I write this now to remind myself on the other end how crazy with anxiety I get. The wait for this safari has been a roller coaster emotionally. I vacillate between wanting to be there so badly to almost cancelling because I'm quite honestly afraid to fly during the time of covid. Literally, last weekend I almost cancelled at least three times. What stops me is scanning photos from my destination camps on Instagram. I so desperately want to be there. But the insomnia, anxiety dreams and teeth gnashing...can't stop my brain. If only there was teleporting. Post-safari self: was it really so bad to worry like this?
Preparation continues. Clothes are in a pile waiting to be laundered. Luggage and carry-on retrieved from storage. Trail sneakers dusted off. Packing list drafted. Cosmetics and toiletries are piling up. Visa issued. Cat food for a month purchased, cat sitter lined up. Looks like it's all going well, no?
You'd think so, until my precious Sony RX10 iii bit the dust a few weeks ago. I got it out to brush up and remember how to use it, and make sure it still worked. Good thing I did, because it unceremoniously rolled over and died while I was shooting birds in the back yard. My quick thinking friend Bev suggested that perhaps my camera shop rents gear. And it does! So rather than pay to fix the Sony and then worry about it being truly fixed, I've rented the Sony RX10 iv for a month. I'll learn it over the next couple weeks. I contemplated taking the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 compact that I'd bought for city travel but it just doesn't have the reach or the clarity of the Sony. I love that Sony for all it's done over 2 safaris and Peru, but I hate that Sony for letting me down. It should have had more life in it. But, turn the page and move on as they say. So far the rental Sony is no learning curve at all.
The travel clinic contacted me about the anti-malarial prescription I requested and said that I'm also due for typhoid again as well as a tetanus shot. Makes sense, I suppose since it's been 10 years since I got the typhoid vaccine for my first safari. So I earned a trip to the clinic in addition to a trip to the pharmacy.
My Facebook memories remind me that there are many coincidences with past safaris that are sort of striking. I paid for this safari 10 years to the day from when I paid for my very first safari. And my visa for this trip was issued 7 years to the day from my 2016 safari. I am taking all this as a good sign.
The photos coming out of Samburu, Laikipia and the Mara where I'll be are simply stunning. I'm not jinxing myself by putting into writing what I'm hoping to see most. I know Mother Nature and I know she'll deliver what she damn well pleases. And it's also pretty dang hot over there now, high 90s during the day. So yeah, my 29 degree run this morning is a vast difference from what awaits me in Kenya.
Onward to Kenya...
