Monday, December 15, 2008

Back from Africa


I am back from a whirlwind inspection trip in Botswana and Zambia, having visited 8 different camps in as many days, plus an overnight in Johannesburg en route, and two days getting there and back on South African Airways via their Dulles/IAD gateway. I traveled with a great group of tour operators from all over the USA - the trip would not have been nearly as fun as it was, if it were not for the endless stream of jokes, anecdotes, Swahili phrase book highlights, stories and witticisms coming from Kili, Gretchen, Greg, Jennifer, Hema, Sherie, Sherine and Andrea.

The highlight? A visit to Livingstone Island in the middle of the Zambezi, where some of our party swam out to a rocky outcrop, from where we jumped into a small natural rock pool, literally on the edge of the abyss. It was most exhilarating to feel the cool waters of the Zambezi flow around you, only to plunge over a cliff right behind you! Some of the more daring group members (not including yours truly!) even peeked over the edge, with one of the Livingstone Island guides holding their ankles. While 'sitting' in the rock pool, little fish tug at loose bits of skin on your feet, so I suppose if you stayed there long enough, you would get a pedicure in addition to the thrill of a lifetime...

It was also nice to see my family again, albeit briefly, in Johannesburg on the first night. We had dinner at a restaurant in the Emperor's Palace complex not far from Oliver R. Tambo International Airport, from where we were to depart to Maun in Botswana, the following morning.

I am writing a trip report and will post some of it, together with lots more pictures (if I can only figure out how to get the pics into the body of the post, and not all at the top...!!) soon.

As for running, I couldn't run anywhere for fear of being trampled by elephants or attacked by something else, so had to settle for a single treadmill workout of 5 miles, at the Chobe Game Lodge towards the end of the trip.

Today is Day 1 of my 18-week Boston training program. With a cold front coming in later this afternoon, I went out before work this morning, logging about 6 miles including 6 short hill repeats, at an average pace of 9:16, average heart rate 142. It felt good to be running again!

For once, I came back from a trip a couple of pounds lighter than when I left. No doubt the vegan diet had something to do with it, and of course there are not many opportunities for idle snacking when you are out in the bush. At around 160 lbs. right now, I would like to shed another 5 lbs or so - it would be great to line up for Boston close to 150. I know only too well that heavy marathon training and 'dieting' (as in caloric restriction) do not go hand in hand, so I won't be obsessing about this. I'm hoping that upping my weekly mileage, together with continued sugar avoidance - and much reduced bread intake - will take care of this naturally.

8 comments:

Billy said...

oh my lord...look at those photos! SO jealous.

Great to have you back Bert - back to work!

Alexandra said...

WOW! The photos are so nice and the bits you shared with us about your trip sound wonderful! Now it's back to reality!

As for posting photos in your blog, I usually post the photos first and then type all around them, above, between, below! Would enjoy seeing more photos of your adventure!

Welcome back!

Amy said...

Oh my - it must have been amazing to be at the edge of that waterfall - I don't know if I would have dared! Glad you had a great trip and good luck on your Boston training plan. My brother in law Mark is running Boston for the first time this year.

Van 1- Hall said...

Photos- Bert you can just add them, then they go automatically in the beginning and then just cut and past them towards the bottoms or wherever you like. Those pics are AMAZING! I'm not a big fan of heights, i would have never peeked over. Glad you came back safe.

Running at 150...wow. How tall are you bert. Im 170 now and looking to be 160 by raceday.

Lily on the Road said...

Nice job if you can get it!!

Wow, Bert, thank you so much for sharing!

Unknown said...

Bert,
Jou foto's is baie professioneel.Die kampe lyk 5-ster,g'n wonder hulle kos is so goed nie.
Hulle moet ou Bob Mugabe sonder n tube met die Vic valle afstuur !
Nou het jy darem weer Tanzanie om na uit te sien.
Mooi loop en lekker draf.

go annie said...

Bert,

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Ich spreche ein bisschen.

Your photos are phenomenal and beyond beautiful! What a spectacular trip.

Ok, I'd like to lose another 5 pounds or so as well. So, will that be our New Year's resolution? Happy New Year!!

mistyeyed said...

I'm so jealous as well. You look like you're having so much fun!

Thanks again for sharing!

Mistyeyed

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