Brisk walk

After a stirring breakfast of fresh mango and instant coffee, I treated myself to a brisk hike, melancholy be damned.  With dark skies threatening, I headed seaside, smart phone in a waterproof bag....just in case.  Everywhere smiles and waves and greetings in English and Swahili.  I do wish they kept the greetings simpler, as I cannot remember them all, or their many responses, and I default to "Mambo!" with the required response "Poa!" depending on who throws theirs into the pot first.  A local doctor told me he won't use his rudimentary Swahili when dealing with the locals, for as soon as they hear one word of their native tongue, they assume you must speak the language, and get quite frustrated when the rapid discourse sure to follow is met with a blank stare.  I see this everyday.  But still I open my mouth and try my best.

Flying tonight.  One has to maintain a level of currency, and night flying to offshore platforms present special challenges.  We mitigate those with procedures and training and recurrency flights.  That's what's scheduled tonight. I'm just looking forward to getting behind the controls to slip the surly bonds of earth, at least for a little while. 

Nearing the end of my tour, and looking forward to heading home.  Two more Sundays of sipping coffee and watching monkeys at the Old Boma....