Monday, June 15, 2015

Camping for Matt’s Birthday

A short night away just about an hour from home where there’s a campsite overlooking elephants and impala.  Add some good friends and family time and it’s a perfect setting to celebrate Matt’s 45th. 

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Muddy kids leave footprints on mom

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And we finished the day with dark chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter cream cheese frosting.  Not too bad if I do say so myself. 

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The next morning started with a surprise visitor to camp.  Jasper (12), Finley (10), and I were the only ones up and about.  They were getting the fire started and I was starting to make coffee.  Suddenly we hear stampeding and look up to see a giant bull elephant storming toward us – he was trumpeting and had ears flapping. The boys grew up here, so I quickly asked them what we’re supposed to do.  They answered that they had no idea. Great. So, we all quickly got down on the ground and hid (sort of under a table and behind a tree).  Thankfully the tembo stopped as it got near the tents and just flapped it’s ears a few more seconds (that felt like an eternity) with another trumpet, and then it sort of walked away.  We think that because we were downwind it didn’t notice our camp until it came right upon it and he got startled.  Sally said she saw another elephant behind the cars that was out of our sights.  It was a terrifying and exhilarating way to start the day.  I almost didn’t need coffee after that.  Almost.        

Jasper and Finley’s homemade raft nearly made it across with a big tembo watching.

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Might as well swim if you’re already wet

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Anderson caught a few catfish.  Big elephant footprints at the water’s edge make for great holding ponds.

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Anderson’s turn on what was left of the raft

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Four more days and then we’re off to Istanbul and then the US.  We’re so excited!

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