Definition - "The Squawk of Dawn": the time before sunrise when birds begin their twittering.
Clayton woke at the squawk of dawn to enjoy the breeze off the lake, lack of mosquitoes, and the chance to photograph a beautiful African
sunrise. He took one last swim with the fishes while I slept in. We enjoyed breakfast on the island and left paradise behind. On the way back we passed fishermen in dugout canoes.
Our driver (and the car with air conditioning) were there to meet us. At my dad's request Shannon McPhearson had arranged for u
s to visit Stuart Grants Fish Farm (http://www.lakemalawi.com/) on our return. The route was up to Salima then over to Senga Bay. We ate lunch at "Cool Runnings" a camp site with rentals available on the lake shore. After a short drive south on a very poor road be arrived at the fish farm. My dad was in bliss. They had a very large and complex series of tanks that he would be glad to tell you about when we are not so pressed for time.
Our instincts so far have been to flinch and look away when riding on the roads at speeds up to 150 km/hr through the people, bicycles, potholes, goats, chickens, and cows that live on the roadway. We have suppressed these instincts enough to closely observe the traffic traveling along the roads.
The people on the roads: some have shoes but most are barefoot. Most walk, a few have bicycles, some bicycles have pedals - some do not.
On women's heads we have seen: (for example) water, wood, maize (large bags), machette, umbrella (closed - not raining), and baskets of tomatoes.
On bicycles we have seen: huge stacks of firewood (think at least 10 feet high), charcoal, 50 kg bags of maize (about 5 bags to one bike, sometimes more), and last but not least a live goat.
Minibuses (usually a minivan or sometimes a 3 ton) offer public transportation on "major" "roads" - which are filled to at least triple capacity plus whatever those people happened to be carrying with them. Near the lake we noticed fish being transported by hanging outside of the minibus - off the rear hatch, dangling from antennas, or in front hanging from the windshield wipers.
We arrived "home" to Salima Village in time for Jeremiah's spaghetti dinner. We spent a few hours chatting with Michelle and Grandma Pat (and using their computer to update this blog). They spent several days after Christmas at the northern lake shore. We called home to wish our family Happy New Year (WE GOT THERE FIRST!) and turned in for the night.
Clayton woke at the squawk of dawn to enjoy the breeze off the lake, lack of mosquitoes, and the chance to photograph a beautiful African
sunrise. He took one last swim with the fishes while I slept in. We enjoyed breakfast on the island and left paradise behind. On the way back we passed fishermen in dugout canoes.Our driver (and the car with air conditioning) were there to meet us. At my dad's request Shannon McPhearson had arranged for u
s to visit Stuart Grants Fish Farm (http://www.lakemalawi.com/) on our return. The route was up to Salima then over to Senga Bay. We ate lunch at "Cool Runnings" a camp site with rentals available on the lake shore. After a short drive south on a very poor road be arrived at the fish farm. My dad was in bliss. They had a very large and complex series of tanks that he would be glad to tell you about when we are not so pressed for time.Our instincts so far have been to flinch and look away when riding on the roads at speeds up to 150 km/hr through the people, bicycles, potholes, goats, chickens, and cows that live on the roadway. We have suppressed these instincts enough to closely observe the traffic traveling along the roads.
The people on the roads: some have shoes but most are barefoot. Most walk, a few have bicycles, some bicycles have pedals - some do not.
On women's heads we have seen: (for example) water, wood, maize (large bags), machette, umbrella (closed - not raining), and baskets of tomatoes.
On bicycles we have seen: huge stacks of firewood (think at least 10 feet high), charcoal, 50 kg bags of maize (about 5 bags to one bike, sometimes more), and last but not least a live goat.
Minibuses (usually a minivan or sometimes a 3 ton) offer public transportation on "major" "roads" - which are filled to at least triple capacity plus whatever those people happened to be carrying with them. Near the lake we noticed fish being transported by hanging outside of the minibus - off the rear hatch, dangling from antennas, or in front hanging from the windshield wipers.
We arrived "home" to Salima Village in time for Jeremiah's spaghetti dinner. We spent a few hours chatting with Michelle and Grandma Pat (and using their computer to update this blog). They spent several days after Christmas at the northern lake shore. We called home to wish our family Happy New Year (WE GOT THERE FIRST!) and turned in for the night.
1 comment:
What a thrill to turn on my phone on New Year's Eve at the airport beween flights and have a call all the way from Africa!! Anna, Isaac and I had a wonderful time visiting the cousins in New Jersey. We've been following the blog, and praying for you. Of course we miss you like crazy and look forward to your return. Bryce, you neglected to mention your father's birthday-- did anything special happen (besides an amazing trip to the fish farm?) I can hardly wait to see you again!
-mary/mommy
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