(sh)it happens

What I didn't mention in the last blog entry was the stuff that wasn't fun. For two months we'd been travelling and everything had gone smoothly except for the odd minor hiccup. Jodes had received an email from our mate Nicko inquiring whether anything bad had happened to us yet because everything we posted was oh so good. The answer to that question changed on the way to Mongu, when we both got sick in the stomach. Nothing major, but it was an unpleasant day or so for both of us.

On our second night there, which happened to be exactly 2 months since we left Oz, Jodes was woken during the night by footsteps near the tent, and soon realised that her backpack was gone from the vestibule, along with its contents including her hiking boots, first-aid kit, camera-battery charger and other useful things. Thankfully this stuff is replaceable to a certain degree, and really, it can happen anywhere in the world. By the time we roused the security guard, there was no trace of the burglar, who had hopped over a low part of the fence around the lodge (conveniently hidden from view and lights by the lovely big tree we were camping under...). The next morning was spent reporting our woes to the police, who dutifully recorded them in a big book. They did walk over to the lodge with us (about 15 min) to speak to the manager, then asked if we would pay for a taxi to get them back to the station. Now we get to see how useful travel insurance is...

I just wanted to record that it's not all smooth sailing here, but I'm not fishing for sympathy. We're still having the time of our lives!  A big thanks to Scott for the replacement backpack, and to Kristen and Jacinta for the first aid kit.  Legends! (ed. aka Jodes)