A Different Family 4th

Another break from World Cup is in order, in honor of our country's birthday.

I did shoot the Spain-Paraguay quarterfinal a couple nights ago, but those images, and the related thoughts, can wait for another posting.

My stay with the Wallis family in Pretoria, at their guesthouse, The Thatch Cottage, has been a delightful experience. As their middle daughter, Minette, said, 'I'm afraid, it seems, you've become a part of the family'. Such has been the nature of my stay here.

So as Sunday, the 4th, which is just another day in South Africa, rolled around, it was the suggestion of the son-in-law, Jason, we all travel about 30 minutes the other side of Johannesburg to the Heia Safari Ranch, which is a sort of conference center out in the bush. He had been here once before on a company outing, and knew the family would enjoy it. Upon arriving, the first thing that clues one in this may be a bit of a different experience is encountering one of the resident 'zonkis',  a cross between a donkey and a zebra.

Soon thereafter, another clue. There are thatch-roofed cabins surrounding the conference center, and the sight of an impala ram grazing through the yard, does let one know this is an African experience.

The view in the other direction, from the front porches of the cabins, is a man-made lake, where a herd of springbok grazed that lower portion of the property.

The main purpose of the trip, other than the unique experience, was lunch, and as I sat down with four generations of the Wallis clan, it seemed only fitting to order something special, consequently ending up with kudu filet, which I cannot put into words, as to how delicious the meal turned out.

Part of the ambiance while eating was sitting by the pool. Now a number of people eat out by the pool on the 4th of July, but I'm thinking it pretty much suggests you're in Africa, when this turns up as one of the scenes by the pool . . . . .

Following lunch, we walked it off by a stroll around the grounds, where we encountered a couple other interesting sights, including this 'black' (I'm going with chocolate) variant of a springbok.

A couple of other scenes worth passing along, were this mother zebra helping her foal with a little back scratch, and what trip into the bush would be complete without a giraffe strolling by. This was a 'young' giraffe, probably a two-year old. And we think kids grow up quickly.

It goes without saying, this will be a 4th that will stick in memory for quite some time. Receiving photos from Helen of her, the kids, Doc, Mimi, et al, from the Florida beach, simultaneously enjoying their weekend, did tear at me, more than a little, wanting to be in two places at once. As that's not possible, though, I have to thank all of them for their help and support in making this place, this place in particular, and South Africa in general, a once, and for all, memory.

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