Walley

I regret to inform everyone that as I went to sit down to type this blog- I sat on a baby gecko and smushed it.  It was about an inch long and quite cute before I flattened it like a pancake!! Oh well, I’m pretty sure there were three other ones in my wardrobe this morning.  It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged again and again I can’t quite remember what I said last time.  Now I could be smart and reread my last blog, but where’s the fun in that?

         First thing- I believe to tell of my trip to Drakensburg.  It was good. I’m not sure if I liked the trip or if I liked getting away from CROW for two whole days better…hmmm it’s a toss up! Anyways, we started our day getting picked up in a minivan at 5:15am and driving 3 hours to the mountains.  The Drakensburg mountains are quite possibly the most beautiful mountains I have seen in my lifetime (so far)- hopefully pictures will follow shortly! Day one started with a hike through the mountains to a cave where we saw bushmen paintings that predate about 8,000 years.  I haven’t had much exercise since I’ve been here and I’m pretty sure the guide was getting annoyed with me tripping on his heels as I followed so close behind him trying to get him to basically run up the side of the mountain J.  I loved it! After the hike we went horseback riding- it was supposed to be a two-hour sunny trail ride through the beautiful mountains but ended up being a miserable hour ride through fog and torrential downpours.  I say I’m cold an awful lot, but I honestly don’t think I have ever been as cold as I was on that horse.  The wind was blowing the rain sideways and I was gripping the reins with frozen fingers trying not to slip out of the saddle as my horse tottered along the edge of a cliff that I’m sure had a fantastic view- I, however, could barely make out my horse’s head in the fog.  Also I was only clothed in my skinny jeans and tan tank top.  Towards the end of our ride it started to downpour just like it does in the movies- you know the rain that comes down in sheets and drips in your eyes and mouth so you have to keep them closed- part of me enjoyed it and part of me just wanted to cry.  I was hoping my knight in shining armor would come and rescue me with a big kiss -much like what happens in the notebook J.  No such luck however…..

         The next day was spent traveling up the Sani Pass to Lesotho and eating at the highest pub in Africa.  AGAIN I think I saw the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life and again I hope pictures will follow shortly!  It took us about 3 hours to drive up this road that had potholes every 4 feet that was about as big as me.  It was crazy and fun at first but by the time we came back down I just wanted my body to stop bouncing around.  When we were in Lesotho, we visited a rural village and tasted the homemade bread and beer.  I am not a beer fan by any means, but I have to admit it wasn’t too bad! It was quite thick and tasted like mushy corn…yum.  After we got down the pass, three of us decided to go back to the horse ranch and get our second hour in that we missed the day before.  Again it was raining but this time we asked to borrow rain boots and slickers- it was 1,000 times more comfortable!! Since it was just three of us our guide decided to just sort of let us do what we wanted--- so off we went at a trot or gallop for most of the ride!!!!! I had never galloped or cantered before and I am quite proud that I was able to stay on the horse the entire time however, I have not been that sore in a loooooong time.  I clearly don’t know how to ride and my knees and inner thighs were shaky for at least 2 days.  That was most unpleasant. 

         Okay on to something else…guess what new babies we have gotten in at CROW????? A wildebeest that is 2 weeks old and a zebra that is about 4 weeks old!!! J.  They are extremely cute and loveable but unfortunately I get nothing to do with them so I must just take pictures and watch from afar.           Today was my day off and I spent it sitting in the back of the buggie for three hours sunbathing as we went to pick up a baby warthog.  Needless to say I am stupidly fried as I type this and regretting my decision to lay in the back, hike up my shorts as high as they’d go and bare my stomach.   As soon as I laid eyes on this little guy I was hooked.  I held him in my arms and he slept contently for the entire three hours back.  Proud to say I am his new mama and we have put him in the pen with my other three baby bushpigs.  It is such a joy to watch them play and romp around.  The warthog (Walley) is the ugliest (therefore thee cutest) thing I have ever seen- his poor ears and top of his head are burnt from a fire (horrible people did this) and he has these skinny skinny legs and hooves that look like high heels.  His eyes bug out the side of his head and his lips are curled to allow for when the tusks grow in.  I Love him!!! I’m sure I will take many pictures and will share them with you all soon. 

         I don’t think the sky diving is going to happen- I am quite bummed but know it will be something I will do eventually.  Other than that I am out of news I think.  Time is going by extremely fast as I am leaving CROW next Wednesday!!!! WOO HOO…not that I’m excited or anything? J

         Enough for now, goodbye to all and Much Love!