Feeding Giraffe

Mombasa has an animal park called Haller Park.  One of the big draws at this park is the afternoon giraffe feeding!  You don't watch them being fed, you feed them!  A giraffe has a surprisingly long and surprisingly grey tongue.

Lots of fun and new experiences before we headed off to the village of Taru to begin our 2 weeks of work! 

My new friend and roommate Carolyn enjoyed it too! 

Feeding them was fun but it was even better to give some of the food to the school children who were there on a field trip.  I'm sure they have shared many stories of the white people who bought them giraffe food. 

I didn't know that giraffe sat down like this.  Our safari driver said that this is how they sleep.  I would love to see how quickly they can get up from this position. 

Before the Work - Some Fun

 As Kenya Keys interns we knew that the weeks in Kenya would be filled with lots of work but first we had a bit of fun in Mombasa riding camels on the beach! 

Even our leaders - Rinda and Brent got in on the excitement! 

Interesting feet huh? Large feet for sure! 

And just look at those eye lashes! 

Maybe I'll start leading camel rides! 

Bags Packed - Ready to Go

Kenya Here We Come!!!

This is my 3rd trip to Taru, Kenya so I am one of the experienced travelers of our group of interns!  Having been before is both good and bad....good because I know what to expect and bad because I know what to expect!  I know the joys we will be experiencing as we see the influence of education on our wonderful sponsored students. I'll laugh and dance and try to wiggle my shoulders and hips like they do. I'll hug children and rejoice seeing the wonderful things our students have accomplished. That is the fun part.  I also know about the negatives - the food, the lack of electricity and plumbing, the horror of the poverty.  Obviously since I'm enduring all that plus the 19 hours in airplanes, the good outweighs the bad and I am thrilled to have this opportunity again.

So let's get the show on the road!

Humboldt Bay Kayaking

Gray skies and cool temps didn't keep us from having a great afternoon kayaking on Humboldt Bay.  As much as I don't like boats on the ocean, I do love a marina!  They are just so picturesque!  Most of these boats are commercial fishing boats.  I never knew that a good fisherman can make $300,000 in a year!  I still don't think that is the job for me.

My favorite part of the kayaking was in the marshy canals where we enjoyed seeing a large egret rookery. 

 Lots of beautiful snow white egrets flew above us with sticks clearly visible in their mouths as they made their way to the big trees where nests were being built.  Here you can see two egrets and a blue heron.  A birders paradise for sure!

I love using a double kayak.  I know I spend a lot of time taking pictures while letting George use his muscles to keep us going.  He doesn't seem to mind. 

Life is such a fun adventure! 

Victorian Eureka

We stayed in the town of Eureka which boosts of an 'old town with colorful Victorian architecture, good shopping, and a revitalized waterfront.'  We were a bit early for the real tourist season but George commented that in the old town the ratio of tourist to homeless was about 1-1!  Made for some interesting sights and smells! However the Victorian architecture lived up to its hype. 

 I loved this sweet house with its ornate trim. 

The Carson Mansion dominates the area.   Built in the 1850's for the lumber baron, William Carson, it took 100 men a full year to complete.  I think it looks a bit 'Adam's Family-ish'  or maybe even 'Disney Haunted Mansion-ish' but it is definitely impressive. 

Across the street from the mansion is this pink house which was built in 1884 and is called a 'Queen Anne Victorian'.  It was a wedding gift for Carson's son!  I think it was my favorite.  

 Just look at that trim!  It is now a bed and breakfast.  If we ever come again I want to stay here!  Forget the Best Western! 

Fern Canyon

Our last hike of the trip was through the strikingly beautiful Fern Canyon.  It is totally different from the majestic redwood forest of our other hikes.

As you can see it was a wet hike, at times I'd call it a 'wade' but oh the greenery!  It is impossible to truly capture the beauty.  Thousands of ferns of many varieties cover the 50 foot high canyon walls. Water trickles down the rocky sides!  

The guide books say it has a primeval habitat quality and in fact it was used a a filming location for 'The Lost World - Jurassic Park' as well as for several other dinosaur movies.  

   Definitely worth the wet shoes and socks!