Days 1-3: The Journey

• Car ride to the Tucson -Phoenix Shuttle
• Shuttle to Phoenix airport
• 10 hour plane ride to London Heathrow
• 8 hour layover
• 11 hour plane ride to Johannesburg
• 7 hour bus ride to Gaborone, Botswana
• Car ride to the house of Ms Bonolo, the reading conference organizer

(Dan’s comments are italicized)

That was a loooong journey…46 hours door-to-door and we’re exhausted…

I can’t believe I’m back in Africa!! Although I’ve spent roughly three years working and backpacking in the southern-eastern parts of Africa, I was last here 33 years ago so don’t know what to expect any more! I’ve never been either, so don’t know what to expect at ALL.

One thing I know; this return to Africa will be bittersweet. Although I left part of my heart on this continent, I had decided never to come back after Rachael died. Rachael was half African-American and I’d promised to take her to Africa one day, so coming without her seemed impossible. But being asked to present at the AFREAC Reading Conference in Botswana changed that. We’ve brought some of our little girl’s ashes with us as it’s the best we can do, but that Rachael-sized hole in my heart is aching acutely at the moment 😢

Almost immediately after landing in Johannesburg, I was reminded of one of the things that makes Africa so…well, Africa. We had tickets for the bus to Gaborone and were told that, usually, it left around noon…unless it arrives early (any time after 11) in which case it would leave then. As it happened, today it left at 12:40 because they had to fix a broken brake light. For some reason, the fix made me think about two friends (Lisa and Suzette, both connosoirs

The drive to the S.Africa🇿🇦/Botswana🇧🇼 border was interesting as we kept nodding off, but would wake up to the sight of zebras, elephants, impalas, wildebeest, and monkeys! My reaction time was too slow to take photos as we were traveling around 50 mph!! But what I loved is that these exotic animals are the norm. They were just… there. Botswana customs wasn’t remotely interested in our luggage but we had to wash our shoes in some dirty solution to prevent the spread of  foot and mouth which is a problem in S. Africa once again.

So far, Africa is exactly what I remember; amazing sights, quirky idiosyncrasies, and fantastic people (thank you, Bonolo, Gaba, Naya, and Kuzi for the warm welcome; you already feel like family 🤗).

I think it’s going to be a great trip…so get yourselves a bottle of Amarula (or water) and sip along as you watch the sunset (Jules!) and read this blog 🦓🐘🦌(Really? A reindeer for an impala?) 🫎 (a moose???) 🐒 Note to Dan…close enough for my barely-functioning brain 😂