A First Taste

We are on a bus from Parakou to Gbetagbo. A 6 hr journey with our
driver who loves his horn. We can't complain because he isn't blaring
horribly untasteful movies or music like we had on the way up.
Every day there is something new to face. There are cultural
things like the women not eating with the men which means our meal
visits are predominantly with the man of the home. And their clothes.
8 out of 10 women wear their bright African dress with different
headresses. I've been given a colourful flowing cotton "booboo" that
everyone wears around the house. Even to breakfast with the brothers
around. It's so nice and cool.
And the food. Carbs galore. Either rice, yams, cassava, potatoes,
or bread mostly with some kind if meat in a sauce. Last night we had
duck and lunch today was goat. We hardly ever get vegetables and they
are always cooked. Heat kills the bugs.
The mototaxi rides are a blast. They are a little more expensive
than a taxi but alot cooler bc of the air flow plus most taxis are
jammed with 4 ppl in the back and 2 in the front. My brother asked if
there are any African dirtbiking safaris in Benin. I figure that the
mototaxi is close enough. We go anywhere on them. The dirt roads are
pocked with pot holes and grooves from flowing rainwater that we
bounce over merrily. Recently we saw 4 girls on one moto. We stared
and laughed at them while they laughed and stared back at us. Us being
me and 6 girls from western Canada. I think they were sent from heaven
so that I don't miss my young sisters so much. Super fun and funny
girls. We went to a pool the other day and goofed off and got burnt
and screamed everytime we saw the huge spiders in the mango trees.
Like 30 humungoid scary things.
Animals run free everywhere. Downtown, in the yard, on the road
etc. Sometimes they aren't so free like when they're in the trunk, on
the back of a moto or in the baggage compartment of the bus like Billy
Goat, our guest today.
I couldn't begin to describe all the different sounds, smells and
sights that are so normal here but this is just a start.
for now there is no way to upload photos but at some point I might
figure it out. Until then...

Kayaking the greasy Credit River

A spur of the moment run. First time I had ever really used my kayak
in rapids. There had been two massive downpours the days before we
went so the water line was up quite a bit. The only downside is that
this river runs right through the city. So you can imagine where all
that water was from. Eew. The rapids were mostly class one with the
occasional class two. Meaning a faceful of water going through rapids
taller than you when sitting in the yak. Neither of us rolled once.
Good thing bx neither of us have mastered the Eskimo roll. So this
wasn't near as crazy as the Ottawa River but a blast all the same. And
just 2 days before taking off for Benin! Andrew was leaving for the
east that afternoon. Nothing like spontaneous splashes.

The break since convention has been a real treat. My parents found a campsite on Calabogie Lake just an hour from Ottawa. We spent the week there and did a trip into the city. We had planned on going to Question Period at Parliament but found out that our government goes on vacation for the summer months. We did get to see some charming Mounties!! There was much discussion on whether the maple leaf is shaved into the horses hair or just brushed. If anyone has an idea let me know... We never did come to a conclusion.

Of course another photo of my photogenic parents in front of the Parliament Buildings. For the record they had their 30th anniversary 2 days ago. My grandparents had their 6oth yesterday.

That same week Jenna, Aunt Diane, my parents and I went white water rafting on the world class Ottawa River. What a blast... The best part was when we were in the boat. (Photos 37 through 25)

Twice they let us into the rapids without the boat. Pictured below is the scheduled "body surf." Jump into the water upstream, swim out a ways and let the water take you...

Please note the red lines (below-right). The small one is the size of my helmet, the big one the size of the wave. After riding the first wave there was 3 milliseconds to breathe before being swallowed by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th waves. Apparently in my excitement when I first jumped in, I swam out further than I should have and went down on the outside... Jenna went right down the middle (above-right).... She quite enjoyed it! Smiles come naturally after those kinds of experiences.

The second chance to 'go with the flow' was the opportunity to jump off a 15ft(?) cliff. into swiftly moving water. That seemed a bit more relaxing. Most relaxing was the chance to float lazily beside the raft in the calm waters between rapids.

Following is an example of my new craft. On the paddle is the logo of our tour group: Wilderness Tours.