To realise that it is mid-year already is not just a shock to the system, but an acknowledgement that time is something man-made and cannot be contained. It needs to be accepted as a linear measurement of one's life. Even our young granddaughters in their busy little lives notice the speed of time as they swirl and twirl through school days and weekends in busy social and family-filled weekends.
Both in Creative Escapes where we have a wonderful time traveling during our sabbatical break and in Penfriends Calligraphy Studio, where my students and I prepare for an exhibition to celebrate my thirty years of teaching, I find time simply ceases to be meaningful in the busy-ness of the days.
With travel being so quick, which is of course is relative to the waits at airports or the time it takes us to drive from Johannesburg to whichever destination we have chosen, arrival at a new game park or even country is relatively simple - which makes me think that at last I can understand the mystery of relativity and quantum physics. However, travellers such as we are, still have to negotiate the perils of border posts and officials, avoiding confrontation at all costs.
We have discovered over the years that we are often followed by armed men who throw murky looks at David's huge 800ml lens which is viewed with great suspicion and is a source of anxiety by these ever vigilant people. Is it a bazooka, a mortar or some other mysterious form of deadly weapon? The only times I can imagine the lens can harm is if it falls on someones foot, a celebrity hiding away or Joan Rivers wrinkles as she tears the rich and famous apart.
I have learned to ease away at a steady pace, armed with my back pack and David's camera bag and leave the photographer to his own inimitable resources. We also pay the Overweight Levy without argument, for what is a photographer in any wildlife situation without his huge lens. But recently more interesting than anything else, we have discovered that our 'age' works in our favor, for, after all, what damage would two 'old dears' really be able to do? Mmmmm, they haven't seen me weald my backpack yet, have they?
Our first foray of the photographic year began gently with friends Hannetjie and Herman in Dullstroom where we spent a few peaceful days at Walkersons, meandering through the mist and waterways. Long walks and fireplaces could not have been a nicer begin the year.
Misty
Of course Rose Cottage in the eastern Free State is our constant resource for floral, autumn and landscape photography and we continue to spend as much time there as possible with family and friends. We are continually delighted by the changing scenery and clear light. Lesotho, a mere eight kilometers away always provides an added scene or two.
Summer Sunflower fields - Eastern Free State
We spent a remarkable few days in the Kalagadi in March where it was so hot the air couldn't move under the fans and the fridges gave up any semblance of cooling. At times we took to our bungalows and lay in wet heaps wondering how the animals kept their cool. At one stage we seriously thought we were melting and temperatures of 45 degrees it seemed possible. The game viewing was disappointing but the wilderness camps were exactly as we expected them to be - remote and wild.
Kalagadi Blue Sky
Our trip to Zambia, the south Luangwa valley and Livingstone with the falls viewed from the Zambian side has been a highlight. Zambia is a wonderful country with friendly people who seem to care about visitors. It is a beautiful country filled with contrasts, big skies and the awe-inspiring Zambezi River. The Luangwa valley is extremely beautiful with large trees that hold the sky up and rivers that flow wide and slow and animals that range from puku, hyena, elephant, lion and leopard. Wonderful photographic opportunities abounded.
We stayed at Thornicroft Lodge situated just outside Mfuwe and the park. We were treated to home-cooked meals and great service. David the manager is also an artist and he shared some beautiful art work with us and the other guests. Rodgers our driver guide showed is some special sightings of leopard, my all time favorite cat. A special thank you for not informing me of the spitting cobra outside our bungalow on our last night there.
Little bee eater
We flew from Mfuwe to Livingstone where we viewed and explored the falls from the Zambian side of the Zambezi. The falls are extraordinary. The river was full and it was easy to imagine my great, great grandfather Henry Hartley and his friend Thomas Baines being poled down river those many decades ago, long before Livingstone himself 'made the claim' for queen and country. In both locations David (Moore) captured some special images which may well have made Baines a little envious of our modern technology.
At the Falls
We now gear up for our annual migration to Kenya. We will once again spend a week in the Masai Mara absorbing the atmosphere and excitement of the greatest wildlife show on earth. Our dear friend and client Yvonne will be returning for her fourth tour of the Mara. She is bringing her husband and friends from Australia and England. It will be a happy reunion. Our friends Hannetjie and Sue join us from South Africa, so once again we are fortunate to have a full compliment of guests.
David and I, together with Sue will fly to Rwanda and then to the volcano parks to trek into the forests to find the golden monkeys and spectacular gorillas. We can't wait for this special adventure.
In a Masaai Manyatta
As you can see our sabbatical has been far from quiet. Yet even in the apparent swirl of our travels we find time to be silent in our enjoyment and pay tribute to the beauty that surrounds us.
Most of the images are from my camera taken by me or guides. I will update you when I have some of David's images added so you can enjoy them.
