SAA

July 28, 2005 - 9:35 am

The strike is over!! It's not really an "adventure trip" until you risk losing all the money you've paid because flight and ground crew unions for your airline decide to strike days before your departure! We are happy to report that mediation reigns supreme and South African Airways (SAA) should be flying at full capacity by Saturday...a mere few hours before we need to be on the plane to Africa!

All I know is that everything happens for a reason and I have now learned that: even though Fae at Air Canada says that SAA can change their flight reservations and Irvine at SAA agrees and even adds that you can transfer your ticket to British Airways no problem ("just a quick telex message and it's all done"), Beth at SAA is adamant that there is no way in hell they ever do that!! Bob at British Airways is very accommodating saying "sure he can bump us to First Class all the way and SAA will pick up the tab". Back to Louis at SAA who assures us that it's no problem to transfer the ticket but just "not yet"...none of these people actually know what they're doing. I'm amazed that planes ever get anywhere with anyone on them!!

K

Anticipation

5 days of work left, vacation brain is beginning!!

Most people who have traveled know that there are always challenges, our travels look to be no different. Over the weekend South African Airways (SAA) has been effected by a strike by their cabin crews, so they cancelled all flights. Most of our flights are with SAA, so we may have a radically changed itinerary over the next few days!

If you feel like reaching out to the Bloggers/travelers, feel free to either email us at macafrica@gmail.com or leave a comment at the appropriate spot at the end of each posting.

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The Launch

Thanks for stopping by and sharing our African adventure!!

Now that we have "publicized" our blog, we will try to update it as much as possible. From Aug 2-8 we will be on Kilimanjaro, so there won't be any posts. But after that we'll have stories from Kili and updates as we go.

See you on the 27th at OJ's on 4th Street!

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Practice Makes Perfect

Kim and I figured that the best way to "simulate" hiking Kilimanjaro, was to climb our local mountains. Our buddy Murray had been running up Sulphur Mountain, so we thought we better join in. For those who know Sulphur Mountain (www.banffgondola.com) understand that running up this mountain isn't exactly easy or normal. Well, nobody ever said Murray was normal.
With Murray running up the 5.5km trail in about 47 minutes, Kim and I hike up in about 1 1/4 hours. The first time we summited (as we like to call it) I was doing a full simulation...pack on the back full of stuff, camelbak full of water, "pole, ple" pace...everything. Kim on the other hand was in a race to the top...although she would turn around periodically to see if I was still alive. On our second summit (2 weeks later), Kim choose to carry a pack up - filled with a bag of flour, cans of tomatoes and whatever else she could find (if the kitchen sink wasn't attached to the counter, it would have been going up the hill as well!)
Sulphur is about a 690m elevation gain over the 5.5km ascent. In terms of Kili, we will have to gain about 4000m over 35km. Sulphur's summit is at 2281m, Kili's summit 5895m...so we are training, but not kidding ourselves!

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New Wardrobe

To counter the negative experience of the immunization, a positive shopping extravaganza for all those necessities was next. You would think that hiking up a mountain (where you are renting the cold weather clothing) for a couple of Canadians that live 60 minutes from the mountains would be pretty straight forward. Let me tell you, I had no idea how ill prepared for hiking I was. No hiking pants, no hiking shorts, no hiking socks, no hiking shirts - luckily I do have hiking boots, as does Kim. Mountain Equipment Co-of is definitely going to notice a sales spike.

You have to buy "trekking" pants if you are going to trek, right? Even if those trekking pants convert in to shorts, you still need a pair of trekking shorts, right? Even if you have hiked in normal wool socks before, you have to spend about $30 for a pair of hi-tech socks and liner, right? What the hell is a hiking shirt? I own 2, but I don't know what they did to make them hiking compatible???

Of course by climbing to the altitude we are, keeping hydrated is very necessary. The best way to stay hydrated - a "backpack" hydration system. 2 litre capacity - plus carry a couple of Nalgene bottles.

With all this new gear, I need a new sack to carry this all around in. Oh, don't forget the sleeping bag liner.

Remember...this is just me...as a guy, I am not as practiced at this whole shopping thing...Kim on the other hand - pro. I had to plug the meter once while we were shopping and Kim's brother plugged it another time. He came down to visit us during our 3 hour adventure.

Now that I have organized the first purchases, I have realized what I am missing...so MEC will have another visit from the shopping tornado!

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Immunization

Wow, Kim kept telling me she didn't like needles, but I thought it was just a BIT of fear...not absolute, complete, I'll do anything not to get stabbed with a needle - fear. On the way to the travel clinic I had to keep the doors locked, for the flight risk was high. I could tell Kim was a bit nervous, but didn't really grasp the depth of the apprehension until we got in to the clinic. There was a bit of nervous laughter in the waiting room, followed by a few laughing tears. As we sit down with the doctor to start reviewing what we need, we start with Kim. I was on standby in case Kim passed out, just from the discussion of needles. Once Kim realized she was going to have 4 needles, I was concerned she might leap out of the chair and make a break for it...seriously. There was no break for the door, no tears in front of the doctor, just a brave face - a pale brave face, but brave none the less.

Kim was going to get her needles first. The nurse asks Kim to sit in the regular chair and Kim pipes up - "I don't think the chair would be the best option." Nurse - "Okay, we'll get you to lay down." Kim - "That is best, as I am going to pass out." Nurse - "Lets put you in the recliner then - that way you can't roll off anything."

Kim, now seated in the recliner, is ready for the first needle...until it is visible. As soon as it comes near her, her upper body becomes completely tense. As the nurse goes to inject the first needle, it bounces off her arm. The nurse and I try to get Kim's mind off the needles, we are asking her about the safari. The nurse asks what are you going to see on the safari. The answer that Kim gives is - animals. Yep, that's all we get - animals. Thanks for the blinding glimpse of the obvious Kim. At the completion of the fourth needle...everyone was okay...I did have to double check to make sure the hand that Kim was holding was still attached to my arm. Even Kim was still awake and none the worse for wear...or so I thought. As I asked her how she was doing, she is about to say ok and between o and k she passed out...cold.

Never having seen a person pass out, I was a bit concerned, but was half expecting this. The nurse was very calm, so I thought no problem. After about 10 seconds, Kim swings her head to the otherside and then wakes up - but not like waking up from sleep. She experiences a bit of a "seizure" as she comes to. This is a bit freaky - the look on my face was priceless - the nurse enjoyed the general gong show that was taking place in her office! As Kim was rejoining us, her face went full red...then white...then her nose and mouth turned a really nice shade of green. The look on her face was one of absolute confusion and panic. After about 30 seconds things settled down and Kim was left to recover. She stood up after about 30 minutes and then I figured out what this was really all about. I got stuck paying for our complete set of shots...she had been watching my Scottish tendacy's and has mastered them!

We are supposed to get a booster shot in 6 months, I am going to surprise Kim with this visit...I can't take another episode like this!

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Planning done...now what

All of the details have been finalized...but still 11 weeks till the trip is underway. The part of the planning process that Kim is looking forward to most is coming up - immunization. This is the girl that gets wousy feeling just talking about a paper cut!
Knowing what the adventure is going to be, we can start shopping for the appropriate adventure clothing. Who knew you had to get special hats, pants, socks, bags, shirts, water purifiers and headlamps just for holidays.
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The Beginning

The Kim and Grant Africa Adventure 2005 germinated in March 2004 while traveling in Mexico. Kim was certainly not interested in leaving sunny Mexico and returning to snow and cold in Calgary. So the only way to get her on the plane home was to start planning the next adventure...Africa.

It began to gain steam as we talked with others who have been to Africa, with the finalization of the plan in the Fall of 2004. Tanzania was the destination...climb Kilimanjaro, safari and relax on Zanzibar where the targets. Then we added a few days in Cape Town, South Africa to satisfy Kim's need for wine!

Starting July 30, 2005, this blog will be updated as available once the Africa Adventure begins (hopefully we'll have lots of entertaining happenings for you)

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