Forty Foot

- Forty Foot

- Irish Lifeguards hard at work

Not far from the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove is what's known as the Forty Foot.

This has been a popular year round spot for swimmers in the Irish Sea for the past two centuries.  No matter the weather, there is a small but committed group of swimmers that take a dip here every day.  It's especially popular the day after Christmas...

Today's wonderful weather gave the families and children a final opportunity to enjoy the summer before school begins next week...

James Joyce Tower and Museum

- View of Dun Laoghaire from the top of the James Joyce Tower

- Another view of the living room

- The main living room (upstairs)

- View through one of the portals

- From inside the tight spiral of a staircase

- View of the James Joyce Tower in the distance

James Joyce lived in this Martello tower in Sandycove for a short time in 1904.  Joyce's friend from university, Oliver St. John Gogarty, was the main tenant.

Joyce begins "Ulysses" here.

It was turned into a museum in 1962.  I drive by here nearly every day and I finally was able to visit this unique monument this month...

Bush Bath

We took a "bush bath" our last night at the camp.

What a romantic way to end this wonderful trip...

More on the Sleepout

One lucky couple is allowed to spend a night at the sleepout location each night (weather permitted).

This is basically a platform built in a tree some 10 or 15 feet above the ground.  It's located about half an hour away by car from camp and you are on your own in the wild... with just a whistle (to hopefully ward off any predator) and a walkie-talkie (which we didn't need) for security.

It's an opportunity to spend a night under a blanket of stars in the African bush, listening to the myriad of animals, and cuddling with your significant other.

Fortunately we had good weather that night (compared to the night we first arrived, which was below freezing) and there was no rain.

A three-course meal was provided and you are dropped off just before sunset and they pick you up the next morning just after sunrise.

A truly unforgettable experience...

A Fantastic Safari

- This beautiful sunset marks the end of what can only be described as one of life's epic experiences... until we meet again, Africa!

- Our treehouse where we spent one night, deep in the bush, a half hour from human contact

- My wife greets the morning sun with a cuppa'

- Another tree mosaic

- Us and our safari vehicle

-Wildebeest

- Zebra and impala

More Animals

- Impala crossing the road 

- Hippos in the river

- Hyena

- Termite structure

- Kudu

- Hyena and her cub

- Monkey near camp

- Warthogs

The Human Experience

- Us with Joffeth, the Sr. Safari Driver

- My wife enjoying the hammock

- View from our tent (elephant at the water hole)

- My wife and Joffeth during a tea break

- One of the many sparse trees above our heads in the winter's sky

- My wife enjoying a, ummm... lemonade in the afternoon shade

- Rebel, our tracker scans the bush for signs of life

- My wife watching an elephant in the distance

Giraffe

Rhinos

Elephants