November 8, 2013

Salt Lake City

Just hit SLC.  Good weather and fantastic luck.  Literally, off the plane and by the time we reached baggage claim, both of our bags were spitting out on the carousel.  First bags out.  We grabbed them, walked out to the airport shuttle curb just as our shuttle pulled up.  Literally 20 minutes off the plane and we’re lounging in bed, shoes off, looking at a menu for room service.  I’m assuming that the entire three weeks will go just like this.  Really.  In Africa.

We dropped Aislin off at school early this morning.  She’s now in the hands of Gina’s parents Jan and Jim for three weeks.  It’s incredibly generous of them to care for her during that time.  We’re so grateful.

And it was harder to leave her than I anticipated.  I’m missing her already.  But we’ll Skype tonight.

Tomorrow we start the real trek to South Africa.  People ask what we’re going to be doing while we’re there.  We’ll spend the entire time (except for the first night) in Kruger National Park.  It’s huge and diverse and full of animals.  And the basic deal is this – you can bring your own car.  You can drive anywhere where there’s a road, and Kruger has a vast network of paved and well-maintained unpaved roads.  You can only get out of your car in certain designated areas and you have to stay in a fenced camp at night.  It’s ‘make your own adventure’ at Kruger.  You’re not dependent on a guide or a ranger (though there are guided drives and walks available).  You get up in the morning and decide where and when to go.

And, this is the road….