Life's a Stitch

I finished the self striping cardigan:

Pattern: Double Crochet All The Way by CroJennifer https://crochetjennifer.com/collections/cardigans/products/double-crochet-all-the-way-cardigan-crochet-pattern

Yarn: Sirdar Jewelspun – I really liked this yarn despite it being acrylic and I’m a yarn snob.

Colourway: Glacier

Yardage: bought three balls and used an over two and a half, a total of 513 grams/1282 meters.

It took me about three months as a couple of weeks in I realized I was going to need more yarn. Ordered from the UK, it took a wrong turn, sitting in the US for a month. So frustrating to view it in tracking trying the clear customs in the wrong country.

Very happy with the outcome, it fits perfectly. I had difficulty with the pattern in the beginning, but by the end had it memorized. Pattern designer is available for help and replies very quickly. She also has Youtube videos on customizing fit and assembling projects.

I deviated from the pattern by assembling it first, then adding a double crochet front and back rib all around, with five button holes and ribbing on the cuffs. Now waiting for custom wood buttons from Chuck’s workshop.

I’m delayed in posting this. Two days after our return I was hit with what was probably the flu. I’m reminded yearly flu shots don’t last forever. It’s been a slog that spanned a couple of weeks. The happy side of the delay was having our elder grandson here for a week during spring break:

and Mari and KC here for Easter:

Back to Africa:

We had to leave earlier than planned to get to the Kilimanjaro airport, a 1.25 hour drive. It was the day of a summit of the presidents of the eight countries of East Africa and the road was scheduled for closure for security reasons.

It was shopping day and we passed many displays of household goods and clothing.

Shoes:

Furniture:

An artist’s gallery:

We waited a long time for the check in gate to open, then found our way to lunch. Finally I had the opportunity to eat a delicious chipsi mayai, a popular Tanzanian street food made with fries and eggs, similar to Spanish Tortilla (potato omelet).

As we were waiting to board, one of the presidents was leaving, complete with honour guard.

When we took off we saw the top of Kilimanjaro:

Our first layover was in Nairobi, the place of our arrival. It was a bit of a disaster involving a phone left on the first plane and its recovery, and the breakage of two of three special bottles of wine from the duty free. The next two flights were 8.5 and 9 hours. Yup, it was a trying 28 hours.

We flew over Greenland, Canada’s soulmate when it comes to a threatened takeover by the US.

Finally home, we reflected on a wonderful experience despite the arduous travel time. With the exception of the Camino de Santiago, it was the best trip we’ve ever taken.

The view from home sweet home:

(March 5/6, 2026)

Leaving Tarangire the bus ride to Arusha was two hours in the pelting rain. We eventually turned off the highway and wound our way through questionable areas until we arrived at our gated compound far from downtown. It was called the Summit Lodge, but resembled a budget close-to-the highway hotel on the I-5 around Stockton, California.

It was gated as it was not a good area to walk on your own. The neighbourhood:

Our room:

Notice the tea kettle on the dresser where there were no electrical outlets. To boil water we had to pull out a bed and carefully balance it on the mattress.

Our local agent arrived for orientation time. She was aware of our opinions regarding the location and offered to arrange a ride in the morning for us to go downtown Arusha to the Masai Market… by tuk-tuk. Four of us and the driver all in one tuk-tuk for a 25 minute drive each way for a total of $8US. Rika volunteered to sit shotgun.

We arrived safely, really it wasn’t that bad. 

It was a typical local market with merchants needing business calling out to you. I had some specific gift items in mind, but had to run the gauntlet past those booths that didn’t interest me.

It’s a difficult feeling wanting to impossibly support everyone.

I have a hard time bargaining in developing countries.

In the middle of our expedition we walked into town for lunch and an ATM. That’s when the rain started. A woman ran after us offering us plastic bags to keep our heads dry. What a sight we were.

In the end we all came out not too soaked, with our intended items, and had a long wait for our driver to return. We found a spot to keep dry.

It was exhausting enough, but was compounded by Chuck not feeling well physically and otherwise. We were more than ready to board a plane tomorrow for our 28 hour trip home.

Tomorrow: the journey back.

(March 5, 2026)

Our lunch destination was the Tarangire Sopa Lodge. Our previous experience with the Sopa chain meant it will be a step up from our recent box lunches.

On our way we saw another new-to-us creature, a Rock Hyrax. They live in rock crevices in order to escape predators.

The wildlife became more colourful. We spotted a Lilac Breasted Roller.

And upon arriving at the lodge’s lush grounds there was a Rainbow Agama Lizard aka the Red-headed Rock Lizard, beautiful by either name:

We were escorted from the lobby

to the pool area for a delicious grilled lunch: burgers, chicken and fish.

Back on the road there were Masai Giraffes with their characteristic leafy shaped jagged spots. I could imagine one printed with Canadian maple leaves.

And an elephant family with a young new member.

We saw one using a tree to scratch an itch.

There was a Ground Hornbill standing in a tree:

Finally, a troop of baboons.

And that’s a wrap for the animals. This part of our trip was far above and beyond what we ever imagined!

Kenya and Tanzania in late February to early March worked out well for us, but note, a few days after we left there was massive flooding a month before the rainy season usually starts. Climate change?

Our tour agency couldn’t get us flights back tomorrow so we’ll have a free day in Arusha. The Masai Craft Market is on our agenda. Stay tuned.

(March 5, 2026)

We checked out of the Country Lodge early enough to fit in another visit to the Tanzanite Experience gallery. Again, I didn’t buy anything, but our group did the stop justice with their purchases of tanzanite earrings, t-shirts, carved wooden animals and table runners. I was taken with the metal garden sculptures, but there was no way they were fitting into the suitcase.

I particularly liked a warthog, but they were sold out of the small ones.

In the parking lot we watched the Weaver birds flitting about their hanging nests. It was interesting to see them entering and exiting through the bottom of the nests.

90 minutes later we arrived at Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania.

The park is known as an elephant paradise with herds up to 300.

After nine days in nature, we were surprised to see new animals and different vegetation. There were huge termite mounds:

and giant Baobab Trees, some 1000 years old:

We were greeted by a mama and baby waterbuck with their heart shaped noses:

followed by large warthogs:

The landscape was beautiful.

Besides the Baobabs, there were palms and we were introduced to the Sausage Trees:

They are known for large sausage-shaped fruit, which can reach up to 2 feet long and weigh over 15 lbs. Although the raw fruit is poisonous to people, they are a food source for baboons and monkeys. The large cats use sausage trees for shade.

We saw Dwarf Mongoose for the first time.

Where there are mongoose there are generally snakes, and we were fortunate to see none, although the parks we toured are home to deadly Black Mamba, Puff Adders, Pythons, Black Necked Spitting Cobra and many harmless varieties.

We drove over the Tarangire River, a reliable water source that attracts a quarter million animals during the dry season. This was the wetter season, bordering on the start of the long rains in March, and there was no shortage of animal sightings.

To be continued…

(March 4, 2026)

We continued our crater game drive.

Before our lunch break we spotted an elephant:

On the smaller end of the scale, a Rosy-throated Longclaw: 

And we did it! Steve spotted rhinos in the distance, but they are so large there was no mistaking them. Yes, those are birds on his back. The Red-billed Oxpeckers remove ticks and parasites from the rhino’s body and also serves as a warning system for poachers and predators that attack their calves.

There are two types of rhinoceros, Black and White. The difference has nothing to do with colour. White rhinos are larger, social grazers with wide, square lips. Black rhinos are smaller, solitary browsers with pointed, hooked lips used to eat branches and leaves.

These are the Black Rhinos of the big five, so now everyone in our group has completed all five. 

The rest of the afternoon seemed dedicated to birds.

A Grey Crowned Crane (the National Bird of Uganda)

The Spar-winged Goose

At our picnic spot on the lake there were thieving birds, Pelicans and Guinea Fowl.

It was a peaceful spot on the hippo area of the lake. 

The were also plenty of Weaver birds.

The weather was getting thicker and after a full day we headed up through the rain forest side of the crater,

back to the lookout with the geocache, eventually arriving at the Country Lodge in Keratu, where we had stayed three days ago. 

It was nice to get back to a basket of clean laundry at a reasonable price, $1US per item. 

Sadly tomorrow is the last game drive of the trip at the same time I’m so grateful that we have already been able to experience far more than we expected.

(March 4, 2026)

Our departure from the camp was at a 7:00am.

We encountered a scene reminiscent of the Lion King, Pride Rock.

We saw evidence of a not-so-lucky buffalo. One of the detriments of living in the land of the lion.

The day was full of interesting birds starting with the Secretary Bird, named for the quill like feathers on its head.

Followed by the Nubian Vulture.

We descended into the volcanic crater formed two million years ago. At 11 miles in diameter, it’s the largest caldera on earth. 

Its name, Ngorongoro, described the Maasai term for the sound made by the bell on the lead cow in a herd, echoing in the crater “ngor ngor.”

The Conservation Area is home to 25,000 large mammals, including all of the big five: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

There were plenty of zebras:

Including some enjoying a wade in the water:

The highlight were a trio of lazy lions:

The bird collection continued with a Sacred Ibis:

A larger antelope, the Oryx, the largest living antelope, weighing up to 900 kilograms (2000lbs):

We headed to Lake Magadi to view Flamingos:

and Pelicans:

It’s 1:00 pm, time for a bit more touring before arriving at our picnic lunch spot. To be continued.

(March 3, 2026)

We continued on our drive through Serengeti. 

Steve caught a glimpse of a leopard sleeping in a tree.

That completed the big five for the three of us who went to Nairobi National Park on our first day. The rest haven’t seen a rhino yet, so with the leopard, they have four of the five, but there are two full days of game drives left.

The drivers are in constant radio contact regarding sightings or calling for help. The Safari vehicles were tough modified Toyota trucks, but sometimes found themselves in need of help. Nearby guides will come to the rescue. We went to help this vehicle mired in the mud.

On our way again and there was another leopard carrying a significant chunk of gazelle.

Klipspringers were perched high on the rocks.

Then it was our turn for a callout to nearby drivers. Coincidentally there was another stuck vehicle close by. Steve helped them first as we chilled in the car, having our bag lunches. 

Our rescue took two attempts.

We were happy to be going again.

On our way back to the camp we saw lounging lions.

Another Superb Starling

And a Hornbill

(March 3, 2026)

It was a peaceful night in the tent camp, full of savannah sounds. Turn up sound.

At 3:00a.m. we heard a hyena, but that was about it in the wild animal department. We were at breakfast for sunrise. 

On Safari trips there are frequent 5:00a.m. wakeups, as that’s when the animals are active. We saw them at all times of day probably because the weather wasn’t hot. 

The morning brought us:

Topi

Male and female impala

And a sitting giraffe, a more common position in captivity, as it leaves them prone to predators.

There were interesting large rock formations dotting the landscape

It was a big day for wildebeest, who decided to migrate en masse. We read that there are 1.5million of them in Serengeti National Park and it was easy to believe. 

Zebras wanted to cross the road as well. 

There were times we couldn’t see the end of either lines of zebras or wildebeests, they were visible for miles.

We were surrounded by over 100 elephants. Watching their behaviour was so interesting. We saw the “trunk hug” in action, where older elephants lay their trunks on the backs of younger ones as an expression of comfort or affection.

Looked like a family hug

We were thrilled to see a two week old calf. Our timing was wonderful in terms of seeing young ones.

The elephants were responsible for all the knocked over trees on the savannah. Want to eat leaves that are too high up? No problem, the elephant stomps and pushes the trees down for easier access.

Now it was the elephant’s turn to cross the road:

I’ll save the afternoon excitement for the next post. Again all this was prior to noon! This was not what I was expecting for a safari trip. I thought there would be long periods of searching for animal sightings, but in reality, wildlife was a constant.

(March 2. 2026)

The Country Lodge in Keratu provided us with a buffet of items for us to make up our own lunch boxes. Great idea as a means to control food waste as you only take what you’ll eat. We had lunch at the park gate with beautiful blue Superb Starlings

and mice at our feet. There were decent bathrooms as well. 

Fed and refreshed we were on our way. Note: I’m wearing Bryant’s uniform Safari shirt from his three week gig filming a high end safari company seven years ago. The guide recognized it and asked where I found it. Our tour generally followed Bryant’s itinerary so I was hopeful we’d see some of the same animals. Good strategy.

Off we went. There was a resting lioness.

And Steve’s eagle eyes immediately spotted four cubs napping in a nearby culvert.

A “mob” of mongoose were checking out a termite hill.

They decided to make a quick exit.

This pond was most memorable due to the quantity of hippos taking their afternoon nap.

Making our way to the tent camp we spotted a cheetah in the grasses.

Baboons:

The Dikdik, a tiny antelope that stands 12-15” at the shoulder:

And more interesting birds.

The Red Bishop:

Arriving at Moyo Tented Camp reminded me of welcoming campers to summer camp.

This was glamping at its best:

It was good to know we’d be here for two nights in a row, not our routine of daily moving along.