On The Road...To Africa

We are leaving to drive to Atlanta soon with Indie and her 30 lb backpack. Well, maybe it weighs 32 lbs now! I went to the store this morning because the cabin stewards on British Airways are on strike which means no food service. Apparently it won't affect beverage service, only food. So, they suggest you bring your own snacks. The flight to London is about 9 hrs - they land around 10 am and get to spend the day there, sleep over night and take off for Nairobi the next morning, which is another 8 or so hours flight. So I made her take several little things of breakfast bars and snacks to get by on. I'm sure she won't eat half of it, but my guess is someone will!

As a mother, all I can do is hope that we have done everything, thought of everything that will help make her trip as comfortable as possible. If you have the right equipment, you are not burdened with injuries, or annoyances and free to enjoy the amazing experience at hand. Indie was blessed yesterday at church and will be prayed for everyday while she is away by many friends and family, as well as all the Daughters of the King at Good Shepherd. She's got her REI clothing which is super lightweight, SPF 30-50, and treated with Sawyers so the bugs won't get her; we got some sunscreen from a dr she can use with her skin allergies for what the clothing isn't covering; she's got all her survival gear - including the "Platypus" Mike is making her take that she thinks makes her a jungle girl (it's a water thingy that goes in your backpack and you just sip from a straw tube when you are thirsty); she's got her special memory foam neck pillow; she's got her anti-malarial meds, her camera, her safari hat that used to be my dad's, her safari sunglasses - what more do any of us really need?! Yes, she does have her passport and travel visa!!!

Oh, and by the way, my daughter who claims to be horrible at languages, really impressed me with her Swahili!! Indie will undoubtedly have the experience of a lifetime and we can't wait to hear all about it.