Day 3 - Hiking

I google chatted with Portia early this morning around 4am CST (Stick with me as I am reviewing the transcript on my cellphone as I try to piece together a blog update... I don't remember typing for as long as the transcript is... perhaps I can type in my sleep ;) , She had treked 45 minutes to make it to an internet cafe (hopefully with Becca as well?) to be able to find a network connection.

She told me during a previous conversation that the only thing she missed during packing was a gadget, which means that it was my fault (so lets see... Gameboy-Check, wristwatch GPS-Check, digital camera-Check, Ipod nano-Check, My mini computer - Nokia 770... Sorry I didn't think that she would have appreciated it... but she tells me that they could get free internet from one of the local hotels, sooooo I should have sent her the handheld computer so she would be able to get wireless internet... All I can say is I will bring with me later this month, even though it's potential use is probably diminished, but o'well... live and learn.

Both Portia/Becca are really hoping to get their cell phone tomorrow at work. They were not even able to buy/rent a cell phone today as they said that most businesses were closed for the holidays (for some reason I thought that the US would celebrate the new years more then Botswanaians, who knows).

In the update I understood that they hired a cab driver (I think the one which was recommended to them by a few other people from Baylor who had used him in the past?) to bring them to the 'mountain'. Aparently the cabbie then turned into their escort in that he hiked up with them (dual purpose security guard... I like)... It also could have been that he didn't want to wait for them at the bottom of the trail either. Aparently though he may be a cabbie and security guard, he was not a trail guide in that he had never hiked up there before and they ended up going up a hard side of the mountain. (going back to gadgets... Portia did you bring the GPS watch?)

All portia could say is that they were going to bring us later this month, but that they were going to take us on the easy route... I said no! I want the hard one, us men have a reputation to uphold (right Scott, back me up on this one). I did chide Portia for not bringing our digital camera (she wasn't sure if it would be safe), I can understand Becca not bringing her camera in that it would take it's own suitcase, but the reason for a small digital camera (Sony T30) is to bring it with you to take pictures of the gorgeous views I keep hearing about. Hide it when not in use, but I do agree if it doesn't seem safe... keep it hidden.

So while Portia didn't admit to her being burnt, I understand Becca did get too much sun (here is where the parents can step in and comment about how they should make sure to wear sun block ;) Believe Becca is ready to get going in doing more work and keeping busy, on the other hand Portia has finished one book and has started on one of the China books that I got her for Christmas. They will both get their chance when they start working at the Clinic during their day tomorrow.

End of chat transcript - duration 21 minutes, time I remember... maybe 5 minutes ;)