didn’t have the shrimp bisque at lunch.”
That did it and he high tailed it to the head. Bad place to go when you are seasick. I could have told him that but didn’t. I know it is a little mean, but it is my need to have some control when Jackhole Hugh steps over the line.
Like I already mentioned, Shark Alley is the strip of water between Geyser Rock and Dyer Island and is where the Great Whites patrol for the Fur Seals. The seals are there to feed on the plentiful fish, but then they become prey themselves. The skipper placed the boat where it was out of the line of the main swell that was rolling in from behind us. Then it was a matter of waiting. As we waited, he used a lure shaped like a seal pup. He also started to chum the water, with a mixture of tuna and sardines.
As soon as I was geared up, I turned to Lev and Benny and gave them a thumbs up. Lev later told me he’d rarely seen me smile that big and be happy. The only other time was … never mind, no one’s business.
The crew members had been engaging the sharks to swim close to the boat so that we got a close-up view before entering the cage. A couple of the people that had come started getting cold feet, but I felt like the energizer bunny. Right away I could tell this was going to be quite an experience. Out of the blue from below us a large female Great White torpedoed towards the cage, changing trajectory only at the last moment and only creating some waves with her tail. Wow.
Now we knew why the few Bronze Whaler Sharks, also called Copper Sharks, had started to play shy. That’s actually all I expected to see. Bronze Whalers are still a legally fished species in South Africa. Fishing pressure has led to these sharks being considered Vulnerable. Like many shark species, these sharks take a long time to become sexually mature so they can breed. Currently, they are being removed out of the ecosystem at a faster rate than what they can replenish themselves. They have beautiful green eyes with a nictitating membrane that they roll over their eyes. Bronze Whalers reach a size of just over three meters.
What surprised me about Great White cage diving, is when the skipper explained the steps they have to take to be careful not to scare these surprisingly timid creatures away. Great Whites? Timid? You’re kidding me. Didn’t they watch Jaws? He explained how they must first lure them in. But then they must wait for the sharks to be comfortable around the boat. For whatever reason the female Great White was in PMS mode and instead of being timid like they normally are, she really gave us a show. Some of the other divers couldn’t handle it and left when they were given the opportunity. I was the last diver out and only because my air tank was telling me it was time. Dang. I could have handled a bit more to tell the truth. She bit the bars multiple times and the camera took some amazing shots. I also got a surprise for Benny and Lev.
I climbed out and the only thing keeping me from dancing around was the weight of my diving gear.
“That was really cool Aunt Gus. Don’t do it again.”
I was sipping on a bottle of water and riding high. Benny’s remark caught me off guard and I wound up having to cough up a little inhaled fluid. “What?”
“It was cool. But don’t do it again. Uncle Lev did not like it. And me neither.”
“We’ve done sharks before Benny. And I was in a cage. They couldn’t reach me.”
“That was the cool part. What wasn’t cool was when that Great White tried to see if she could bite through the cage. She was cranky. So let’s not do cranky sharks again.”
I pulled him in for a hug. “But when I say some adventure you are having isn’t cool …?”
He knew he’d been caught out and said, “Fine. I still didn’t like the cranky one.”
“Meh. She just thought she was all that and then some. The cage bars broke a couple of her teeth so that teaches her doesn’t it.”
“How do you know that?” he asked.
“I caught them as they were floating down and the dive captain said I could keep them so long as I didn’t plan on selling them. One for you and one for Uncle Lev. I’ll find some twine or wire and fix them so you can wear them on a leather thong.”
Benny was enthralled with the idea and forgot about how “not cool” me being in the cage had been. Lev on the other hand tried not to look angry and whispered in his own rare bit of cranky, “Just how close did you get to that thing?”
“Well inside the safe zone. None of my body parts got near the cage. The teeth just drifted in. You are going to look so sexy with this thing around your neck when I get it finished.”
“Er …?” He looked at my face and then did a double take and gave a surprised cough of laughter. “Woman you turn my brain inside out, but this is not the time or place to do it since I can’t try and do it back.”
That’s when Hugh coughed and said, “If you two are finished making me even more seasick than I already am … I … uh … ‘scuse … urp …”
I finally took pity on him. “Go to the top deck and suck on the peppermint candies. Keep your eyes on the horizon.” Hugh did an about face and headed the direction I’d told him grabbing and almost dropping the candies from his pocket I’d found for him. I just shook my head and told Lev, “He is so weird. Let’s find him some ginger ale when we get back to the dock. I do not want to have to pull over so he can puke.”
Lev couldn’t stop laughing and I grabbed Benny and held on as the boat sped up going back towards land. What a memory. And Lev hadn’t even seen the photos yet. After we’d gotten back to the villa and while I was taking another shower, he took the waterproof camera apart so he could get to the memory. I was just coming out, disappointed he hadn’t joined me. I told him so as I came out. He sat down real fast, still a little pale from the pics that I’d gotten for him. I was definitely in the mood to take his mind off of it … and ultimately so was he.
[1] Mini Baked Plantain Frittata Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry
[2] African Penguin - Dyer Island Cruises
[3] Humpback Whale - Whale Watching near Cape Town - Dyer Island Cruises
[4] Restaurant - The Great White House
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Big thank you. Happy Dance.
July 9 - Cape Town: Adventure, Adventure, Adventure
Oh my gosh and I thought swimming with sharks was out of this world. Hugh promised that if we could stay off the water for a bit, he’d find us something adventurous to do. And I gotta say, Hugh put his jackhole-ness on hold for once. For one hour we were flying! Benny and I were, Lev and Hugh stayed on the ground. Who knew that Hugh had a little brother?!
Fred drove and I just was going with the flow, still enjoying my memories from yesterday and trying to get myself to stay in the here and now but it wasn’t easy. I thought we were going for another hike which would have been great. Then we pull into this parking area and I’m wondering where the hike is supposed to start. Lev, the stinker, was in on it.
When they told me what we’d be doing?! Oh my gosh!! Paragliding!!!
I was hesitant for only a minute because I couldn’t tandem with Benny. Instead Hugh had arranged for his baby brother to be Benny’s tandem partner. The guy was my age, and I am not going to try and record the way the two spoke with each other. I was giving them a look and Hugh said, “Pardon, her majesty here prefers King’s English.”
I rolled my eyes. “No, I just would like to understand what the heck you are saying. Do you abbreviate every word you use?”
They looked at each other then looked at me and then in unison said, “Yes.”
“Fine. I’ll get a dictionary later[1]. Let’s start having fun.”
Noah, the “baby brother”, laughed and told Hugh, “I like her.”
Hugh rolled his eyes and said, “You would. Thank gawd she’s taken or I might have to kill you. And then Mum would be stuck with Jack.”
“Who’s Jack?” I asked.
Noah answered, “Our other brother who’s a bludger. He’d live off mom’s pension if her Old Man didn’t keep kicking him out.” Whatever. TMI. And we got on with it and got the spiel.
The tour providers have a proven safety record from day one, a credit to company procedures. Each season starts with brand new equipment and well-maintained throughout the year. All pilots are internationally recognized Tandem Flight Instructors. All pilots carry complete reserve and communication systems, and weather conditions are carefully assessed before you are taken up and again on take-off. You will be assisted by the crew on both take-off and landing. Get ready to fulfill man's oldest dream of free flying. Now, you can experience the joy of personal, foot-launched flight in its purest form - on a paraglider. You do not need to have any experience at all to come tandem paragliding. Thousands of tandem paragliding flights have been done with children as young as 10-years-old and adults as old as 87-years-old. Goody-goody. After the short explanation, I was introduced to my own “pilot” who saluted silently from the sidelines and then Noah explained that Farley didn’t talk much. Fine by me. And then we got our helmets.
How it worked was we took off from the mountain slope we were on under a canopy that resembled a parachute. Once inflated overhead, we took just a few steps or a short run to take off from the gentle slope, the wind caught the canopy and we were airborne. Once in the air, Farley had complete control over direction and speed which allowed us the freedom to soar ridges, rise on warm currents of air, and cover distance.
We got two rides since neither Benny nor I had a problem with heights. At the end of the second one the next people were there and waiting. Benny and I were both doing the Snoopy dance and Lev was caught between relief and laughing hysterically at our antics.
Hugh scrubbed his face and just shook his head. But I caught him smiling as well. The brothers pounded each other’s backs as a form of goodbye and then we were off to the next adventure of the day which was … a helicopter ride.
We made our way to the V&A Waterfront Helipad to check in about 15 to 20 minutes before our scheduled helicopter flight over the city and coast. We got a safety briefing on arrival, and then proceeded to the beautiful flight deck to see the operation up close and personal while we waited to board our flight. Once the copter was ready we climbed aboard and started our adventure with a complete circle around Table Mountain. We continued over the city to see Cape Town Stadium, then traveled down the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, passing Signal Hill, Camps Bay, and Clifton Beach along the way. We got a bird's eye view of the luxury homes and marveled at the mountains of the Twelve Apostles as we headed for Karbonkelberg Mountain. We soared over Hout Bay, and then cross the Cape Peninsula to move from one ocean to the other. The helicopter pilot showed us where the Atlantic Ocean met the Indian Ocean near False Bay. We watched as the terrain changed from sandy beach to rolling hills to rugged cliffs. We then flew over Muizenberg Beach and got to see a “school” of sharks! From there we headed back towards Cape Town on the other side of Table Mountain and got a different view of Cape Town's most famous landmark, passing over the vineyards of the Constantia Valley before landing back at the V&A Waterfront Helipad. And we did it all in 25 air minutes. Wow.
If those two things were all we’d done I would have been one happy Gus but as the salesman said, “Wait! There’s more!” Actually there was plenty more.
Hugh had arranged for another family member – a cousin of his wife (soon to be ex-wife) to take us Seakayaking while he stayed on land. Cape Town's natural beauty is world-renowned according to all of the tourist brochures and websites, but from what I’ve experienced thus far I can say with confidence that it is true. However, few people come and experience its sights and sounds from the fresh blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Or at least not the way we did. It is unmatched with its combination of scenery and wildlife. We took off from the calm waters of the V&A Waterfront, next to the Oranjezicht Farm Market & the Lookout Function Venue, and then paddled out into the ocean where we had close encounters with the active local marine life; local dolphins, whales, seals, penguins, and sunfish. We also got unique views of Lion's Head, Signal Hill, the Twelve Apostles mountain range, and a local shipwreck. Lots of fun and some great photo opps for Lev which really is what we are supposed to be there for, not just our own enjoyment. The tour then finished with a breathtakingly view of Table Mountain from the water side. Two hours of kayaking. It was strenuous but relaxing for me at the same time.
From kayakaks we switched to a Speed Boat Adventure. We departed from Quay 5 on the Waterfront. We saw Cape Fur Seals, Dolphins, Whales, Penguins and Sun Fish, a couple of sharks, and a few other things as we searched the bay for sea life. We had amazing views of the Table Bay, Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Camps Bay and Clifton Beaches, Robben Island where Lev spent an hour getting some incredible shots.
We met up with Hugh and got off the water to head to a Jeep and Sandboarding activity for the next three and a half hours. We had fun exploring the Atlantis Dunes in an open-top Jeep Wrangler. The tour started off at the entrance of The Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve. First thing we got the adrenaline flowing by climbing the dunes. After the driving experience, we found a couple of high dunes for some dune jumping and photos. Table Mountain made the perfect backdrop on the clear day while Benny and I learned to sandboard.From there we headed back to the Villa and dinner was just as amazing as breakfast had been. Ouma-onder-die-komberse[2]. And don’t ask me to pronounce it. I had Fred spell it for me and he laughed every time I tried to say it. Oh well. I can speak English and Spanish and even some Seminole. And Lev has taught me a few other words when he was trying to find a way to curse without Benny and I understanding which was a hoot considering I was going into the Navy at one point. The Milk Tart Custard[3] was a lot easier to say, and definitely easy to eat.
Benny was all for doing his nightly “help” chores and then nearly walked into the door frame on his way to the bathroom to shower one last time and then hit the hay. Fine with me and I didn’t even mind picking up his clothes to see if any of them needed to be treated. He’d face planted on the cot and Lev and I rolled him in so he could get a good night’s rest. We start the actual safari that we’d flown all this way for tomorrow.
Now for some administrative stuff on my end. Got the final all-clear to start the blog back up so long as I mentioned the advertisers and stayed complimentary. I agreed that if something didn’t turn out well I would skip it, same as on the Florida and Alaska+ assignments, but I’m usually able to find the silver lining, lesson learned, etc. out of necessity.
Lev laughed as he headed to work on uploading film and said, “Man, I’d forgotten what it was like trying to keep up with your two when you are in this mode.”
Hugh simply looked gobsmacked. He also looked a bit wistful. I found he was missing his kids and wishing they were more interested in the opportunities he could have provided for them.
I wrote this log entry while I finished the little bit of laundry I haven’t kept up with. Next I’m going to go wash my hair and while it dries I’m going to get our personal gear re-packed and ready for tomorrow’s departure.
[1] A Beginners Guide to Aussie Slang | Over 120 Slang words
[2] Ouma onder die komberse | Woolworths TASTE
[3] Milk tart-inspired baked custard | Woolworths TASTE
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you for to nights chapter .
.
July 10 - Day 1 Cape Town
Our last breakfast on our own, or should I say before the actual safari took over the schedule, is something I’m ging to have to try. It was called Hausa Masa[1] is basically fried rice balls and these were stuffed with something savory. There was also a kind of bean hash. It was good and I quickly finished up my last clean up while Lev and Benny moved our belongings to the front door and then out to the waiting car to put the stuff in the “dickey”. I swear before this is all said and done I am going to get a translation dictionary for Australian.
Our first stop of the day was the Two Oceans Aquarium where we spent a couple of hours killing time in an educational setting for Benny’s benefit. I’m really not sure how much he is going to get out of the safari so when other opportunities present themselves Lev and I plan on taking advantage of them
The Two Oceans Aquarium provided a diverse showcase of Atlantic and Indian Ocean marine life, with over 3,000 animals in their display habitats. We explored different underwater species from the Ocean Basket Kelp Forest, which also showcased the unique kelp that is found on Cape Town beaches. We explored similar habitats for the Indian Ocean. There were both low-tech and high-tech exhibits that featured the dazzling colors of all the different fish, translucent jellies, shy octopuses and Knysna seahorses. The Knysna is the most endangered seahorse in the world. At one point there were less than one hundred left in the wild.
We learned that the study of seahorses is important for scientists and conservationists because they are known to be an 'indicator species'. An indicator species is an organism which serves as a measure of the environmental conditions that exist in a given locale.
One of the coolest exhibits was a long tunnel that gave us a peek at a variety of subtropical species. It was like walking underwater without getting wet.
The Two Oceans Aquarium is home to a few species that aren’t found at any other aquarium in the world. Among these are the strange, serpentine hagfish[2]. An eel-like fish, that can produce over a gallon of slime when it’s scared. It’s an ancient fish that doesn’t have eyes, fins or scales.
From the Aquarium did a little shopping for a few items that Lev needed and I picked up some female personal hygiene items. We also had a grilled chicken meal from a popular fast food place called Nando’s. I felt a little stared at but I think it was due to our American accents than for our skin color.
Fred drove us around a little more so Lev could gather some filler pictures and then we officially started the safari with a welcome meeting at 6 pm.
According to the email we received this morning:
Welcome to South Africa. With its stunning coastline, modern cityscape and nearby mountains, Cape Town is one of Africa's most exciting cities. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. If you do happen to arrive early, why not get out and explore Cape Town, perhaps taking a walk in Newlands Forest, jumping on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, or heading down to the waterfront to see Cape Town Stadium up close.
The dinner was a bit over the top and reminded me a little bit of some of the dinner shows we saw in Hawaii. There was a special African dinner and then a drum show.
This is where we met up with the other members of the safari. We were supposed to be a group of twenty-two but there was a family of four that cancelled at the last minute and moved up a brother and sister traveling combo named Sheldon. Our group was a “four” as well … Lev and I, Benny, and Hugh. It was decided that the group would just go short and possibly pick up someone(s) for pieces of the safari. I wasn’t really understanding how that worked but it wasn’t my job, and it didn’t appear it was going to impact what was our job. Hugh said it was a common practice. Some of the group would be long haulers for the entire safari, and then shorter tours would run concurrently with what we were doing. Additionally, there was a surprising number of personnel/guides coming with us. They would come and go throughout our travels as well, but there would be a few constants. Too frazzled to report on them yet since I haven’t gotten a feel for them.
During dinner we had a speaker that laid out some of the missing information from my packet. For instance, a “typical” safari day is as follows:
5:30 am wake up call and get to breakfast
6 am – 11 am morning game drive
11 am – 4 pm leisure time including lunch
4 pm – 7 pm afternoon game drive
7:30 pm dinner time
9 pm lights out and bedtime
However, as I looked at the itinerary I wasn’t seeing a lot of “typical” days. There are going to be a lot of travel days. Long travel days. The more detailed itinerary we received has given me more than just a few things I need to talk to Lev about. Especially all those long travel days and what we are supposed to be getting out of them. There are too many days where it looks like we get up early to eat, then climb onto a bus and drive all day, only to park for dinner and then go to bed early because there is another travel day the next. The travel brochures don’t mention that part. Now I know why a few of the websites I read said to bring a book or deck of cards for travel days. Africa is a big continent, I get that. And we are covering a lot of it. I get that too. And this is one of the longest safaris that I found when looking at them on the various travel websites for some comparisons. But. I really had no idea we’d be spending so much time on the road. Maybe I should have, but somehow, I missed that part.
Next up was accommodations. We weren’t the only ones that had arrived in Cape Town early, but we arrived the earliest. As far as the remainder of our accommodations:
Camping (with facilities) (47 nights)
Camping (with basic facilities) (5 nights)
Bungalow (2 nights)
Cabin (3 nights)
Dormitory (2 nights)
Hotel (4 nights)
Tonight is considered one of those hotel nights and we moved from the villa to the hotel we were all staying in as a group. Lev and I will be back to finding our privacy when and where appropriate because Benny is sleeping on a cot with us from here on out. Hugh will have his own sleeping quarters most of the time.
The participants making up our tour group:
1. Levinson Beauregard “Lev” Hargis (And Lev has told me to forget his middle name when and if at all possible)
2. August Summer “Gus” Barrymore Jr.
3. Benjamin Lawrence “Benny Little Bear” Barrymore IV
4. Hugh who said it was damn odd going along as a paying customer than as a guide
5. Mrs. Bodycombe – in her words an “old bird” from England completing a bucket list item
6. Mr. Wight – grandfather, aka “the rich old bloke”
7. Mr. Dutton – assistant to and for Mr. Wight
8. Sadie Wight – 14-year-old granddaughter; from what I can tell, shy and neglected in favor of the older popular twin brothers
9. Twin 1 – Kingston Wight – young twenty-something male, grandson 1
10. Twin 2 – Kerrigan Wight – young twenty-something male, grandson 2
11. Mr. Morin (Canadian Retiree) – widower
12. Kevin, adult son of Ms. Thomson. Sweet, gentle, mostly non-verbal, does use sign language, intellectually disabled, some mobility issues, presents to be younger than Benny in some respects, still able to interact with the group and his environment.
13. Ms. Thomson (Expat) living in Uruguay – mother of Kevin, never married, devoted to Kevin
14. Mrs. Murray (lived in Portugal but after their trip will move to be with sister) – widow, sister of Ms. Thomson
15. Mr. Legrand – husband in his early 40s
16. Mrs. Legrand – wife in her mid 30s – Lev said she’d be company for me. Yeah, right. I knew immediately she was a woman used to having a lot of male attention, women need not apply. I’m going to need to be careful not to let my opinion show.
17. Mr. Peeters – Belgian, not French. When he said it, he reminded me of that old character Hercule Poirot from some movies that Grandma Barry and Meemo used to enjoy watching together and giggling and sighing like girls over Peter Ustinov, the actor. Ugh. I thought they were silly as I remember. This guy is definitely younger, somewhere around Lev’s age I guess. He plays at being a freelance photographer but something about him just feels shady. Not in a criminal kind of shady, more like he … oh I don’t know. Definitely bears watching but for what I haven’t a clue yet.
18. Mr. Sheldon – brother
19. Ms. Sheldon – Sister
20. Mr. Hendry – personal security guide for the Wights, works for the same company as Hugh
After dinner and the drum show, and introductions, were over we were given “the rest of the story” for our safari. One of the things covered was food on safari since several in the group have dietary restrictions. I had already read up on it thanks to Tommi and her fetish for detailed notes which I am very glad for. I feel much better prepared than I had, but the new information was also welcome. First, it is very common to pick up a few pounds on safari because food is everywhere and in some camps your options for exercise may be very limited. That’s fine for Lev and Benny but I am going to have to be more careful. The usual safari mealtimes are as follows:
- A wake-up call with coffee and biscuits (cookies), more European than what someone from the US would be used to. Rather than cookies or pastries those of us with gluten issues may get rice crackers or something along that order. That’s assuming there is no “full breakfast” being offered. On some mornings there is simply no time for a complete meal.
- A refreshment stop on the morning game drive with hot drinks and muffins (with a gluten-free option). Sometimes this might be the time for a full cooked breakfast out in the bush if it is offered. If you are hot-air ballooning, expect a full champagne breakfast with everything from omelets to pancakes. [I glanced at Lev and he gave me a slightly guilty look. Uh huh. I want the full itinerary from here on out and not just a sketch of one.]
- Refreshments or brunch when you get back to camp. Depending on breakfast or brunch arrangements, you could have lunch instead.
- Afternoon tea is a safari tradition. Just before your afternoon game drive, tuck into coffee, cakes, biscuits and other treats like pies or tarts. There will be gluten-free versions of the above or cheese, nuts, dried fruit, or similar.
- A refreshment stop on the afternoon game drive with drinks and snacks (everything from dried fruit and nuts to biltong, chips, samosas and so on).
- A drink when you get back to camp.
- A multi-course dinner.
While the men were distracted by maps and some videos, all the females were pulled aside and told not to worry about being disrespected as females though there were a few safety issues it will be important to adhere to. The woman who gave us “the talk” was cool if a little earthier than expected by a couple of group members.
Safety on safari is everyone’s duty. At all times listen to your guide or ranger and always obey instructions given by the staff. They have years of training and experience, especially in predicting the behavior of wild animals. Your safety is their foremost concern so obey their instructions.
- Never, ever take food back to your tent or leave food lying around. Wild animals have a very keen sense of smell and are driven by the need to eat. If you have brought food with you, do not open the packaging; preferrably hand it to the kitchen staff for safekeeping.
- Always zip up your tent or close the door to your suite when leaving. Not doing so is a common rookie mistake. Baboons and monkeys love ransacking tents, and will easily slip through an open door or window. Animals seek out shade, warmth or dryness – your tent is a perfect hiding place if you leave it wide open. If you get back to your tent to find an animal in it, do not panic. Walk away quickly and quietly, and alert a member of staff who will remove it safely.
- Bring sufficient supplies with you. If you are due to have your period on safari, do NOT assume that you will be able to purchase tampons or pads easily. You may be hours away from the nearest shop and there is no guarantee they will stock what you need. Many camps have only male staff so don’t rely on being able to ‘borrow’ items from female staff.
- If you can, bring brown paper bags to put soiled items in for disposal. Do NOT flush them even if your camp has a ‘flush loo’ – the system won’t be able to cope, and you may block it. Rather wrap up everything in toilet paper, put it in a paper bag and put it in the bathroom’s bin. If everything is paper, the staff can burn it later. Most lodges will supply a bag and have a message explaining how the toilet system works.
- Don’t leave used items behind if you must go to the toilet on a game drive. Animals have a very keen sense of smell and will come to ‘investigate’ once you’ve moved on (they won’t while you’re there as they’re scared of humans). You don’t want a lion eating what you’ve left behind. Rather bag it all up, put it in a Ziploc bag, put it in your daypack and discard it discreetly when you get back to camp.
- Don’t be embarrassed. Menstruation is completely natural. Some primates menstruate as do some canids. I’ve had fascinating conversations with male guides about this – it is all part of nature and nothing to be ashamed of.
- Do NOT put soiled underwear in the laundry basket for the staff to wash – wash it yourself.
We were also admonished to not leave taps running when shaving, brushing teeth, or washing hair … assuming there is a tap. In most camps we will have a single bucket of water to wash with … that includes both body and hair combined. Sounds like on a sailboat so I know that I wasn’t wrong to bring multiple containers of unscented deodorant, even for Benny. I have containers of cornstarch and baking soda for homemade and unscented dry shampoo and body powder. When the scalp and other body hair gets to where it really needs more than that, I have dry soap sheets … sheets that dissolve in one use and has low suds … that can also double as shampoo. Hopefully. The “hopefully” is why I also have leave-in conditioner and detangler … and scissors for Benny’s and Lev’s hair for just in case. And I also have enough waxing strips to get me through, though gotta do it where Lev can’t see as it gaks him out.
Last time the subject came up I tried to tell him, “It really isn’t that bad. You get use to it. Better than shaving every day or looking like Bigfoot’s cousin.”
His reply? “I’d rather be waterboarded. You freeze me to death.” He shuddered.
“Fine, just keep your beard trimmed. It tickles in places, and not in a good way.”
So we have an agreement. I don’t make him watch me wax my legs – he says the sounds of me ripping the strips off gives him nightmares – and he keeps his beard trimmed and uses softener on it so I don’t chase him down and wax his face. I’d say that’s fair.
Another delicate subject was using the bathroom while on a game drive. Some of the parks will have pit toilets at various locations but most game drives will not.
- As always, don’t be embarrassed. Everyone has ‘to go’ at some point and guides will often explain upfront what you need to do. Some even have waterless hand sanitizer on the vehicle.
- Simply tell your guide that you need ‘find a bush’ or ask him or her if it’s ‘OK to use that bush’. They will know what you want to do. In East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), many guides use the euphemism ‘picking flowers’ – ‘Do you need to pick flowers?’. They don’t mean literally picking flowers – they mean a toilet break!
- Check the ground around the bush for snakes, lizards, frogs, bugs and monitors – most will move on when they feel the vibration of your walking on the ground. Stomp extra heavily as you approach the bush if you want to make sure!
- Don’t leave behind plastic wrappers, sanitary pads, tampons etc – wrap them and bag them to take back to camp.
- We suggest making a small ‘loo bag’ for yourself with a small bottle of hand sanitizer, biodegradable toilet paper or wipes and brown paper bags.
- Always go to the toilet at the lodge just before you leave for your game drive – it’s the last plumbed loo you will see for at least three hours!
- Wash your hands thoroughly – waterless hand sanitizer is the easiest way of doing this.
- Do NOT wear a jumpsuit or romper! You have to take off the whole thing to use the loo, which is very impractical and wastes a lot of time. Bear in mind that no bush is ever completely private and that you may be on the game drive vehicle with strangers, men included.
Found out after we headed to our hotel room that the guys got the same basic talking points. Good to know we females weren’t the only ones being treated to that extra special dose of attention. Lev agreed with me when I suggested all three of us take a shower, scrub our hair, and take care of any other personal hygiene as it looks like for the next two months, we were in for a real backcountry experience.
[1] Stuffed savory Masa (Waina)
[2] 14 Fun Facts About Hagfish
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh thank you Kathy.
Dumb Blonde
Contributing Member
"the waiting car to put the stuff in the “dickey”. I swear before this is all said and done I am going to get a translation dictionary for Australian."
I don't think an Australian dictionary would help. That word went out of style here back 60 years ago when I was a kid!
I don't think an Australian dictionary would help. That word went out of style here back 60 years ago when I was a kid!
lol then I have a guy we do business with that is just yanking our chain. ROFL
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You aren't the only one. Although I don't have as much contact as I used to.
July 11 - Day 2 Western Cape
Our first full morning on the safari. We left Cape Town behind, and traveled up the Western Cape (approximately 6 hours). They told us to sit back, relax and enjoy the sprawling scenery. Uh huh. Tonight, we are staying on a working farm. According to one of our guides, this is a great chance to gain an insight into everyday life in this remote part of South Africa.
Honestly felt like a slow start to this adventure. Slow to get people up in the morning. Slow to get everyone through breakfast. Slow to make sure the luggage was on the funky overland bus that we will be using when not on game drives. Slow to get through traffic and on what passes for open highway on this continent. Also must admit that though it was nice to be able to watch the scenery go by while the guide intermittently gave his spiel, sitting on my butt for hours was challenging. Some of the others in the tour group were still suffering from jet lag and watched the scenery from behind their eye lids.
This is not how I envisioned an African safari. Might have been a little naïve but I didn’t think we’d be sitting in a bus as much as it appears that we will. I’m still choking on that fact. It appears it is going to be long periods of boredom punctuated by short periods of O.M.G. They say you can get used to anything, but I’ll be honest and say I’m maybe a little disappointed and a lot worried about how to manage the hamster during those long periods of boredom. Boredom and Barrymore do not go together. At all.
I’m also concerned about how I am going to honestly and truthfully report on my experiences for the blog and to give good face for Lev. I am even more concerned about Benny. I suppose that I need to take it day-by-day. Just for this to be the first day … actually second day since they count last night as Day 1 … I must admit I’m not too impressed. Had more fun in Capetown, even with Hugh the Jackhole dogging my heels.
July 12 - Day 3 Orange River
Another day of being on the road for hours and hours. Our destination was the Orange River, the beautiful natural border between South Africa and Namibia. Nine hours in the bus. At least we added a country to the list we are building that we’ve traveled to; Namibia.
I can now say that Benny and I have traveled in addition to: all of the assignments we went on with Lev before now, South Africa and Namibia. I should keep a running list on the blog. Maybe. I’ll add it to possibilities in my notes. I’m still Fritzy to be honest.
I had to do an hour of planks just to try and control the wiggles from hell that I had by the time we made camp. The drive wasn’t particularly awful. In fact, we passed through Namaqualand, which is renowned for its wildflowers that spring up from late July to mid-September. The flowers had already started blooming, and despite them not being at the height of their season, they were still unique and beautiful.
Traditionally known as the Gariep River, the Orange River is the longest in South Africa (1367 miles). I get water. I may not get too many other environments but I definitely get water. This water has its source is high up in the Drakensberg mountain range in Lesotho, and it flows westward into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay in South Africa. Although it passes through no major cities, it plays a major role in the South African economy by providing irrigation to local farmlands.
Our camp tonight is on the banks of the river. It came with a fire that we sat around getting to know everyone. I let Lev handle the people stuff. I’m not anti-people but I need to observe them for a bit before I can interact with them. Not to mention I was waiting for someone, anyone, to complain about the last two days of “driving” and not doing any animal things a la what safaris are supposed to be about. But no one did. Now I wonder if maybe I’m not making a mountain out of a mole hill … or hamster hill could be more appropriate. I’m going to be careful to give it a week before I post something on the blog. One, catching a Wi-Fi signal is going to be challenging and two, might as well just say I need to be careful and watch my mouth and attitude and don’t want it to bleed through and into what I’m posting.
Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, even Lev. He is in his element. I was hoping that my attitude was under wraps, but someone was watching.
“Not good enough for you?” Hugh asked.
I sighed. “Tell me no one else can see my attitude.”
He just continued looking at me bordering on angry.
“Oh knock it off. Yes, Africa is freaking awesome, I’d just actually like to do more than see it from a bus window. I’m having to adjust my expectations. There, you happy?”
His look slowing changed. “Having trouble sitting still are you?”
“You have no idea. I feel like my skin is trying to crawl off my body and go find some trouble to get into. But that is my problem, not yours, and no one else’s either. How obvious is it? I don’t want to bring Lev or Benny down since they seem to be enjoying themselves.”
“I only saw it for a moment when you looked at the Legrand sheila.” He chuffed a laughed. “Yeah, that look.”
“She’s not my type.”
“But she’s Lev’s?”
“Don’t be a jackhole. And get your head out of your butt. Yeah, she’s all about the male attention she must get in heavy doses. Some people are like that, both male and female. She’s just going a little over the top, not just with Lev, and it is making me want to gag.”
“Well, here’s a surprise. Real men ain’t into that unless all they want is a temp sex partner. She ain’t near cuddly enough to make someone think along permanent lines. Now stop letting her bother you. As far as travel time, yeah it can be a problem for some people, especially on longer safaris like this one is. Try and find something to keep your mind busy and time will go faster. The lad isn’t having trouble.”
“He and Lev are like playmates in the same monkey troop. Plus, he has his art lessons. I also try and keep him distracted so Lev can get his stuff done.”
“There you go. Next time we hit some signal, download something to work with offline. Or go over them papers you have all your lists and notes on. You don’t need to suffer in silence. You’ll only turn the hamster psychotic.”
“What?!”
He started chuckling. “Lev explained it. Didn’t know what in the hell an illegal rodent had to do with anything. Actually good way to deal with it,” he said with surprising approval. “Just don’t let things take over in your head. You have a problem, talk to me. I can’t fix what I’m not seeing or understanding.”
I snorted. “That’s my line. And hamsters aren’t illegal.”
“They are in Australia. Damn illegal. In all states and it’s been that way since before the turn of the century (Conservation Act of 1999). And they aren’t the only exotic pests that are illegal.”
“Ok. Rabbit trail found. Thanks.”
“You’re easy to please.”
“Now if it was just as easy for me to please others.”
I am starting to think maybe I’m not the only one uncomfortable in current surroundings and needing a job to stay balanced. Hugh already mentioned once that he felt “damn strange” to be a guest and not a guide.
Maybe I’ll try and focus learning something new and interesting for the blog. For instance, the Orange River is famous for its historic diamond mining. It is also known for the magnificent beauty that is found on the banks of the river. There are over 142 different species of birds that can be seen. The seasons are flipped from what I am used to. The Springs months are (July to September) which is why there were so many wildflowers. No matter the time of year though, the strange desert vistas offer a unique backdrop to the day.
Instead of complaining about having to sit around and chit-chat, maybe I should have thought about how it was a team-building exercise (or at least a version of something like that) or used the time to think about the traditional meal and perhaps made plans for how to replicate some of the dishes when we get back to the River House.
Okay, perhaps I’ve found a way to deal with the hamster. I don’t have any illusion that it will be easy but at least I don’t have to wonder if I’ve brought enough caffeine tabs to get some sleep.
July 13 - Day 4 Fish River Canyon
This morning we were given an opportunity for an optional canoe adventure on the Orange River. We were all encouraged to go as floating leisurely down the stream is a great way to discover the beauty of this region. It made for an early morning but I didn’t care, and neither did Benny. I discovered he’d been trying so hard to be good, but he needed to expend some energy the same as I did.
The Orange River is one of the few rivers in Namibia with no crocodiles and hippos. Well, wasn’t that comforting since it wasn’t something I had even considered. Good grief, where has all my training gone? Am I so starved for activity and adventure that I’d ignore all safety issues? Hugh must have had a clue after our conversation last night because he assured me that the canoe trip was completely safe and meanders through breathtaking gorges of the Namibian and South-African border area. The river trip with some shallow rafting spots is conducted on the calmer parts of the river, making it suitable for children from the age of six years and older people. I wasn’t too worried about Benny’s capabilities … at least not until I was promised there were no bitey things in the water wanting to turn us over. Great googley moogley.
As for what I did on my “down time” in the bus, I’ve decided to write a daily blog and try and make it sound like I’m the guide and the readers are passengers on the bus with me. That means that I must look for silver linings and educational stuff. Goal set.
Passing fields of grapes and rugged mountain ranges of the Richtersveld the river safari continued towards Aussenkehr, a grape farm in the middle of the Aussenkehr Nature Reserve. Numerous aquatic birds and birds of prey (over 100 different species are found along the river) can be seen during the river safari. Otters, klipspringers and vervet monkeys and many other mammals are spotted frequently. How was that? All true of course. The otters were cut but I could have done without the monkeys. They creeped me out a little.
Logistic and Supplies: Need to find a way to get more flip note pads. Benny and I are both going to go through a lot of them it seems. Also small pencils and rubber bands to keep the pencil and pad together when not in use. Benny is using his for sketching and for “collecting questions” that he can ask later when being quiet isn’t so important. During travel days we will have our tablets assuming we can keep the batteries charged. Lev’s photo and editing equipment comes first.
After we got back from the canoe trip, we had a quick lunch. I think they are still trying to impress because I just can’t see having clean linens and all the rest on a real safari. Most everyone acted like they were due the treatment but in all honesty, a nice picnic lunch would have been more comfortable to me. I mean, it is cool beans and all, and kudos to the chef who made sure that everyone’s dietary restrictions are being addressed, but yeah, bit much in my opinion.
Then it was back on the bus … I think I’ll call it the Big White Whale … so we could head further west into the desert lands of Namibia towards Fish River Canyon (approximately 4–5 hours). At 1640 feet deep and over 100 miles long, Fish River Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world, second only to the Grand Canyon. Benny and I had a little fun comparing the two.
The Canyon forms part of the state-run Ais-Ais Richtersveld Transfontier Park. Entrance to the Park is situated 6 miles from a well-known view point called Hell’s Bend at the Hobas Restcamp. Visitors have to report here. It is important to know that during the summer month the Canyon hike is closed due to the heat. The Fish River Hiking Trail can be conducted during the months April – September and can be completed within 4 to 5 days, depending on fitness. It covers a length of 52 miles and the descent into the Canyon is only allowed for hikers doing the trail. Day-visitors, such as we were, are not allowed to climb into the Canyon. That sucked.
The Fish River is 500 miles long and thus the longest river of Namibia. It has its source in the eastern parts of the Naukluft Mountains. After about 125 miles the river flows into the Hardap Dam which is the largest water reservoir of the country with a circumference of 18 miles.
The Fish River does not carry water continuously, only during the rainy season when the river might turn into a torrent, a flash flood sort of thing. During the dry season sporadic pools supply water to many animals. The Fish River Canyon starts at Seeheim, at the lower course of the River and ends at Ai Ais where there is a boiling hot spring, and the river then flows into the Orange River, the border to South Africa.
At any time of year we were told there are remarkable photographic opportunities. Lev certainly found that to be true. And yes, I took some with my phone’s camera for the blog, that way no one can complain I am using Lev’s copyrighted work.
Had some time to watch our other group members. The Wrights … well how do I put this. They give off the smell of money but aren’t bad people. Poor kid … the granddaughter … is a bit like a fish out of water and way too thin. She was exhausted by the time we got to camp but none of her family seemed to take notice. The special needs young man was also stumbling with fatigue but his mother and aunt were on it and I heard them whisper they might not take any more of the “optional” activities for his sake. The Sheldons are a little weird. Maybe I got it wrong that they are brother and sister but I’m nearly certain that’s what we were told at the Welcome Dinner. Everyone else was somewhere on the tired spectrum. Even Benny, but I think that’s more about him beginning yet another growth spurt than fatigue from the water.
Me? I’m energized. But it is time to close this log down so that Lev will got to sleep. He doesn’t want me outside the tent without him. Next time I’ll do my work out before I start my blog log.
Resources:
Fish River Canyon - The world's second largest canyon
July 14 - Day 5 Sesriem
During our breakfast, a full one to take the edge off the day’s long drive, our guide made the following announcement: Be ready for a long travel day today as we drive toward the fabled dunes of Namibia. Travel time is approximately 10 hours. You will have the opportunity to stop at a market or shop to stock up on supplies before tomorrow's bush camp. Upon arrival, you can stretch your legs and take in the exciting desert scenes. We will be situated in the most famous part of the Namib Desert, among the vast dune fields, the most spectacular of which are found near the Sesriem Canyon. Then I suggest an early night in preparation for your dawn hike tomorrow.
I don’t remember driving this long in the Ark … ever. Ten hours. Except maybe that day from getting off the ferry to trying to get to LA. I almost forgot about my new goal of learning something new every day that can be used in the blog.
I don’t know who needed to get out more the few times we stopped, Benny or I. I wondered how the Ms. Thomson family was dealing with Kevin only to hear her confide that she’d dosed Kev with Benadryl. I know, especially in the early days of Benny’s diagnosis, that I’d occasionally been tempted to do the same thing to him but I’m glad I didn’t. I’m not being judgmental. Not my kid, not my place, none of my business. I did it the one time on the plane trip to Hawaii and it was a bit of a mess. I prefer finding work arounds. Today it was a challenge, but not just for Benny.
That said? I wish I could have dosed myself with Benadryl. How in the heck do people do this? Not even truck drivers are allowed to drive this many hours without a break of almost as long. I know Dad used to fuss about having to get off the road but a few times he was honest and told me that driving was a lot harder to do than most people understood, including some truck drivers, and that getting off the road made it safer for everyone. I learned the truth of that driving the Ark but trust me when I say, it was getting more dangerous for me and everyone else to stay sat.
During the drive, one of our stops was a small market. Nothing really we needed though I was surprised at the selection of food and etcetera that was available. It wasn’t a huge amount, but it wasn’t Mad Max thin either. Found out it was the only market for many miles in all directions. It was next to the fuel station. No one really needed to buy anything as far as I could tell, but like Benny and I, they essentially used it as a way to stretch their legs.
And then I saw something that set the hamster to running the wheel almost off its axle.
“Hugh,” I nearly growled. “Is that supposed to happen?”
Hugh knows me well enough that my tone was not to be ignored and it only took him a microsecond to see what had set me off. Into his ear piece he muttered, “Oy. Dumbass. Forget someone?”
Hugh and I (Benny was with Lev) casually kept an eye on the painfully pale blonde young girl that was Mr. Wight’s granddaughter. Hendry had been laughing with her brothers and completely forgot to keep up with her location. Dumbass was too kind a word for him.
I kept my eye on her the remainder of the day without trying to create a situation. It was obvious that somehow she and Benny had already met and were more than nodding acquaintances. Benny is like that. I’ve given up trying to figure out how he does it and I just consider it one of his talents … or maybe gift is a more correct term. He is the underdog’s champion, but nothing overt.
After more hours on the road, we finally made it to our stop for the night. Located at the entry to Sossusvlei – an area inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia – just inside the park gate is Sesriem Camp Site. Sesriem Camp is run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts. There were forty-four campsites with shared restroom areas.
And speaking of restrooms, this is an example of how Benny operates. Coming back from the latrines I saw that Benny and Lev had company. “Aunt Gus, this is Sadie. She needs a girl. There’s too many boys out there.”
I stood up as I’d intended to hit the latrines myself. Sadie was 14-years-old and didn’t need a babysitter, but I treated it like a camp buddy; you didn’t go places alone for safety reasons. However, I tried to show her some considerations.
Quietly I asked, “Is Benny correct or did Benny Big Ears get it wrong and you’re just being polite?”
Almost so I couldn’t hear she answered, “He didn’t get it wrong.”
“Okay, anyone in particular bothering you?”
“No. Except the Legrands are …”
When she petered off into silence I said, “Yeah. They are. With a side order of more and the same for the Sheldons. I saw your family at the other fire.”
She sighed. “Men.”
“Boy, do I know that feeling. I don’t have a problem if you want to drag your chair over by us. Benny might talk your ear off but otherwise you should have some peace.”
She tried not to grin. Yep, she’d already met Benny.
I spotted Hugh and signaled that I had Sadie so he’d be able to let his counterpart Mr. Hendry know since apparently he had yet again forgotten that the younger Ms. Wight was also part of his job duties. Hendry was already on my list for almost losing the girl at the market today.
We spent the evening listening to the clicking of the desert barking Geckos and distant howl of the Jackal as we sat by the fire. When it was time for “lights out,” I walked Sadie over to Wight’s and then left after the secretary gave a nod. Hendry was still cutting up with the three Mr. Wight’s. I really do not like that guy.
Resources:
Sesriem - Wikipedia
https://namibiatourism.com.na/blog/Namibia-s-Sesriem-Canyon-Just-before-the-dunes-of-Soussesvlei
During our breakfast, a full one to take the edge off the day’s long drive, our guide made the following announcement: Be ready for a long travel day today as we drive toward the fabled dunes of Namibia. Travel time is approximately 10 hours. You will have the opportunity to stop at a market or shop to stock up on supplies before tomorrow's bush camp. Upon arrival, you can stretch your legs and take in the exciting desert scenes. We will be situated in the most famous part of the Namib Desert, among the vast dune fields, the most spectacular of which are found near the Sesriem Canyon. Then I suggest an early night in preparation for your dawn hike tomorrow.
I don’t remember driving this long in the Ark … ever. Ten hours. Except maybe that day from getting off the ferry to trying to get to LA. I almost forgot about my new goal of learning something new every day that can be used in the blog.
I don’t know who needed to get out more the few times we stopped, Benny or I. I wondered how the Ms. Thomson family was dealing with Kevin only to hear her confide that she’d dosed Kev with Benadryl. I know, especially in the early days of Benny’s diagnosis, that I’d occasionally been tempted to do the same thing to him but I’m glad I didn’t. I’m not being judgmental. Not my kid, not my place, none of my business. I did it the one time on the plane trip to Hawaii and it was a bit of a mess. I prefer finding work arounds. Today it was a challenge, but not just for Benny.
That said? I wish I could have dosed myself with Benadryl. How in the heck do people do this? Not even truck drivers are allowed to drive this many hours without a break of almost as long. I know Dad used to fuss about having to get off the road but a few times he was honest and told me that driving was a lot harder to do than most people understood, including some truck drivers, and that getting off the road made it safer for everyone. I learned the truth of that driving the Ark but trust me when I say, it was getting more dangerous for me and everyone else to stay sat.
During the drive, one of our stops was a small market. Nothing really we needed though I was surprised at the selection of food and etcetera that was available. It wasn’t a huge amount, but it wasn’t Mad Max thin either. Found out it was the only market for many miles in all directions. It was next to the fuel station. No one really needed to buy anything as far as I could tell, but like Benny and I, they essentially used it as a way to stretch their legs.
And then I saw something that set the hamster to running the wheel almost off its axle.
“Hugh,” I nearly growled. “Is that supposed to happen?”
Hugh knows me well enough that my tone was not to be ignored and it only took him a microsecond to see what had set me off. Into his ear piece he muttered, “Oy. Dumbass. Forget someone?”
Hugh and I (Benny was with Lev) casually kept an eye on the painfully pale blonde young girl that was Mr. Wight’s granddaughter. Hendry had been laughing with her brothers and completely forgot to keep up with her location. Dumbass was too kind a word for him.
I kept my eye on her the remainder of the day without trying to create a situation. It was obvious that somehow she and Benny had already met and were more than nodding acquaintances. Benny is like that. I’ve given up trying to figure out how he does it and I just consider it one of his talents … or maybe gift is a more correct term. He is the underdog’s champion, but nothing overt.
After more hours on the road, we finally made it to our stop for the night. Located at the entry to Sossusvlei – an area inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia – just inside the park gate is Sesriem Camp Site. Sesriem Camp is run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts. There were forty-four campsites with shared restroom areas.
And speaking of restrooms, this is an example of how Benny operates. Coming back from the latrines I saw that Benny and Lev had company. “Aunt Gus, this is Sadie. She needs a girl. There’s too many boys out there.”
I stood up as I’d intended to hit the latrines myself. Sadie was 14-years-old and didn’t need a babysitter, but I treated it like a camp buddy; you didn’t go places alone for safety reasons. However, I tried to show her some considerations.
Quietly I asked, “Is Benny correct or did Benny Big Ears get it wrong and you’re just being polite?”
Almost so I couldn’t hear she answered, “He didn’t get it wrong.”
“Okay, anyone in particular bothering you?”
“No. Except the Legrands are …”
When she petered off into silence I said, “Yeah. They are. With a side order of more and the same for the Sheldons. I saw your family at the other fire.”
She sighed. “Men.”
“Boy, do I know that feeling. I don’t have a problem if you want to drag your chair over by us. Benny might talk your ear off but otherwise you should have some peace.”
She tried not to grin. Yep, she’d already met Benny.
I spotted Hugh and signaled that I had Sadie so he’d be able to let his counterpart Mr. Hendry know since apparently he had yet again forgotten that the younger Ms. Wight was also part of his job duties. Hendry was already on my list for almost losing the girl at the market today.
We spent the evening listening to the clicking of the desert barking Geckos and distant howl of the Jackal as we sat by the fire. When it was time for “lights out,” I walked Sadie over to Wight’s and then left after the secretary gave a nod. Hendry was still cutting up with the three Mr. Wight’s. I really do not like that guy.
Resources:
Sesriem - Wikipedia
https://namibiatourism.com.na/blog/Namibia-s-Sesriem-Canyon-Just-before-the-dunes-of-Soussesvlei
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July 15 - Day 6 Sossusvlei / Bush Camp
We woke up before dawn today for a fun scramble to the top of the dunes for a dramatic sunrise. Had to drive an hour into the park but it was worth it during which time we had coffee or tea and most everyone had “rusks.” Benny, Lev, and I had a gluten free version of the twice baked bread. They reminded me a little of the toasts that I used to feed Benny when he was a baby. The dunes themselves reminded me of being on the Gulf, only instead of water there was a sea of sand. Was very similar, just the colors were different. The colors changed as the sun crept up above the horizon, and the views were nothing short of incredible. We had what amounted to a light brunch right there amongst the dunes.
The dunes are some of the highest in the world and home to a surprisingly large variety of animal life. It was a fun but rather difficult climb for some of our tour group members. Some employed the use of quads but not all of us. And some of us were simply, once again, forgotten about.
“Grab on.”
“Excuse me?” The young girl asked as she huffed and puffed her way along.’
“Grab on. The opposite side of Benny. Just don’t drag your feet if you can help it. Let me know if I’m going too fast.”
“Oh …”. Following by another oh, only this one laughing.
Whatever I may have lost in some of my training, I have kept up with my exercise. Most of it out of necessity, and the rest nearly out of habit. First, Lev is 6’6” and even trying to be moderate he can leave people in the dust with those tall lanky trees he calls legs. Keeping up with his stride is work even for me. I’m not short, actually tall for a woman, but nevertheless I am not over 6-foot. All the yada yada of taking care of the River House and the acreage it sits on helps me stay active as well. My chest and arms are handled by all the time I spend on the water but my butt, gut, waist, and legs need special attention. I love kickboxing. My punching bag is more gorilla tape than leather in some places. All that to say I’m not just “athletic” as Lev would say when he gets a particularly goofy look on his face, but I’m mule-team strong. Benny and Sadie as the youngest members of our group needed some accommodations and I was seeing they got it.
Sadie may have been fourteen, but she didn’t feel like she weighed any more than Benny did. He has a core of lead and is tall for his age. Sadie looks frail and is small for her age. When we finally got to the top of the Dune we were on, Little Bear did a short imitation of Rocky Balboa, theme song and all. Sadie was just trying to catch her breath without looking like it.
“Drink some water,” I suggested.
“Mr. Hendry has it.”
A quick thought and then I asked, “Do me a fave and stay here with Benny in case Lev gets a little involved with his camera?”
She nodded without realizing I had just made that up to keep her out of the way. I walked over to Hendry who’d just taken what I knew was the last bottle out of a drawstring pack he’d been carrying.
“Thanks. Miss Wight needs her bottle of water.”
Hendry knew he’d been caught dead to rights and handed over the bottle. What’s more Hugh had been watching and he knew that Hendry had gotten caught once again not looking after the girl. I know that Hugh and Hendry are connected somehow but I also know this isn’t exactly my business; however, Hendry’s oversight was bothering me. Not because Sadie is female, though there is some of that in there, but because Hendry isn’t doing his job. Hugh said to talk to him if something is bothering me. Well, this is starting to bother me. I let it go at that point and just determined that she could hang out with us for the day’s duration and that we might just have to take it on a day-by-day basis.
After brunch where I made sure that both Benny and Sadie got their full meals and weren’t cut out of portion size by some of the adults in our group who seemed to be gluttons, we jumped in the back of a pickup truck for a trip to Sossusvlei – the incredible salt and clay pan just nearby (approximately 30 minutes each way). We were given time to explore this desert oddity.
It was explained that the desert is home to oryx, hyena, black-backed jackal, springbok and zebra. Animal sightings are rare but truly special. Yeah, well rare or not we saw and oryx, a springbok, and a zebra. I was actually relieved not to see a hyena or jackal. In the afternoon we drove approximately four hours to our bush camp in the heart of the Namib Desert.
Dinner was … well it was amazing. These people have perfected this sort of thing from my understanding listening to some of the other people there. I mean seriously. Chef type food in the middle of the freakin’ African desert. Linens, dishes, real cutlery, the whole nine yards. And in the background, views of towering red sand dunes and desert plains. And while I didn’t recognize all of the sides, I did understand that the dinner buffet was primarily a “braai” or African BBQ. Yum. And once again I ran interference to make sure that both Benny and Sadie got a properly portioned plate. I swear some of the adults on this trip remind me too much of high school. Including a couple of the women. You know the warning I got about gaining weight while on a safari? Yeah. Something tells me that a couple of them were going to be splitting seams before this thing is all done and over with.
This time Mr. Wight’s secretary came over and asked Sadie if she minded him as an escort. She laughed and said thank you and yes. I could tell the girl was tired but she seemed to be in a good mood as well. Seemed to surprise the secretary as well.
Glad that I didn’t have to worry that the girl was going to be wandering about on her own, it was time for my crew to hit the hay. Benny went to sleep almost immediately. Lev tried to do some work but he was just too tired. I think the food has finally settled in my stomach and I’m off as well. Wonder what tomorrow is going to bring?
July 16 - Day 7 Swakopmund (1) - Part 1
Morning came too early for some, but I was up at 5 am like it was no big deal. By six am we were on the road to Swakopmund (approximately 4 hours). Surrounded by the massive dune fields of the Namib Desert on three sides and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, Swakopmund is an ideal place for outdoor activities. The township has an interesting German–Namibian atmosphere, which makes it a pleasant place to simply walk around and explore.
We weren’t really there to see the city today but we kinda did as we drove to our lunch location, a German Pub of all things. It was a little challenging to make sure that Benny and Lev didn’t get any gluten but once we could read the menu we got it quickly and chowed down.
I guess I am getting used to the long driving times because today’s four-hour drive seemed relatively short. Then again, maybe I was just looking forward to our afternoon activity. A three-hour Quad-Bike tour. Benny rode with me so Lev could handle his photo gear. The goal was to see if we could spot the desert “Little 5,” a different experience from our other animal bingo type activities. And we got lucky, had a great guide and trekker, and spotted all five: Namaqua Chameleon, Shovel Snouted Lizard, Web Footed Gecko, Sidewinder Puff Adder and the Wheel Spider. I could have done without the Sidewinder but a couple other people in the group we were in acted like that was the best of the entire lot. Yuck.
After the engines are revved up and ready to roll, an experienced guide led us through the Swakopmund River mouth into the dune belt. Our guide educated us on all the living creatures in the desert and how they manage to survive such harsh environments. He was good and Benny was amazed at how these creatures adapt to the conditions and the tricks they use to keep themselves fed and watered.
As part of the trek we enjoyed a pit stop at the top of Table Top Dune and took in the beauty of the Namib Desert. Then it was back to our evening accommodations for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Benny and I had more go in us, but Lev needed to work and we decided to enjoy camp. Hugh was dealing with the sudden addition of supervising the guy Hendry who it turned out was a newb who was struggling not to be told what to do by his charges rather than setting boundaries and parameters for them. Apparently, because Sadie was quiet, she all but disappeared and he kept forgetting about her in all the noise her brothers and grandfather made for him.
I was taking a break from reviewing the itinerary to clear my head and Lev and I had stepped into the deep shadows for a little privacy and cuddling, so I thought. Benny was sitting in the tent with his headphones on. That’s when we heard Hugh and Hendry walk by having a “discussion.” They stopped for a minute by our location.
Hendry complained, “You don’t tell them what to do.” He was referring to us I assume.
Hugh responded, “I don’t have to, they knew up front what the rules were, and it is a different situation.”
The new guy begged, “Swap with me.”
Hugh didn’t even entertain the idea for a second. And he gave his reasons why. “No. Boss assigned you for his own reasons. Stiffen your spine. You need the experience. If you can’t handle these clients, how do you expect to get any of the plum jobs?”
Hendry came at it from a different direction. “At least take the girl. Mr. Wight and her brothers won’t care, and it will keep her out from underfoot. She’s an odd duck that doesn’t fit and too young for the activities they want to do. I can’t figger a way to separate them because the girl needs looking after, not just being left in the friggin’ jeep or in camp all the time babysat by one of the other guides.”
News to me that such was happening and I almost missed Hugh’s response. “I’m working on that but don’t expect miracles. The old gent will have to come up with the ready for the activities.”
“He’s got it to spend. Just do what you can and I’ll owe you.”
Hugh growled, “You sure as hell will. That’s one more that I’ll have to keep an eye on.”
Lev and I were standing there looking at each other, still unnoticed by the other two men and even less so when they both walked away. I asked Lev, “How will that work with the job?”
Lev looked at me like he was surprised that I was willing to entertain the idea before I’d even been asked. “Um … it doesn’t have to be a problem.”
I’d already figured out that Lev had us “eavesdropping” on purpose, so I asked, “Okay. What part of this equation do I not know?”
Lev knows not to even try prevaricating or managing me, so he fessed up. “Er … Mr. Wight has some beneficial contacts.”
“Beneficial to whom? Bob and his team or the Big Bosses?”
“Neither actually. The benefit could be to us.”
“Us?” I asked having not expected that answer.
“Yeah. I know some people he knows … or at least I know their people. And I’ve worked some gigs for them. I’ve been depending on Bob and the LA connections a lot. Possibly too much. And I don’t know what the Beaumont angle is in all of this, but it might not be a bad idea to keep my … our … options open. Develop new connections, or renew old ones. Maybe even create a little competition instead of the Big Bosses thinking they can hold me on a string.”
Lev was showing his experience over mine, so I decided to support him but ask some pertinent questions. “Do you know anything about this girl?”
Just the facts: Her name is Sadie Wight. She just completed Year 10 at an all-girls’ school in London which is Freshman Year in the US so that makes her 14 or 15 years old, Lev wasn’t certain. She’s the only child of a regrettable 2nd marriage and the only other siblings are “The Twins” as they seem to be known collectively by everyone. The Twins are close to the point of being exclusionary to everyone else except their grandfather, Mr. Wight, who is himself a twin though the other brother to Wight Sr. died long time ago. The three of them aren’t mean, just older and with nothing in common with the girl. Don’t know the story beyond that except it is a soap opera that involves a woman and is not spoken of.
“And what are they going to ask me to do?”
Cautiously Lev asked, “Er … are you mad? You seem a little off the last few days. If this is too much to ask …”
I sighed. “No. Struggling to find my place so I can keep the hamster busy. Sadie has already caught its attention and I’m trying to keep my paws and whiskers under control. I’ll work on it so please don’t let it affect the job. Look, if they are looking for the girl to have a female chaperone, companion, or whatever then I will agree to that. I won’t agree to some poor kid being used for some unknown reason.”
“Agreed. But do me a favor and let me handle it to start with. And please don’t think that.”
“Think what? I didn’t say anything.”
“Gus, I trust you, but I’m not interested in them using the girl OR using you. And I want to bring Benny in on this. This is going to be a change to our crew and I’m not going to do it if it is going to upset him.”
Benny’s reaction after he took off his sound cancelling headphones we asked him to wear so we could have an adult conversation? He thought it a great idea. He already considered her head and shoulders above the other adults in our tour group who act like he is contagious or something on occasion. He’s tried to be nice to Kevin as well, but the man is too shy and prefers the company of his mother and aunt and since Benny understands that from when he was younger, his empathetic little soul simply made it so that if Kevin wants attention he can have it, otherwise Benny doesn’t want him to feel intimidated or uncomfortable.
Hugh approached us tonight after almost everyone else had turned in. When he laid out his proposal, he got a little gobsmacked at our response.
Hugh looked at us, me in particularly, suspiciously. “This was too damn easy.”
“And you were trying to make it too damn hard,” Lev told him. “Gus is okay with it. Benny is okay with it. I’m okay with it since they are. We’ve watched her back out of every potential bit of drama like the people were infectious. That was the only thing I worried about to be honest, I don’t do what Gus calls drama llamas. And it looks like the trouble from Cape Town is over, or there hasn’t been any more overtures from it, and that would be my only other caveat. If something new comes up, I’m not bringing an innocent girl into it.”
Hugh looked at Benny and asked, “You sure lad? Girls can be messy.”
Benny shrugged like it was no big deal. “Aunt Gus is a girl, and she only gets messy sometimes. And Sadie may look like a girly kinda girl, but she likes to draw and she didn’t scream about the giraffes sticking their heads in the jeep and she didn’t laugh at ….”
Hugh had figured out Benny’s “secret” regarding the “crew members”. Benny added, “And besides Sadie is older than me and she has a couple of ‘friends’ with her too. She said she wouldn’t laugh because she didn’t want people laughing at Chester and Daphne.” I took from that that Sadie had a couple of stuffies or similar comfort items in her possession.
Hugh nodded. “I’ve already spoken with the Old Man. He is in favor. Apparently he did a background check on every member of the safari including you three. And damn I’d like to know what his sources are because he had background on me as well and some stuff I didn’t appreciate him knowing. I’ll be honest, this would help out on several levels. The girl isn’t fitting in real well but not because she is the one creating the problems, just being female and her age is making it hard to find a spot for her to fit.”
I spoke up startling Hugh and Lev both. “Let me talk to her and see what she wants. If she is on board, it will be easier to integrate.”
Both of them looked like a fish out of water. Geez. “Close your mouths. She’s a girl, not a pet rock. I’ve been an adolescent female. How much trouble do you think there will be if she doesn’t want what is being offered?”
Hugh’s look turned horrified, and Lev had a hard time not thinking in the same direction. Men. They are just so weird on occasion.
July 16 - Day 7 Swakopmund (1) - Part 2
I went to the tent where Sadie was supposedly sleeping and “knocked.” “Sadie? It’s Gus, you have a sec?”
She wasn’t asleep. “They want to send me home?”
“No,” I told her, glad she was at least somewhat intuitive to what is going on around her. “They want to make sure that you have something to do besides sit in the jeep while they go do manly things.”
She blinked. “Your Benny’s mom.”
“Aunt,” I answered and grinned knowingly.
She sighed and relaxed. “Okay. What did they come up with and why are you the one telling me?”
“Let’s get one thing straight,” I told her in a friendly tone. “I’m not telling you squat. I’m asking. What your answer is from there we’ll work from.”
“Asking.” She was obviously suspicious but not rude about it.
“Yeah, asking. I’ve been your age. While some things in life just are what they are, you’re old enough that you need a say in some things as well. You’re fifteen?”
“Fourteen. I’ll be fifteen in a couple of months.”
“Even more important. You need to be allowed to make decisions now that you have a safety net in case it doesn’t work out rather than having the consequences of decision making without the experience being dumped on you once you become an adult.” She blinked again. “So, this is the offer …”
When I was finished explaining her blank face turned to surprise. “Seriously? Boba really said I could stay?”
“I can only present the offer as I know it to be. Anything else you’ll have to ask him,” I answered.
“I’d like to stay. This is the first time I’ve ever been allowed on one of their big trips, but kinda saw they regretted it as soon as we got here. They mean well …”
“They’re just guys. Got it,” I told her, understanding better than she probably thought I did. “But things are what they are, and they are who they are, and now you’ve got a choice. Do you need time to think about it?”
“No, because this will fix things and … and I don’t want to go back to England and sit around, or have to take another summer term and explain why I’ve already done all the work for Fall Term. What are you going to do with me that is different than what I was doing?”
“Do with you? Wrong question.” She tilted her head like I’d surprised her. “You’ll be part of our crew which is what we call our family and the people that we work with closely. Hugh is technically a member of our crew even though he is partly working as security for the company who has organized this safari. He can be ‘extra special’ on occasion but he knows his job, knows Africa, and is more interested in showing us Africa than he is any kind of drama. His partner Mr. Hendry isn’t a member of what I call the crew as he is solely working with your grandfather and brothers. Benny you know. Lev, my husband, you’ll get to know, and I’ll leave it up to him however you want to address him. He and Benny are … let’s call it empathetic. That has its good side and bad. For Lev it leans in the direction of being a protector … but easily down on himself if he doesn’t think he is doing a good enough job of it. Cut him some slack until he gets used to someone your age. Especially a female someone your age.”
She silently agreed to my unspoken line in the sand and said, “Fine. What’s the right question then?”
“How much do you want to do with us?” She blinked again and I realized it was her tell, meaning it was her body language that showed she was trying to control or hide her reaction to something. “We’re adventurous. Hugh because it is his job. Lev in large part because it goes along with his job but one he enjoys. Benny because I’ve raised him this way.”
“And you?”
“I was born this way.” She couldn’t hide her reaction this time. A combination of surprise, confusion, and suspicion. I explained to her, “If you are going to be with us it will likely come up so I’m simply going to tell you. When I was considerably younger than you, I was diagnosed with enough acronyms I could have started my own language. ADD, ADHD, OCD, ODD, APD, BPD, GAD, RAD, ASD, LD, SLD, etc ad nauseum. I was lucky I had people in my life that had the energy and time to keep me from being medicated into submission and taught me to cope with the way my brain works. I barely made it into legal adulthood however before I had to learn to navigate on my own … and be responsible for Benny at the same time who himself has a buttload of diagnosis, one of the most important being a serious dietary restriction.”
“Gluten … he can’t have any or it makes him sick. He told me.”
“Exactly, only not just physically ill, it changes his personality in the extreme. It is also why he has to avoid artificial red dye in food and drink though he has become slightly less sensitive to it as he has grown older. Me? Not so much so we both avoid it. I also can’t have caffeine unless I want to face plant shortly thereafter.”
“Oh, so that’s why you don’t drink at teatime.”
“I drink, however I can only have herbal tea … which also tends to have an exaggerated effect like with chamomile or linden teas … so I usually just stick to water, mineral water, or a sports drink. If you catch Benny reading labels on stuff before he brings it to me, it is because he is being considerate of my issues the same as I am to his … and Lev’s.”
“He’s gluten-sensitive too, right?”
I nodded. “Which leads me to a question then we’ll get back to yours. They’ve told me zero about any needs or preferences you have. So, if you have any sing out. Can’t compute data I don’t have.”
She held up a medical bracelet. “I can’t take Ibuprofen or acetaminophen. It is the only way that I am like my family.”
“All of you are sensitive to it?”
“More than sensitive. It will put us in hospital. In an emergency we can take naproxen, but only in an emergency. Boba’s Nani, his grandmother, was Hindi and knew all about natural remedies. She is the one that saved Boba when he was a baby when he got sick from some teething medicine. She took care of my father when he was a baby too. The Twins knew her really well. I remember her but only as a soft and fuzzy and really old woman.” Getting lost in a memory she said, “I knew I wasn’t. alone when she was there.” She blinked really fast and tried to pretend she hadn’t let me see beyond her boundaries. “And I have to take extra magnesium and zinc and will for the rest of my life.”
“Because?”
She was silent and then in a quiet voice explained, “My mother drank a lot. Even when she was pregnant with me until Boba made it so she couldn’t. But they still thought I was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. You know what that is?”
“Unfortunately. I take it they were wrong.”
“They weren’t. Just most people don’t know that FASDs is a spectrum of disorders. I just got the mildest ones … I’m skinny not because I try but because my body doesn’t absorb some nutrients as much as it should. And I am always tripping because my coordination is atrocious. Girls always hate it when I am on their team in sports. I can’t even run without looking stupid.”
“Meh. What do they know. People are stupid. If you have low weight that means you have trouble keeping your muscle mass up. Your muscles are what supports your infrastructure. No promises, it might at least make your feel more confident, but if you want to join me when I do my stretches at night you can build up a little bit.”
“Seriously? You do calisthenics and stuff?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I just like to stretch at night. It relaxes me.”
“You do yoga?”
“It started out being yoga but nowadays I wouldn’t say it is real yoga. I combine stretching and strength training using resistance exercises. Helps me to keep my focus and not get too buzzy during the day. You know, so much energy I spazz out. When I was a kid, until I was about your age and found some activities to expend the energy on, I would sometimes just need to run, climb, swim, paddle, you name it. People would ask me why and I would just kind of shrug unable to explain how it felt like static electricity all over me including in my brain if I didn’t. And yeah, I know it sounds weird. Everyone experiences life a little different and some of us experience it a lot different.”
She shrugged. “They kept expecting me to be behind academically. Boba had tutors for me when I turned four … the year Nani died … and they always made it seem like I was behind so they could keep their job. But then when I went to school the counselors made it seem like I was too far ahead and that I needed to go to a different school because I was too much trouble for them. Boba always made it out like the schools were the trouble, but somehow that was my fault too. Too far ahead. Too far behind. School is …”. She shuddered.
“I was home schooled all the way until I was in high school, and I only went into public school for specific courses or reasons … I was a naval cadette and I had to be in school if I wanted to be in that program or have a driver’s license so I went for math.”
“I love math.”
“Then you can help Benny and be my guest.” I told her with a shudder. “I don’t want him to hate math but I’m happy with my math apps on my phone that help. I’m number dyslexic. Benny is letter dyslexic though he’s conquered most of it except when he is tired or emotional.”
She surprised me with a laugh. “They used to think I was dyslexic because I never wrote my words correctly. I just thought they looked prettier the way I was writing them. I could read them so I thought that was all that was important. Writing them normal was boring.”
And something suddenly clicked. I think I’m going to like this girl. She has something … I don’t know what to call it … but that was cool. She wrote words so they were prettier to her.
“Can you still do that?” When she nodded I said, “Show me some time.” I chuckled. “I would have loved to have told people something like that. That’s cool. Benny will probably get a kick out of it too. Just don’t let him think he doesn’t have do it the other way too. I’m lucky Lev and Benny can understand my shorthand, but I can write my words correctly, it just takes more time and work than I enjoy spending on it. I use my tablet for a lot of that stuff and can dictate what I want to write if need be. But … not exactly a lot of electricity out here in the bush so I’m back to writing notes in my personal shorthand.”
She slowly smiled in return. The she blinked real fast and tried to put her blank face back in place. “So. Adventure. What does that mean?”
I explained about how Benny and I had started our original Adventure traveling the national parks, how we’d met Lev in Florida doing state parks, then followed him to Alaska and the Pacific Ocean, how Adventure had turned into an Adventure of a Lifetime for Lev and I and then I said … “Er, getting late and sorry about the hamster keeping you up.”
“Hamster?” She asked in confusion.
“That’s what I call my issues. I’ve just always … er …”
“Hamster. Oh … I get it. We had a class pet when I was in primary grade. It would get on this wheel and just go and go and go.”
“Pretty much. There’s a hamster in my head … figuratively. Look, so have we made a deal? You throw in with us, become a member of our crew?”
“Yes! And I get to come with you instead of having to wait in the jeep or camp?”
“If you are in our crew, you get to do what we do. I can’t always promise that that …”
“I don’t care what it is, it has to be better than sitting around all day. And um … what about my stuff? Do I stay in this tent? I mean a tent, by myself?”
I noted she was a little dark under the eyes and wondered if she was bothered by it, or needed it. “Which would you prefer?”
She blinked again then slowly answered, “I … I wouldn’t mind sharing a tent.”
“But?”
With more confidence she said, “No buts. At school I stayed in the dorm with the other girls. Some of them were a lot younger than me. It never bothered me, and I actually preferred the little ones to the older girls that could be mean. So, if Benny doesn’t freak about having to share a tent with a girl, and there’s rules, maybe he and I could share and it be next to your tent. I mean we could work it like that.”
“Let me check logistics. You already have a tent of your own. If you are willing to share it with Benny that might not be a bad thing. He depends on us … and will a little longer than maybe some kids his age …”. She nodded in understanding. “But I also don’t want to keep him more dependent than he can be and cripple him. On the other hand, we also need to clear things with your grandfather and brothers. They might not think it is kosher that your tent mate is male.”
She blinked yet again, like the idea of them objecting to that hadn’t even crossed her mind. We said goodnight and I headed back to our tent to find Lev still awake.
“Took a while. We’re you able to convince her?”
“Uh … you still okay with this?”
He relaxed. “So you did convince her.”
“There was no convincing to it. We were just being girls and getting to know both sides of this story.”
“Er …”
I chuckled trying not to wake Benny. “Lev, it was a girl thing. We were getting to know each other. She’s fourteen going on forty.”
“Okay, please explain that to my poor male brain because gotta be honest Babe, that comment is giving me your heebies.”
This time I had to laugh into the crook of my elbow. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. The girl is okay. I think she’ll fit if she can let herself believe she’s going to be included and not just as the next person’s burden to carry. That’s mostly what she seems to want … or maybe need.” We relaxed into each other’s arms, my back to his front. “She has her own dietary issues. Nothing horrible, nothing her fault, some of it is hereditary and some … she says is a result of her bio-mom’s behavior while pregnant. Let me double check to make sure the story is as she explained it. If she has behavioral issues nothing pinged my radar. Benny seems to like her and while she registers on his empathy, nothing too weighty. She seems to like Benny … likes his acceptance of her. Their age difference isn’t huge, but it is enough that she can maybe take her turn as leader which might help her self-esteem.”
“Whoa. Where’s all this coming from?”
I shrugged. “Crew building. I used to get high marks for it. Is … is it a problem?”
“Are you kidding. It’s sexy as hell. Just … be careful. I don’t want to see you hurt. My sister could be a real bitch at that age.”
Ah ha. “Lev, don’t take this the wrong way but your sister can be a bitch at any time. I’m not even sure she see’s what she is doing for what it is. Your mother, and I know it is wrong to blame the parents for everything kids do, but you understand what your mother did to you. I cut your sister the slack I do because if your mother messed you up, I think she messed your sister up even more and worse. And that said, Sadie is not your sister. Not anything like her with anything approaching the same life experiences except she also gets shipped off to a private school rather than allowed to live at home.”
Lev took a deep breath, and I could feel him forcing himself to relax. “Valid points. So, what do you need from me?”
“To be a better, or maybe just more involved, male role model than what she has had up to this point. You don’t need to play father-figure, not sure she’d know how to deal with that, just … keep being the fantastic uncle you are to Benny and allow her to be included once she gets comfortable with it. She has a grandfather and brothers.”
A thought started coalescing in my mind and Lev sensed it. “Babe?”
“It just struck me. She … I don’t know. She’s got a blank in her life where a father would fit for everyone else. She never knew him if I am understanding it right. He died before she was born or right about that time. But she’s had enough males in her life that the place marker is beyond filling. I have the same thing where a mother would have fit. Maybe if Dad had remarried or something but … that spot is just a blank for me and I’m not really sure if I know what could have filled that spot because I had Grandma Barry, Meemo, even Abuelita and my aunts for a while. The ladies at church. Geez, even Penny when I needed her when I first moved in with them. Maybe I understand Sadie because of that. I think I almost prefer that blank spot than all the confusion you had to go through as a kid. Maybe we can do the same thing for Sadie.”
“You’re more than an aunt to Benny.”
“I’m my definition of aunt. But I’ll never take Penny’s place,” I admitted quietly. “He’s been able to talk about her more lately. And I’m okay with that. I want a healthy and happy Benny. What that is called really doesn’t matter. I know what I mean, how I feel, what my motivation is.”
He hugged me letting me know that, in his own way, he understood. “Just, be careful with this girl. I don’t want you hurt, especially not because I’m asking for you to do something that … in all honesty … is more about my career than it is about the girl. Two months is enough to get attached but it is also time that will come to an end. I still remember how you were with Diego and Chan.”
“That was different. They are adults and acted like ‘tards.”
“Maybe, but …”
“Look, if … and that’s a big if … I get hurt, it will be because of something I chose, not because of something you or anyone else asked for me to do. I had a few crew members hurt me. In leadership you have to know how to handle that. Expectations and all the other rot that goes along with it. Sometimes you are just going to get hurt. Grandfather Barry said you could either make it a healthy growing experience, make you a better leader to the ones that don’t hurt you, or you could let it make you weak. If I get hurt, that’s how I’ll look at it. So stop worrying and taking responsibility for something that we don’t even know is going to happen. ‘K?”
We hugged each other and then Lev closed down some film he was working on and I wrote this all out of my system. Some days this journal is a log book and some days it is a freakin’ adolescent diary. Either way it is time for me to hit the hay. Tomorrow morning I’m going to ask for a meeting with “Boba” and hash the logistics out.