Out of the city and into the bush
We did it! After months of planning I am finally in KZN South Africa. And my has it already taken my heart.
After a series of flight delays it was nice staying in a fluffy bed in Durban after a hot shower. Fortunately there was never any rush between flights and the girl next to me on my long flight was extremely nice. Landing in Dakar, Senegal was wonderful. Hazy sunrise over the water with ships leaving the harbor. Magic.
I apologize for the lack of photos there are some kinks I'm working on.
On my connecting flight to Durban I met several runners participating in the Comrades, a 50+ mile marathon run held since 1922. Since Sunday is a relaxed day, we watched portions of the race between small projects.
It's been a relaxed first week for me, so that I become oriented with the land and the chores. I learned how to drive the "quad bike", how to maintain the chainsaw, and loads of species of the flora and fauna found here. The land here at MNR is very similar to the climbing gorges of KY and WV. Except much drier and with aloe and acacia trees, and spitting cobras and zebra. Don't worry, mom, the cobras are hibernating now. Kind of a bummer.
Thus far the schedule has been: wake up with the sun. Typically I hear the dogs whining for Richard to get up, and he whistles as he heats up the wood stove and prepares his cold roobois tea and a hot tea or coffee to take to Joy in bed.
Then I learn a new skill from Andy as he goes through projects, water the gardens, etc. We then come back for a big, delicious lunch made by Joy. Yesterday she had marinated impala filet and Andy cooked it over a homemade grill re used from parts of a front loading washer. We drink quite a bit of South African beer during the afternoon, or a "spukdiesel" as I hear it which is a cane liquor with coke. yummy!
After lunch we rest a short bit then take on a lighter project or a really astounding, beautiful hike/lesson. I have learned so much about the reserve and their restoration efforts. Many of the forests were stripped by natives, agriculture, and cattle. All that remained were eroded deep crevices and red dirt. Some of the hardwoods are beginning to return, but they estimate it will take decades for balance to. They began by reinstating grasses, then acacia .There is also an archaeological site dating different groups back to 550AD. I saw human teeth protruding from under an old tree that was a burial site! How neat is that!?
Today on my hike by the river I watched a massive trapdoor (2"x4") spider and hornet fight. The hornet mounted it, vibrated and stung, and the spider was dead. Dragging it away was quite a job for the killer.
That's basically it for life way out here in the bush. Finally out of the city and it feels so good.
After a series of flight delays it was nice staying in a fluffy bed in Durban after a hot shower. Fortunately there was never any rush between flights and the girl next to me on my long flight was extremely nice. Landing in Dakar, Senegal was wonderful. Hazy sunrise over the water with ships leaving the harbor. Magic.
I apologize for the lack of photos there are some kinks I'm working on.
On my connecting flight to Durban I met several runners participating in the Comrades, a 50+ mile marathon run held since 1922. Since Sunday is a relaxed day, we watched portions of the race between small projects.
It's been a relaxed first week for me, so that I become oriented with the land and the chores. I learned how to drive the "quad bike", how to maintain the chainsaw, and loads of species of the flora and fauna found here. The land here at MNR is very similar to the climbing gorges of KY and WV. Except much drier and with aloe and acacia trees, and spitting cobras and zebra. Don't worry, mom, the cobras are hibernating now. Kind of a bummer.
Thus far the schedule has been: wake up with the sun. Typically I hear the dogs whining for Richard to get up, and he whistles as he heats up the wood stove and prepares his cold roobois tea and a hot tea or coffee to take to Joy in bed.
Then I learn a new skill from Andy as he goes through projects, water the gardens, etc. We then come back for a big, delicious lunch made by Joy. Yesterday she had marinated impala filet and Andy cooked it over a homemade grill re used from parts of a front loading washer. We drink quite a bit of South African beer during the afternoon, or a "spukdiesel" as I hear it which is a cane liquor with coke. yummy!
After lunch we rest a short bit then take on a lighter project or a really astounding, beautiful hike/lesson. I have learned so much about the reserve and their restoration efforts. Many of the forests were stripped by natives, agriculture, and cattle. All that remained were eroded deep crevices and red dirt. Some of the hardwoods are beginning to return, but they estimate it will take decades for balance to. They began by reinstating grasses, then acacia .There is also an archaeological site dating different groups back to 550AD. I saw human teeth protruding from under an old tree that was a burial site! How neat is that!?
Today on my hike by the river I watched a massive trapdoor (2"x4") spider and hornet fight. The hornet mounted it, vibrated and stung, and the spider was dead. Dragging it away was quite a job for the killer.
That's basically it for life way out here in the bush. Finally out of the city and it feels so good.
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