trip to Groot Marico

just got back from a few days at a river home in a small town called Groot Marico, south africa. it was a great, relaxing(as much as you can with 5 kids) 2 days of outside activity. We had a huge yard and a nice home to hang out in , and the weather was perfect. it was about a 2.5 hour drive from our home and the place was beautiful. The town itself was a little like rabbithash. it had a general store, a bottle shop, a butcher and an art shop and coffee shop. It was like a hippy dive where people claimed the beauty of the place "was in the magnetism of the rocks". but, of course, it had its obvious poverty gap between whites and blacks.. the blacks again lived in a shanty town away from the town centre, in small tin homes , clustered together.... The disparity between the two groups of people is depressing and quite honestly, embarrassing. But again, everyone, regardless of color, was a friendly as can be. And the home and yard were a blessing.... We braaied both nights, Maura introduced me to 2 new card games .. "Jamie was" and "cranky" and I shopped at 2 new stores.. the "Krap and Kry" and "buti's". I bought lamb and chicken from a butcher who was filling up people's empty 2 litres with goats milk and we met abraham, a black South African who each day kept our water hot by making a fire in a pit under the water tanks. He did it early morning, midday and late afternoon. he lived with his family on the property in a makeshift home out of discarded tin... He tended to the lawn, the orange trees and grape vines, etc. He was cool. Wore a great cowboy hat, pinned on the sides.

The kids and I took a hike through the bush, down to the river and spent an hour skipping rocks and climbing trees. Now, I've been here 9 months and hate hiking through the woods here... when we arrived, I asked the people at the information centre about wildlife, what we should look for, etc.... they said, " there's small game here, bushbuck, gemsbock, steinbock ," etc.. I said, great.. No worries.. "Well,then there's the snakes" they said... We've got 'em all.. Just saw a spitting cobra yesterday, and a puff adder the other, and a huge boomslang a week ago. And of course, we've got the black mamba, which we don't hate... we respect." awesome, I thought to myself.. We're going to be eaten alive.....

I hate snakes , and my running fear here is to run into one... We set off on an hour hike through the woods, and it just isn't as relaxing as home... every shift of the wind, the jumping crickets here, they go from blade to blade and go right past you, making you jump at the slightest movement... the kids don't care.. they have a great time, runnning through the place... staying on the trail of course... I on the other hand am sweating bullets. Dad, what do we do if we see a snake? Kate asks me calmly.... I say with a straight face.... "we just ignore it, and let it go on its way" knowing well enough that what I'm thinking is... "s***t our pants is what we'll do!"

We did have a blast though.. skipping rocks, putting our feet in the cool water and hanging out.. We ate well and talked alot about home, zebra cakes, wendy's, taco bell, etc. I think everyone is missing home a bit right now.... These long breaks are exactly that... long. And the trip was a good one to mix it up a bit for the kids and get them out of Gaborone and get their mind on somehting else.

Here are some photos of the trip.. And here's a slideshow of our experience there.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CsWfqcEB3M . Hope you like it... One thing i should also mention.... The main roads here are just fine.. but once you get into these small towns, backroads that lead to your vacation homes.. . It gets bad.. All dirt roads, lots of rocks.. I helped a woman change a tire on one occassion.... She said she loses a tire once a week.... Also, there are no Mcdonalds, rest stops, parks, etc . as you travel here.. you have to be flexible and able to roll with it.. that means kids peeing on the side of the road, eating makeshift PB and J's in the car and patience.. The border crossing itself is a pain, but once you understand that they think of time and luxury here alot different that we do, it's ok.. as a matter of fact, it's enough. I love travelling through these beautiful places here... everyone waves, stares, etc. it's just different.. and the kids have adjusted.. the great thing is... they've learned to live without. I think.. Maybe not.... I can't wait for a mcdonalds though.... god it's going to be great. you thought I was getting all preachy and high and mighty about how life here is so much more wonderful than home..... It's not...It's just different.. a good different though. It lacks all excess and feels comfortable.. as long as your willing to go without... But I swear on our next trip to North carolina... I will love being able to pull over at any time, find an exit with a bathroom that has running water and let my kids go to the bathroom while i get them a slushy. what's funny is.. Kate's becoming very comfortable with her surroundings... I don't think she used our inside bathroom once these past 2 days... She just pulls down her pants outside, wherever she is and lets it loose...

Michelle and i head to Khutse for a night tomorrow... It's my birthday in a few days and i think this will make for a nice celebration.. We plan to hang out on the salt pans, have a sundowner and watch the lions and hyenas rip apart our truck... the kids will hang with Celeste and kabo, eat pizza and hotdogs and make a night out of it..... be back on Saturday...

All for now.