Look, Son, Everything The Light Touches Is Our Kingdom

Our second full day morning drive started with James driving us up to the top of the monticello that we watched the cheetah come down that first night.  But we picked up the cheetah that night when it was halfway down.

(Editor: Monticello?  That’s pretty presumptuous just because you have a friend who wrote an interesting read about Thomas Jefferson.  Writer: Well, Monticello means “little mountain” and that’s what it is.  On the book, I assume you are referring to Derek Baxter’s excellent book, “In Pursuit of Jefferson.”  Editor: Suck up!  Writer: Anything I can do to get a plug in for his book.  Besides, it’s a good test of whether or not he’s reading the blog!)

James had to grind it up the monticello, which made for a fun ride past gazelles and impalas.  We reached the top in time to watch the sun rise.  James used his trusty binoculars to scout for lions, leopards, and cheetahs, oh my!  The four of us wandered about the mountain top, enjoying the sunrise views (“Everything the lights touches, etc.”), posing for selfies and generally enjoying some time outside of the Land Rover.  

Carol pointed out craggy and imposing Mount Kenya way off in the distance.  I’d post a photo of it but it came out so gray and light that it doesn’t really work.  Mount Kenya is 17,060 feet tall, and, behind Kilimanjaro, is probably the second favorite mountain in Africa to climb for professionals.

Mount Kenya includes rock and ice climbing, and is quite the challenge for accomplished climbers.  It’s the second-highest in Africa, behind Mount Kilimanjaro’s 19,340 feet.  We’re hoping/expecting to see Mount Kilimanjaro on our way to the Kilimanjaro airport when the trip is finished.

After James finished his reconnaissance and we all posed for pictures on our monticello, we bumped and bruised our back down, passing impalas and Grant’s gazelles on the way down.  By the way, never take those gazelles for, um, granted!  

(Editor: Have you been drinking?  Writer: Surprisingly, no.)

We weren’t up there long, but we all enjoyed our time there.

A special sunrise.

Now that's a good selfie.

With James, our fearless

leader and guide.

When you travel together to Machu

Picchu, the Galapagos, and then on

African safari, the Bolgers and

Bansals form a special friendship.

We didn't know each other until

the train to Machu Picchu, and

yet we are now fantastic friends.

Our Land Rover.  Our guide.  Our friends.

Our sunrise.  Pretty good start to the day.

James on his way back from

scouting at the top of 

what I've unoriginally

named monticello.

Meena pointed out this Biblical-esque

scene of the lone tree in front of 

the beautiful red cliff.  So I had

to snap the picture.