Safety Third

Pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/116486261622853021292/SATrip2011AndInto2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCPSd8Y2Qs8fw9gE#

The Eagleson has (crash) landed - so I was clearing hornet nests out of the thatch roof after our 2 month absence from Marloth. I have to spray them at night when it's cool so I climbed up the ladder in the dark, with my headlamp on. I was doing fine, until I disturbed one of the nests and they attacked and I was getting stung. "I'd better get out of here" I thought, so I quickly jumped of the ladder. I didn't think it was a big deal, if I had dropped it on a snowboard my brothers (and probably my mom) would have shrugged unamused. Its maybe 3 meters/12 ft. I landed on my feet, but then I just kept going downward...

It hurt, bad, but I thought it was just a nasty bruise and for those of us married to nurses you learn to brush-off compound leg fractures, severed arteries and other minor injuries. So I just had to 'stay off it' for a week. Well, by Saturday morning it didn't look so good. On Sunday, my foot looked like one of those balloon figures you get from street performers. By Monday, Nicola said "ummmmm, time to go to the hospital." So we've been back-and-forth from the private hospital in Nelspruit (Visa=healthcare). I have crushed my right heal inwards cracking the outer shell of my calcaneous (heel bone) like a boiled egg. Bad news: I'm out of commission for 8 weeks at least. Good news: no surgery needed, it will heal nicely and it will still fit in a snowboard/ski boot. That's all I really worried about. The thing is, it wasn't worth the hornet stings, they were gone by the next morning! As James would say: two thumbs down.

This inconvenience does not change our plans too much.  We had come back to Marloth to rest, and get into a routine; read a little, swim a little, get some schooling done. In my opinion, there isn't a better place in the world to rest then right here. I look incredibly casual in my recovery because I always have my one foot proped up on a stool;  when the neighbors go past, all they can see is me with my feet up, on the computer, reading, doing crafts with kids, even cooking on the fire while Nicola walks back-and-forth delivering drinks to me! Either they think I'm a lazy ass or have a acheived a new level in South African male-dom. I just smile and wave.

Mandatory Time Off in Marloth

We just spent two very long days in the truck in an effort to get as far north as possible. We left Hluleka rested but disappointed that we couldn't stay longer, family is coming to the cottage at Marloth and we have to meet them there and get things cleaned and ready.


It was here that we were reminded that trying to rush in Africa is a futile battle. The two hour road into to Hluleka meant at least two hours getting out. We modified our route somewhat to reach the highway (R67) in a different spot. It's slow going so you just have to sit back and relax. Because we were driving in the morning meant that we had to carefully share the road with lots of children walking to school. Life is still oriented around walking distance (to get water, go to school, go to church) and the kids playfully made their way up foot paths and onto the road in their school uniforms. As we drove, we could see our passing into a new school district as the uniforms on the kids streaming along road changed from black to brown to orange. I negotiated the potholed road carefully, the kids waving to everyone as we passed. The rest of the day was spent roaring along the N2 through Durban in bumper-to-bumper traffic at a numbing 120 km/h. Mistakes are dealt with harshly, so we just got through it as gently as possible and crashed in Richards Bay for the night.  Richards Bay has many highlights, including an aluminum smelter! Lovely. We left as early as possible.

GROUNDED
Marloth, our refuge, is a place to rest surround by animals and the African bush. We haven't been very good at sitting - until now. I was on a ladder spraying a wasp nest in the thatched roof over the boma last night. I disturbed the nest and got a sting, paniced, and jumped of the roof rendering my right angle un-useable. Luckily, I bring a nurse with me wherever I go and have been prescribed a large dose of humility and rest. I have my feet up, literally. This sucks.