Sunday Oct 31st- Happy Halloween-Scary Already!

Our African adventure began on Thursday, October 28 leaving our warm, cozy beds in Eliot, Maine at 5am for the airport in Boston, thanks to Aja (our youngest daughter) for dropping us and our 3 oversized duffle bags and cooler. First hurdle cleared with everything weighing in just at the acceptable 50 pounds.  Our first flight on Jet Blue was to JFK for our 15 hour non stop flight to Johannesburg. After a 3 hour layover our next flight took us to the diamond capital of the world Kimberley, South Africa. This area is famous for mining of a variety of minerals and is a major employer for the Northern Cape.  Our goal was to pick up our 4x4 jeep at the airport and make it to the small town of Kuruman, about a 3 hour drive before dark.  The plan was to meet up with Hillary our daughter who is serving in the Peace Corp and we were anxious having not seen her in 16 months.
First challenge was seeing the busted duffle bag limping along the conveyor belt with my contents precariously exposed, most of which were gifts for the children in the village.  Seeing the driver with our name on a little sign gave hope that at least the car was here.  George introduced himself with an apology for the leaking brake fluid which he assured us had not begun until the minute he arrived at the airport.  Hmmm... we decided to check the promised 2008 Land rover prior to signing off on the contract. Not only were the brakes leaking a puddle, but the transmission and differential as well.  Not a great way to begin a 2 1/2 month expedition through the bush in 5 countries. We agreed to head to a mechanic to see what could be done and as we climbed in I noticed the expired permit dated  June of 2000.  The jeep was ancient, maybe ten years old, but no where could we find the age, including on the vin or registration.  To make matters worse, George informed us the owner of the rental company Mike Rider had been killed in a car crash on Monday.  His wife Travis was trying her best to manage under the horrible circumstances.  George went on to inform us that another vehicle had been rolled on Tuesday, which pretty much explained why we were not riding in a 2008, but also made it tough to get angry.  Andrew was employed by the small, rental business and was trying to help, but had no records as to when another jeep would be available or what they even had left, he promised to call over the weekend.  We sent George off with the leaking Landrover and there we stood back at the airport in Kimberely with more luggage than I've traveled with in my life.  Friday afternoon and out of 5 agencies only one had a car left, our little Aveo.  By now the sun is setting and with warnings from the rental agent to take care with the Kudos that run out into the road we finally left for Kuruman.
Hillary was frantically trying to reach us and was glad to hear that we were at least in route and would arrive around 9pm.  Having traveled over 45 hours, we were happy to pull up to a band of cheering Peace Corp Volunteers who welcomed us to our guest house for the weekend.  After hugs and introductions we headed to the restaurant across the street for food.  As the last beer arrived to the table the electricity went out, not to return for the rest of the evening.  The only item they could prepare was pasta, and so it shall be. One of the volunteers, Jennifer stepped out for a minute with Ryan to get something from her room. Shortly after Ryan came in to say Jennifer had fallen somehow in the dark and was laying in the parking lot unable to move or walk and was in alot of pain.  Dan sprang into action and got the car and brought it close enough that they could lift Jennifer into it and bring her back to the guest house.  We packed up the now cold pasta and carried it over to the guest house.  We bandaged Jennifer up and dosed her with pain meds until we could get her to the clinic in the morning.  End of Day 1, Africa 1-Dan and Holly 0.
XRays at the clinic showed a severe fracture of the tibia which would require surgery in Pretoria, an 8-10 hour drive away.  Peace Corp would send a driver but not for another day.  We made the best of it hanging at the guest house pool, keeping Jennifer drugged and shopping for a barbecue at the local grocery.  There are about a dozen volunteers who serve the Northern Cape meeting up in Kuruman when they are able to get transport from their villages,for some it takes a day to get here and another to return. It was fun to be part of their community even under the stressful circumstances.  We managed to reach Andrew of the famed "Just Done It" rental agency only to find that his wife was now in the emergency room with a medical emergency.
Sunday, Oct 31 and I did not sleep very well.  Not that I can really do anything at the moment about our jeep rental or pretty much anything else, I'm just used to being in limbo after 5 months of working toward toward this one goal.  Thank You Africa for being my teacher, once again when I think I'm in control or have everything figured out, arranged, managed, well think again.  The Adventure Has Begun!