Donations Keep Coming...

Wow, while we were in Africa many of you were busy donating to our Cancer Research Fundraiser. So far you have pushed our total to $6,444.42 ( 109% of our goal of $1/metre climbed). This is fantastic and the news just keeps getting better, because we have talked to a few people who say that they still plan to donate in the coming days.

For this reason we have decided to keep the Donations Button "live" until the end of February, 2012. If you have been thinking of supporting this excellent initiative or if you know someone who might sleep more soundly knowing that they improved the world in a small way, then this extension is for you! Let's see if we can blow away our goal!!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED OR STILL PLANS TO DO SO!

Asante sana!

The journey of a thousand miles also ends with a single step; right now I'm on the Airport Shuttle back to Canmore on a balmy -7 Celsius bluebird day. A big shout out to Terry for conceiving and executing a trip of a lifetime. And thanks to all the friends and family for their support and encouragement! Don't know what Terry has cooking for next time, but I'm down for it. Over and out from Alberta. Jamie

Jamie McVicar
jamiemcvicar@shaw.ca
(403) 688-0988

Hoi Netherlands!

Back in Amsterdam...

It was great to get a Starbucks again, but I accidentally dumped my Grande Latte as I tried to plug my iPhone into a vacant electric socket. Now I am giggling as I watch tall Dutch ladies slip and slide their way to their departure gates. Ok, the Dutch guys are slipping too but they look ready to kill me so I don't giggle at them :-)

A 7 hour layover has begun, following which, Hamish is off to Calgary and Scott and I leave for Toronto. Once we are there we have some stick-handling to to to get our checked luggage out of the airport before they send it to Montreal. We hope to find a WestJet flight back from Hog-Town to O-Town late tonight.

P.S. I see that my lovely Elephant Video did not post correctly. I was afraid of this. I will repost it once I get home, ok?

Terry

Habari from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Ele-Va-Phun-Time

Jambo Rafikis,

Here is a short video clip (I hope this works!) of a gorgeous Mamma Elephant and her little baby Dumbo at Ngorongoro Crater, NW Tanzania. The video was taken yesterday. After this we had some great encounters with Hippos, Rinos, lots of Zebras and Wildebeests, Gazels, Antelope, Lions, Hyenas and Pumbas. The only one we saw little of was the Giraffe, which was probably 500m away and quite shy.

This Safari was a wild experience. We witnessed a Rino stumble upon a den of Hyenas which he then had to defend himself against. Also, we saw two baby Wildebeest being born into this world, and then take their first awkward steps with their Mother's help. Later we saw Wildebeest and Zebras huddle together to protect their newborns from preying Hyenas. Meanwhile the King Of The Beasts (Simba) and his harem of Lionesses stretched lazily in the shade of an Ebony Tree. All three of us were having religious moments watching these beautiful animals in their natural environments. We strongly recommend planning a safari as it is such a spectacular experience.

After our two-day Safari, we hopped back in the Land Cruiser for the 6 hour ride back to Moshi. We were exhausted by the time we finally unkinked our bodies out of the 4x4. Only beer and pizza could revive us!

Today we have managed to spend the last of our Tanzanian Shillings (which cannot be exchanged outside of this country) at the curio shops in Moshi. We were ooking for small but nice items that we can use to say Asante to our family and friends who have supported us along this journey.

Tonight we fly to Dar es Saalam, Tanzania, then on to Amsterdam tomorrow, and Toronto tomorrow afternoon. We'll need to snatch up our luggage quickly in T.O. to avoid a scheduled 8 hr layover there before flying to Montreal, even though we live in Ottawa (Scott & Terry). We'll do our best to collect our luggage in Toronto and make other arrangements to get back to Ottawa. Hamish should be back in Canmore around the same time.

As I write these last postings it is 37C and sweltering hot. Soon we'll be back in Canada in mid-February weather, wondering if this was all just some crazy dream.

Thanks again to everyone who supported us and our great cause, Cancer Research. It has been very rewarding to Do Something Big with all of you. Already we are talking about a similar trip next year so let us know if this wild idea might be in your future Bucket List Plans as well.

Asante Sana!!

Terry, Jamie & Scott