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I just received notice that an article I submitted to African Hunting Gazette will be published in the upcoming September issue!  It's a story of my week long kudu hunt high in the Waterberg mountains of the Limpopo, South Africa, near the Botswana border, where my guide and I hiked some thirty kilometres a day chasing the elusive grey ghost.  The end result is a Rowland Ward Record Book kudu rack on my wall, and memories of long stalks through gorgeous countryside, wading through herds of impala, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, blesbuck, and red hartebeest, as klipspringer flushed from the foliage, my tracks mingling with those of leopard, and evenings were spent dining on fresh game roasted over hot coals.  I'd love to go hunting in Africa again, but my disposable income is presently tied up with more pressing matters.....


To add to the excitement, my kid has flown the coop!  She's picked up her stakes and headed West for work as I did when I was but a year younger.  I was anxious to get out and find my own place in the world, and I wasn't surprised she followed suit, but I am sad I was overseas when she left.  I'm sure a visit out West is in the cards next time I get back to Canada.

But I'm still here in Tanzania, well into an eight week tour.  I've signed off one new commander and there's two more in the works, plus with some OPCs, SAR Training and line checks, I've been getting airborne quite regularly.  Line flying has increased as well, and it all amounts to doing more of what I love.  All the recent fears over security seems unjustified, as I go about my business as I have here since the beginning.  The National airline departing Mtwara yesterday returned in short order with one engine obviously given up the ghost, so there is excitement, but to be honest, as my concentration is interrupted yet again by the intermittent yet incessant "Allahu Akbar" call from the loudhailer adjacent to my window, I'm ready to head home and just chill for awhile.