November 20, 2021

 

Mopani Rest Camp, 0945

 

Yesterday was cool and blustery and today was cold, damp to drizzling, and blustery.  I slept poorly and was up at 0430. The kitchenette is outdoors on the patio.  Because of the risk of honey badgers, monkeys, baboons, etc., the refrigerator is turned around so that the door cannot be opened without repositioning the unit. I was getting water out of the refrigerator and had my back to the bush in the dawn semi-darkness when out of the corner of my eye I saw a dark shape approaching me. It was a Natal spurfowl, quickly followed by two friends. I said, “Shit, you scared the hell out of me”. They had just stopped by to see if perhaps I had any snacks or crumbs that I didn’t need. It was sort of like having a pack of chihuahuas meet you in the kitchen for breakfast. And as I type this, a grey go-away bird is sitting on a branch overlooking the patio, croaking loudly. All day long, she sits int the bush telling me and everyone else to get lost and ‘Go Away’, and now she wants to tell me about how her baby is sick and if I could only help her with some treats. God bless.

 

And a slender mongoose cruises by, but he just looks and keeps on moving. He’s not the handout kind of guy.

 

Took a 3-hour, dispirited drive east of camp. Saw almost nothing in a flat, empty landscape, wrapped in three layers of clothing. How is it possible that it goes from 108 F to San Francisco damp and cold in a day? No sun, just milky white sky.

 

Stopped for breakfast. Different branding, same menu. For some reason the staff are trained to take your order without writing anything down. Like it somehow is going to make you think that they’re more personally attentive or something. But it doesn’t work. Who can remember anything? Seriously. I’m just one person but each server has many tables. It’s dumb. Most of the servers are very young, but my server here was an older woman. She was busy with many tables, and it was all just a train wreck. Talk about setting these poor employees up for failure.

 

One thing that has changed a lot over the years here is that cell phone reception is much better and so I’m connected in a way that wasn’t true in my early years here. That’s good and bad. Last night, I saw the verdict from Wisconsin. 

 

I won’t make this a rant. I already have written the rant, several times, and deleted and re-written. Suffice it to say that there’s a difference between an outcome in our legal system and justice, and justice was not done. I’m embarrassed by our legal system. 

 

Nothing good will come of this.

 

Meanwhile, six Natal spurfowl have cruised by, hovering at my feet like terriers. But I’m holding fast.

 

Now maybe a nap, and then back out to drive around aimlessly. And I’m glad I’m here. If I only had a leopard, my life would be complete….

 

PS, 1300

 

Tried a nap but too much caffeine meant agitated tossing and turning. Took a hot shower to try and get the cold, damp out of my bones. It’s still windy and cool and darkly overcast. Am forcing myself to edit a few images and then will try again.