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| It was hard to believe we captured this scene close to sunset. |
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
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| Notice the appearance of a face in the rocks near the top center of this photo. |
It’s almost noon on Sunday and I’m getting a late start to today’s post. Recently, on a relatively strict diet to lose the weight I’d gained these past few years since my gastrointestinal problems began, I’m only 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) away from my goal.
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| A pair of retired generals, perhaps? |
Once I reach that goal, I will post the details here including what I’ve been doing to lose weight which is difficult with my already strict way of eating, what I did and didn’t give up, my weight at the start, and the final total weight loss.
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| Zebras were standing in a waterhole drinking and cooling off. |
It’s been slow, averaging only a .45 kg (one pound) loss per week but I’m thrilled to be able to fit back into clothes I’ve dragged around the world for a few years hoping I’d fit in them once again.
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| A mom and youngster grazing near the water’s edge. |
Of course, now I’m stuck with many items that are way too big, which I’ll donate before we leave South Africa, whenever that may be. In the interim Tom who’d also gained a few kilos is now gradually returning to his lowest weight which was when we were in Belize almost six years ago.
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| This elephant was trying to figure out how to climb these steep rocks. Eventually, she turned and took a different route. |
We’re hell-bent on not carrying excess weight when our goal is to stay fit and healthy so we can continue traveling. We’ve both found we feel our very best at the lower end of our weight ranges which like everyone, fluctuates from time to time.
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| Five giraffes at the river’s edge. |
No, we’re not obsessed with the “numbers’ but we’re definitely determined to keep our lipids, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and weight at a level of optimum wellness for our ages.
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| Zebras coming down the steep hill to the Crocodile River. |
No doubt, I’d had my share of medical ups and downs these past several years. But, now I see I need to pay more attention to wellness and less attention to the vulnerability of advancing age.
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| The hot weather brought many animals down to the Crocodile River. |
Fortunately, none of my issues had left me wanting to stop traveling. At times, it was difficult to carry on but the sheer love of our lifestyle has kept me motivated to forging ahead. Now that I’m feeling so well I never forget to be grateful each and every day while continuing on the mission to maintain good health.
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| Giraffes rarely bend to the ground other than to drink. They are vulnerable to predators in this position. |
One’s mental health is equally important in this process and nothing could bring us more joy than the amazing relationship we share as we travel the world. This extended stay in South Africa, hopefully lasting until February 20, 2019, when we fly to Kenya (providing we are able to get visa extensions) means we only have 150 days remaining until we leave.
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| A few male impalas and two giraffes could be mom and youngster. |
The remaining 150 days constitute a total of four months and 28 days. We both want to thank all of our worldwide readers for staying with us as we’ve continued to write and post photos of some fairly repetitive scenarios.
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| Giraffes heading back up the embankment while zebras languished in the water. |
We present today’s photos with a little different perspective, not just animal photos per se but scenes with the wildlife we’ve been fortunate to see while on the Marloth Park side of the fence, overlooking the Crocodile River, taken on the two outrageously hot days this past week.
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| A few of the zebras began to wander off while the others stayed behind. |
Enjoy our photos and especially, enjoy YOUR day!
Photo from one year ago today, September 23, 2017:
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| Much of the produce at the Central Market in Atenas appears to be imported when it’s perfectly shaped and mostly clean. At the feria, the Friday Atenas Farmer’s Market, the vegetables appear to have been “just picked” with excess leaves and insects still on them. That’s the type of produce we prefer to buy. For more photos, please click here. |