South Africa

 I won’t bore you with details but truly would like to share one highlight of my recent trip to South Africa . After a short rest upon arrival in Johannesburg I rented a car and made my way south to my first camp in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal . After I finally located the place I was greeted by the owners and shown to my hut by a black girl. I was then informed that dinner would be served in two hours. I mentioned that I was tired and expressed a desire to lie down for a short time, closed the front door and stepped out onto the back porch where I immediately spotted two rhinos grazing about 800 meters down the hill. They were on the other side of a tall fence constructed of heavy cables. (Pic 1). I changed quickly into my hiking boots and started out to find a spot that would afford a closer look at the huge animals. As I came up out of a river bed I was detected by the two animals shown here in my shaking handmade video entitled "Rhino Alert". A light rain was falling and my scent was held down, otherwise I may have been in trouble. Even so, I experienced an excellent adrenalin rush before I retreated back down the slope, out of sight, and worked my way to an upwind position. From that vantage point I was pleased to see that the beasts were still looking and sniffing around the area I had just vacated. I felt it unwise to continue to photograph my curious friends so I made a stealth trek back to the other side of the game fence.

I didn’t have time to change before dinner and my hosts, Simon and Cheryl, saw clearly from the mud on my boots that that I had been out and about. During dinner I innocently asked Simon if the tall fence below the camp was there to keep the rhinos inside the neighboring field. “Yes”, bellowed Simon. “It is also meant to keep the people out”. He then laughed, raised his wine glass and reminded me of the indemnity form I had sign a couple of hours earlier.

Evidently my first impression had proven to be favorable because the next morning, after breakfast, Simon fetched his .458 Express and invited me to follow him to a gate that entered the game preserve. We walked together for about 3 miles. For some reason the presence of the rifle allowed me to have a more leisurely stroll among the African wildlife than I had experienced the evening before. It was pleasant, but not nearly as exciting.
After our walk we took a drive to the top of Spioenkop Hill and took a tour of the sight of a major battle in the South African War between the British and the Boers (1888-1901). During this 3 month battle Winston Churchill, then a journalist, was captured by the Boers, taken to a prison in Pretoria (240 miles away), escaped, returned to the same battle, and climbed the hill twice to do reconnaissance for his superiors.


Mahatma Gandhi also participated in the same battle. He was a lawyer living in South Africa when the war started so he enlisted in the military and was a stretcher bearer. It is possible that Gandhi and Churchill past one another on the very ground where we were standing.

________________________________

 The next part of our trip consisted of a nine hour drive to Old Joe’s Lodge where we made an intermediate stop between the battlefields and Kruger National Park (known as “The Kruger” by South Africans). The road took us through passes in cloud shrouded mountains and down into unbelievably fertile vallies. On up to the high plains where countless pedestrians, most of them students, walked and then waited for buses. Others visited open air markets. These people are happy and sing as they walk. You need only to smile and you've gained a friend.
 The rolling hills were veneered with the galvanized roofs of a million modest huts reaching the horizon in all directions.
 Uncle Joe’s turned out to be a popular destination for folks with a liking for European dining and drinking. The evening meal was brought out in stages on very small plates. The food was rich and the portions skimpy. I think that the food was spread out over a period of time with long breaks between dishes so the other guests, all of which had funny accents, could continue to drink and not loose their buzz. The only part I remember about the table fare was the tomato pie. I remember the pie only because I had a nightmare about a small piece of it which grew and grew until it nearly filled my room.

__________________

Friday morning we struck out for “The Kruger “.  We climbed onto the high rolling plains where an infinite number pedestrians walked along side the road. Students and workers walking and waiting for busses. Villagers shopping at open air markets. Rolling hills veneered with tin roofs of humble huts stretched to the horizon in all direction. All of the people smiling and singing and wanting to be your friend.
 After another six hours we arrived at Umlani Bush Camp where we spent three nights and days without electricity. This is a wonderful place and the hosts were the best I have ever encountered.

The first night at Umlani I was awakened by the sound of loud, slow, footsteps and heavy breathing that sounded almost like a growl. My guess was that it was an elephant and there was nothing keeping it out of my room other than the bamboo walls. I said a prayer and stayed as quiet as possible while I listen to the wandering beast and the loud pounding of my own heart. The monster finally went away and I went back to sleep.

The next morning, I heard Bill, “Hey Dennis, did you see it?”

“No but I heard it”

“I climbed up and looked over the shower wall to get a look. I think it was an elephant.”

We later found out that a herd of Cape buffalo had grazed their way through camp. When Bill asked Kyle, the manager, why he didn’t let us know ahead of time that the camp may have wild visitors he replied, “We don’t want to spoil any surprises or scare anyone off. One guest broke down into tears when we told her group that we had no electricity.”

Bill also had a monkey that made its way in and out of the room through the open roof of the shower. The little beggar was after Bill’s Oreo cookies but nothing, not even a four foot tall ape, gets between Bill and his Golden Oreos!

For three days we drove around The Kruger looking for game animals and we found more than I ever expected. The most exciting part of the game drives was getting a close look at some rare white lion cubs. (Click Here for video). There was a camera crew near by filming a documentary because The Kruger is the only place in the world where white lions are found.

After we checked out at Umlani we drove to Johannesburg for our flights home. I came home to Texas and Bill went back to work in Egypt.

Below are a couple of photos. The round hut was my home away from home at Umlani.

I guess its time I get moving now. It is deer season in Texas and the cool weather is wonderful!



My  Hut at Umlani



Gathering at the Water

Little Giant

No News is Good News

Recently an employee of the USDA was removed from office, apologized to and returned to her previous job in a matter of days. This incident, like most anything else that has happened in the last couple of years, caused a racial uproar. Democrats and Republicans were pointing fingers at one another. Liberals/progressives* blamed conservatives because the decision to remove this person from office was based on information obtained from a YouTube broadcast that was put online by a republican.

It seems odd to me that such drastic measures were taken based on an amateur’s contribution to a web site meant to be used for entertainment. That’s like watching a Michael Moore movie and thinking that it is a documentary based on something more than the ravings of a money hungry radical.

Due to the lack of professional, unbiased, fact based reporting the news media has become nothing more than distributors of emotional crap. So now people in high government positions are making life changing decisions based on stuff they see on YouTube. These bureaucrats are so busy surfing the web that they don’t even have time to ask a few questions before ending the career of other government employees.

I think it’s time that so called journalists are held accountable for their actions. Maybe then they would quit running around starting racially charged conflicts.

*David Sirota of The Huffington Post explains the difference: “It seems to me that traditional "liberals" in our current parlance are those who focus on using taxpayer money to help better society. "Progressives" are those who focus on using government power to make large institutions play by a set of rules.”

Refreshing Perspective

 I have often thought that New Zealand would be a great place to live so I started checking into the feasibility of an extended visit there. The facts that I uncovered have given me doubt that I can even qualify for a visa that will allow me to stay there more than 28 days.

 I guess the UN has overlooked New Zealand in their crusade to distribute wealth and make every country like the ones that are now considered “third world”. Or maybe the people of New Zealand have decided to exercise their rights as a sovereign state and pass laws that will not only preserve their quality of life but actually improve it. Take a look at this excerpt from a summary of that backward country’s immigration law:

 Parliament passed a new Immigration Act into law in 1987. This would end the preference for migrants from Britain, Europe or Northern America based on their race, and instead classify migrants on their skills, personal qualities, and potential contribution to New Zealand economy and society.

 Yes, it certainly appears that the folks under the Down Under actually think that they can make laws and not worry about what the rest of the world thinks.. Is that even legal?

Choose to Perceive A Good World

This cool video tracks air travel traffic over a 24-hour period. While there are regions, like North America and Europe, that are particularly crisscrossed with flights, the overall impression; this is a very bus planet.

 Watching this miracle gives me good feeling. Man wouldn’t be able to build a transportation system like this without the help of God. There is a good chance that all of these flights reached their destinations without anyone getting hurt. That’s because God is holding us in his loving hands.

 There are too many people who mold negative perceptions of life from the vulgar images they see on the ten o’clock news. They would be better off if they would set in silence and watch something like this inspiring video before going to bed. It’s a testimony to the fact that good prevails over evil.

 The only way it’s possible for us to move about the earth so freely is through global cooperation. This fact alone is enough to prove to me that there is a strong thread of decency and trust that links all of humanity.

 Yep. If we could go to bed every night and wake every morning visualizing our world from a great distance –as from God’s loving eyes – then our problems would seem pretty small.

 Don’t ‘cha thank?

My Royal Deer Hound

We spent last week in Ruidoso. It was hard to pull ourselves away from the cool weather and return to the heat here in Arlington. Oh well, I guess “home is where the bills are”.
While we were away I noticed that Walter has developed into quite a deer hound. At first he barked at the deer and made them run back into the woods. After a little coaching and direction, he learned to be very still and to alert me to the presence of our big eared neighbors from the thickets.

I think that I may have to include Wally as an assistant in my plans for this fall. At the cabin in Ruidoso I can sit on the porch with Walter and read a book while he keeps watch on the woods. If I hear a quiet growl, low enough as to not spook a deer, all I have to do is follow Walter’s line of sight and there’s a deer. I then quietly make a “Shush” sound and Wally becomes silent. The deer then go about their business while we watch. Walter has even ventured to within about 15 feet from his new friends.

Another lesson that my canine buddy learned on this trip was the“Thirty Foot Rule”. Thirty feet is plenty close to a doe when she's nursing her fawns. Approaching the babies causes the mother to become aggressive and my little friend returns to my side.

Cool weather and deer season are near and I’ll be watching the critters down in Hamilton County. I am beginning to think that Walter may be a good hunting pal. We should be able to sit for hours in a stand if we take some snacks and a canteen of water. I can kick back and read or nap and Wally will let me know if any animals come near. Then I can get my camera or rifle ready; which ever is appropriate. I may not fire a shot this year but I will bag some more great memories.

Larger Than Life

As I mentioned in my last entry, I did not photograph Irving Porter because of his poor health. I just received this photo of Irving and his daughter Cindy, that was taken in the late 1950’s. It appears that the photo may have been cropped but I think that that there is enough of it there for you to agree that Irving was the real thing. Hollywood would be hard pressed to outfit an actor that would project a stronger impression of a cowboy in the West.

Post edit:
I regret to report that Irving porter has passed away. Here’s an excerpt from the Alamogordo news paper:
Don Irving Porter, 85, passed from this life on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at his home in Piñon.
I am glad I had a chance to visit with this fine man.

Post Edit 5 months later:

Lessie (Smith) Porter passed from this life Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at
her home in Piñon.
She was born to Alva and Ethel (West) Smith on July 2, 1926, in Artesia. She was a lifelong resident of the Piñon area. She attended elementary school at Bonita School, high school at Weed and college at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.
In 1948 Lessie married Irving Porter in Alamogordo. They lived on ranches their entire married life of 62 years. She was caregiver to Irving at their home for the last year of his life.

On the Trail of a Legend

We often hear or say things like, “the movie just wasn’t like the book”, or, “the book wasn’t as good as the movie”. When commenting on a work based on a real person or happening there are also conflicts between realty and journalism. For some of us it is not enough to just speculate about what really happened People like me feel compelled to delve into the history of the story. We seek out those who have first hand knowledge of the incidents and people depicted in literature or cinema. There are some who lean the other way and view movies as documentaries rather than entertainment.


When Bill Key and I read Fire on the Mountain, by Edward Abbey, we vaguely recalled the movie. We then began to recall stories of the real life circumstances that inspired the novel. It is the story of a rancher who is told that he must leave his land behind and move on because the US Army needs his ranch for the expansion of White Sands Missile Range. The rancher was named John Prather and he raised mules for the Army on the Otero Mesa. He told the officials that he wasn’t going to leave and would spend the rest of his life on his ranch.

Bill and I knew that the book was based on real people and events so we set out to meet anyone who had direct contact with the characters mentioned in the book. Our research led us to the remote home of Irving Porter in the southern New Mexico mountains. In Abbey’s book the character Billy, was based on Irving. We also met Arleen Gaba and her son Mike Gaba. Arleen’s husband was Prather’s grandson and the Gabas lived on the ranch with “Grandpa” Prather. Arleen wrote an article called Five Years with the Mule King for Range Magazine. Her story is about the conflict between Prather and the US Government.

During our visit with Mike and Arleen they gave Bill a stack of photographs. The images are of family members and some even show Army personnel at the ranch. Mike, who continues to research his family history, gave Bill permission to use the photos in a magazine article.

The most interesting part of the whole trip was listening to Mr. Porter tell his about what really happened out there on the ranch. There is a lot more to the stories than a conflict with the US Army. For example; at one time, in the early 1930’s, Prather had agreed to sell mules to the Mexican Army. This meant that he had to drive the mules eighty miles to the Santa Fe Street Bridge in El Paso. After the three day trip Prather met the Mexicans half way across the bridge to complete the transaction. Prather did not speak Spanish and for some reason suspected that the Mexican officer was trying to get the best of him. One of Prather’s men finally stepped forward to do some translating. The Mexican leader then got down off of his horse and emptied a bag of money out on the bridge. After Prather was satisfied that all of the money was there the deal was done and the groups parted ways without further dialogue.

Another interesting fact was brought to light when talking to the Porters and the Gabas. Edward Abbey never interviewed Prather or any of the people that and first hand knowledge of what really went on. He just followed the news and let the his imagination run with the story. So there is reality, the book, and the movie. Unfortunately too many  folks just accept what they see on a movie screen, or television, as history. Then they go on making real life decisions based false history.

The trip was fun and we met some great folks. I took a few pictures while we were visiting the Porters; the first photo shows Bill flirting with Lessie Porter. The second is me making friends with a corgi named Moose. Moose is in charge of ranch security these days.

 In order to preserve Mr. Porter's dignity, I chose not to photograph him in a state of bad health.

By the way, Kirk Douglas was the star of the movie Lonely are the Brave, which was based on Abbey’s novel called The Brave Cowboy. Douglas says this was his favorite motion picture. If you are interested, here is a link to a multi part interview of Douglas discussing the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzqlL3rey8