Chris and I both got laid out this past week with a stomach flu that's been circling through camp. Fortunately, it's a pretty short-lived bug, and we're both feeling better now, but it's still kind of a bummer to be sick without the comforts of home. However, Chris went up to the safari lodge nearby to find me some ginger ale, just like my mom used to give me when I got sick as a kid. It was just what I needed, and I'm pretty sure that's what led to my rapid recovery!
Chris is busy today calibrating our water quality meters in the "garage" of our new lab tent. Camp is almost up and running, and we're heading out to the river tomorrow!
Made it back to the Mara this afternoon. Celebrated our first night back with Mexican food, old friends and a lion roaring surprisingly close to our camp. Good to be back.
Today we left Nairobi at 6 am, headed for the Mara. It's now 4 pm, and we're almost at our camp. It's been a long, but beautiful drive, made longer by the terrible roads and small car in which we're traveling, and made more beautiful by how green the recent rains have made everything. It's also been fun to travel with our friends and drivers Peter and Stephen, neither of whom have ever been to the Mara before. That said, I can't wait to get there!
Celebrating our return with a few cold Tuskers on the balcony of the hotel. It's a great place to sit and enjoy a beer, although you have to climb out a window to get there.
Thank you to everyone who voted on the number of bags we would need for this field season in Kenya. We really appreciated your optimism, with votes ranging from 1 bag (thanks William!) to 11 (same as last year). Sadly, we all lost the bet, when we totalled out at 12 (including 2 carry-ons each). Special thanks to the patient airline and TSA agents who got our bags here safely, though. We arrived with everything intact! Can't wait to get down to the Mara and unpack!
