Giraffes are Amazing

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The amazing part about staying in the African savannah is staying in the African savannah. It's such a foreign concept for me to see these exotic animals roaming free in their natural habitat. And this setting is their regular home. While for me I've only ever seen them in a zoo.



Of course I took a thousand pictures of the same animals. It was so exciting turning a corner and there right next to the jeep is a wild animal of some kind. In this adventure, giraffes were everywhere. Of course the first few times it's crazy exciting. They're so big, and they can blend in so perfectly with their surroundings. And they're quiet.




Despite their size, you don't hear them stomping through the wilderness making a lot of noise. They're so graceful, and watching them was hypnotizing.



Even though the novelty of seeing giraffes wore off by about day 3 of the safari drives, and the ranger joked about how the giraffes were becoming a "bloody plague" because we could get away from them, I still loved every time we saw them. I did become a bit more desensitized at the regularity of these exotic animals, but I still took a picture every chance I could. They are just beautiful. And I don't think I will ever be able to see them in a zoo again without feeling sad. They should be roaming free.
 
  

 
 
 

Running the Big 5 Marathon

 Well, this marathon was terrible. Terrible in the sense that the terrain is incredible difficult. While the information about this race tries to convey just how challenging this race is, it doesn’t really succeed. It’s hard. Ridiculously hard.




 
I was not prepared for this marathon. The trails, the rocky surfaces, the sand, the crazy steep ravine, it’s a trail runners dream. More of a nightmare for someone like me who lives in flatland central. And I just wasn’t prepared.

 Granted, trying to train for this marathon was a challenge. Losing my mother partway through training, and the grief and emotional rollercoaster that came with it, made training the hardest thing I’ve ever done. All I wanted to do was stay in bed, so my training runs became more like training walks. Even that was a fight to not quit hallway through. I resented running and starting hating and dreading every run I needed to do. My mental focus did not exist, and was nothing but grief and negativity. Training for anything while fighting a mental war is ten times harder.

 Even with the difficulty of the course it’s beautiful. You’re running on trails through the beautiful lands of South Africa. You see wild animals along the way that I could never see any place else. Definitely one of the most amazing places to run a race.

 Because it’s run in the wilds of Africa, and there’s no barriers from the animals, they are very strict about cut off times. As they should be. Because of my lack of preparation, I wasn’t fast enough to meet the cut off times. A flatter race and I could have made it. But this one defeated me. I was heartbroken. I saw the medic truck coming up the steepest hill ever when I was just past the 27km mark (full marathon is just over 42km, or 26.2 miles). I looked at my watch. I could take the truck now, or keep moving along and get picked up in another 30 minutes. I knew I wouldn’t make the 32km cut off time.

 

Defeated and discouraged, I hopped on board. The medic was very kind, patted my leg, and said I did a great job. I was heartbroken, devastated, and so disappointed in myself. I fought back tears that would betray my devastation. My ego was hurt, my self-confidence shot, and I was so discouraged I felt like I should give up running. I also felt like I let everyone down, including my mother.

 

 When I arrived back at the starting/finish line, the medic grabbed me a half marathon medal. I definitely finished a half marathon plus some change, but it still broke my heart in every way to not cross that finish line.

 My little surrogate family of this whole South African adventure was wonderful, encouraging, and very supportive. Sweetest people ever, and I just love them for their kind words and encouragement.

Did it help? Yes and no. I needed some time to berate myself and feel low and discouraged. And I needed to have a good cry. Which I did later that night and a bit the next day when I was alone. Staying positive was tough, but I made it through and tried to not let it ruin my trip. It was still so amazing despite my defeat.

Looking back on the race after having some time post attempt, I know that I gave it my best. Was I prepared? No. But there is not an inch of that course that I completed that I wish I would have pushed myself harder or faster. I gave every ounce I had to that course, and it just wasn’t enough. Yes it’s discouraging. Running has never been something that comes easy or natural to me. It’s always been a fight to the end. But I love the feeling of accomplishment. I’m used to succeeding in the goals I set, and to fail at one is not something I’m accustomed to. Of course I heard lots of philosophical statements about how it’s good to not succeed sometimes because it will help you get stronger, better, etc. etc. While that may be true, in the moment, I just didn't want to hear it. I wanted to wallow in my own self-pity for not being prepared or good enough. Now, I get it and appreciate the encouragement. It did sink in, despite my snarky mental attitude.

Attempting this all after just losing my mother has also made me realize that even though I didn’t cross that finish line, I’m pretty tough to have even tried. The thought of backing out or canceling the trip never crossed my mind. While there was a big part of me that wanted to finish this race in honor of my mom, I felt her with me the whole time saying she was proud of me no matter what happened.

At this point, I’m torn. I never want to see that course again because it was so ridiculously hard. On the other hand, my stubborn nature kicks in and my defeat festers. I’m pretty sure that somewhere in the future I will make another attempt to complete this course. Turns out I don’t take this kind of failure well.

The plus side is I know what I’m getting into, so that should help me to train more efficiently. The downside is that I now know what I’m getting into and it’s really going to suck, and be amazing all at the same time.

The African Adventure is Here!!!

I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. My African adventure is here in less than a week, and I cannot wait for a reason to unplug from the real world for a few weeks.

I'm slightly terrified, and really excited. I've no idea what to expect, or what I've gotten myself into. I'm hoping this giant head first leap into the unknown turns out to be a great experience.

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So far, I know that this is my "lodge." I'm definitely going for the more authentic African bush experience. There is a part of me that wonders if I should have spent the extra money and stayed at the more luxury touristy lodges. Especially since I got a trip logistics email last week, stating that it's forbidden to wander around after dark alone without an escort. Eek! Of course it makes complete sense, but it's slightly terrifying to think about the man eating animals I'll be sleeping near by.

But then I see pictures like this one and I can't wait to be in the bush. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite me - and I mean that literally as well as figuratively.

That marathon running part of this excursion is just as terrifying, as the course is ridiculously challenging, on top of the fact you have to watch for wild animals.

Will I come back alive and healthy? That is the biggest question of any trip I've any been on that has potential for a negative response.

Eek!! But you only live once, right?!

Windsor Castle

Something I've never had the chance to do is visit Windsor Castle. So on my last trip to England, I was finally able to work in a day trip to see this famous residence. There was a bit of a line to get in to see the grounds, and this was during the off season. I can't imagine how busy it is during the major tourist season. I'd rather not know.

 Sadly, pictures are not allowed on the inside of the palace. It's pretty amazing to see all the portraits dating back centuries, the beautiful china, and the most amazing and intricate dollhouse I've ever seen. Definitely worth a stop to see if possible. In the meantime, you can enjoy a few pictures of the beautiful grounds.

 
 
 

England - I Heart London

 I love England. Any chance to make a stop in London and I'll take it. That being said, I've been lucky enough to wander through that city around 4 times now. Someday, perhaps I'll really be adventurous and move over there for a year or two.

Until then, here are a few pictures of my favorite spots. They never get old. One day I plan to run the London marathon too. Just seems fitting. Of course I also had to make a quick stop in Bath. Just for fun of course.

 

 

Farewell to Scotland

After seeing the beautiful Dunfermline Abbey, we headed to our final hotel to enjoy our last night in Scotland.











We stayed in a tiny little village in North Queensferry, just across the bridge from Edinburg. It was quiet, quaint, and we had a lovely evening watching the sun go down across the water.
Of course we had another round of fresh and fabulous fish and chips, topped off with my favorite dessert - sticky toffee pudding.

I love Scotland. I hope to get back there one day soon. The people were friendly, the food was tasty, and the country is beautiful. What more could you ask for?

Dunfermline Abbey and Palace

The next stop made in Scotland was at Dunfermline Abbey and Palace, in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. This little town is just outside of Edinburg to the north. Part of the Abbey was destroyed and rebuilt, while the other part miraculously remained undamaged.

I don't remember the reason why I picked this as a stop to make, but I'm glad I did. The parish church was beautiful, with the prettiest stained glass windows I've seen.

 It was a quiet day during our visit, so a wonderful tour guide gave us the history and details of the Abbey's existence, as well as some interesting Scottish history. It was quite fun.


Sadly, the medieval part of the Abbey was closed for the day. Our tour guide was kind enough to open the doors and let us take a quick peak. We couldn't wander through it, but we did get to snap a few pictures. It was big and grand, just as you imagine all those old cathedrals to be. The Scottish people are the friendliest.

The rest the grounds around the Abbey are beautifully kept, as all cemeteries are. It's always great to visit a beautiful place when there are no tourists around. Tourists are the worst.

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I did learn that there is specific meaning to the statues that are beautifully sculpted on the tombs of those buried in these ancient churches.













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If the figure is portrayed with their legs crossed in any manner, that signifies they at one point were part of a religious crusade. If their legs are depicted uncrossed, they did not participate in a holy crusade. I never knew.









Directly across the beautifully manicured grass from the Abbey are the ruins of Dunfermline Palace. While they aren't much to look at now, (and it was closed so we couldn't wander through what actually remained) you can easily imagine the beautiful haven it was for the monarchy. I'd love to go back again to this quiet part of the world some day.