Incoming storm

The newspaper predictions were right on. We got the rain that was forecast for Wednesday. The smell was in the air long before the first drop fell to the ground. I had to laugh, I wondered for a second, when I wished for rain did I forget to mention that it was for Africa? oops.

For me it never gets old talking about the weather. I have tide charts, lunar phases & The weather channel all programmed into my phone. The state of the weather plays a big part in all that we do. Farmers have to pay close attention, their lives depend on it. Or at least their crops which is money, which can be the same thing. Yes, its a good thing to know before you set sail out to sea, plan a full moon hike , throw an outdoor get~together, or climb a mountain..the weather is a part of it.

Sometimes in planning a trip, the weather is considered as much as the location. I don't know many who would want to go to Death Valley, California in July, one of the hottest places on earth. Temps reach 120 F regularly and there was even a record of 134 F (57 C) in 1913. But sometimes you just have to take your chances. Especially when planning mountain climbing adventures.

Mt.Meru in the foreground and Kilimanjaro behind, from a Kenya Airways flight headed for Nairobi.(taken by me, errm, a few years ago?)

My husband returned Saturday from East Africa. He told me what it was like to stand on top of the roof of Africa, and in the best possible of all situations. And the thing we hoped for the most, happened... the weather was his friend. It may sound crazy to some but it was my first question to him after I heard that he'd made it home safe and sound. I wanted to know how was the weather? He said that the porter's told him the group that had gone up the week before had to turn back, because of bad weather. They also told him that another group they had guided up made it to the top but couldn't see anything... the weather. They even told of some that were blown off the mountain, with strong winds. So, you can see why it was so important for me to know. He had gone such a long way, prepared not only for the trip but for the leaving (being an editor,writer, deadlines and all).

So, he was blessed with good fortune, the trip was a success on every level. He climbed Mt. Meru in 2 and a half days then Mt. Kilimanjaro in four. Hiking through Arusha National Park on the way up he saw Buffalo and Bushbuck, Warthogs and Colubus Monkeys, a Crowned Eagle, Chameleons and GIRAFFES! He stood on each peak and watched the sunrise over all of Africa and in his words it was Epic. Cover your eyes if you don't like sentimentality, He said he was so moved it brought tears to his eyes. Mostly because I wasn't there to share it with him, he said. Ok, you can uncover now :)

...these followed him home....to me!

Thank you weather gods.

xxx Lori

oh. um. gratuitous photo. here it is, my photo which was published in the travel section of The Los Angeles Times last Sunday! I had something of my own to share when Mr. Adventure got back home ;) . And yes, he was moved...

xxx, again, Lori
p. s. the top photo was untouched, unfiddled with, that was the sunset tonite! Bless weather heh?