Africa visit with Eric & Susan

May - June 2023

With the $2,000.00 voucher we received from United Airlines last year for being bumped off of our flight to Panama, I decided to use it for a big trip to see Eric and Susan. Eric was in the same youth group as me at Northwest Bible Church in HS Read more

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Traveler Africa visit with Eric & Susan
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- May 28, 2023, 11:11am
- ⛅ 82 °F
- Altitude: 147 m
- United States Texas Kaufman Forney Smith Field 32.741883, -96.4455832°44’31” N 96°26’44” W
Day 2
Mom and Dads 74th wedding anniversary
May 28, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Our trip begins with last minute errands. We stopped at Walmart to buy some “Crackin Oat Bran” cereal for Eric and then to Becky’s house to pick pick up a book “Grit to Stay - Grace to Go” by Sue E. that Susan had ordered. I started reading to Glenn as we drive to grandDaddy’s place. I think we’ll have the book read before we get to Africa.

I did a 30 min video of interviewing mom and recounting her wedding day and also just basic life adventures with dad these past 74 years. In closing, mom said “I love him so much, I would do it again.”

When we got to the hotel for our overnight stay and park the car for 10 days, the front desk clerk that we wouldn’t have to pay for parking. Wow.Read more
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Traveler Africa visit with Eric & Susan
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- May 29, 2023, 5:39am
- ☁️ 68 °F
- Altitude: 185 m
- United States Texas Tarrant County Minters Chapel Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 32.893242, -97.0368832°53’36” N 97°2’13” W
Day 3
On our way to Newark, NJ then to Africa
May 29, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
We ran into an old friend that lived in our neighborhood in Guatemala City- he lives in Duncanville now with his family. He works in real estate and works closely with Steve VanRooy and Gary Beekman - bought Betty Snell’s house…Small World …Big Family!

And we got upgraded to row 12. Not first class but more leg room.

So because UNITED Airlines bumped us and gave us $2,000 travel voucher each on a trip we made last June, I decided that we needed to go see Eric and Susan in South Africa. A dream come true.

Follow us for the next 8 days as we’ll be on a safari and a 5 day visit with the Binions at Union Bible Institute.

For the 15 hour flight to Johannesburg, I got upgraded to United Premium Plus which is just like Stateside business class - and this was a complimentary upgrade. And then the agent moved Glenn up towards the front of the economy class. Sure, I’ll take an upgrade on an already “free ticket”!Read more
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Traveler Africa visit with Eric & Susan
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- May 30, 2023, 12:44am
- 🌙 59 °F
- Altitude: 18 m
- United States New Jersey Essex County Oak Island Junction Newark Liberty International Airport 40.698296, -74.17889440°41’54” N 74°10’44” W
Day 4
Long Layover in Newark
May 30, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 59 °F
We intentionally scheduled a long layover in Newark, NJ so we could take FULL advantage of the United Club - we have a “free” 1 day pass.

First of all, we enjoyed the shower suite, especially since I didn’t get my morning shower. We got up at 2:45, shuttle service to DFW was at 3:30am. So this shower felt good.

We had a relaxing day in the United Club. We visited with several folks. One particular couple were heading to Milan, they were from Peru and NB, Canada. We talked about everything from travel, cruise, Covid, work and kids. It was fun.

Dad and I played Phase 10, sent a few emails and basically looked at the New York City skyline from the New Jersey side.

Now for the 14 hours and 40 minutes non-stop flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. I got upgraded to United Priority Plus, which is basically domestic First Class seats. I’ll be sitting right behind the Business class which has the pods that lay down flat.

We watched the ground handlers load up planes and push them back and then we finally saw our 787 being tugged up. Cool. It’s getting real.Read more
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- May 30, 2023, 8:10pm
- 🌙 57 °F
- Altitude: 1,641 m
- South Africa Gauteng City of Johannesburg Bruma -26.179377, 28.11966526°10’46” S 28°7’11” E
Day 4
Made it to South Africa
May 30, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 57 °F
Yes, the flight was long.

Before boarding, we were in line next to group 1 and started talking to a family of 23+ folks where they were celebrating the 80th birthday of the grandfather. They’re from Columbia South Carolina and had heard of Ben Lippen where Glenn went to high school. They were going on a 2 week safari.

I had been seated in premium plus section of the plane, which is behind the sleeping pods snd very much like a US domestic first class seat. Glenn was 4 rows behind me.

No one was next to me. So Glenn identified himself to the flight attendant that he had ordered children food menu since he had just had oral surgery.

The flight attendant upgraded him next to me!

We slept pretty good. I slept from midnight to 4am where we were served s snack. Then I slept off and on for the next several hours. I did finished watching “The Notebook”.

We walked through security with no problems since we only had carry ons. And there was a guy holding a sign with my name. That’s never happened before.

We are checked into the Mercur. We’ll fly our on Wednesday morning.

We are 7 hours ahead of Dallas.Read more
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- May 31, 2023, 3:09pm
- ⛅ 79 °F
- Altitude: 198 m
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Mtubatuba Kwa-Zuluvuka -28.28458, 31.98244328°17’4” S 31°58’57” E
Day 5
Hulhulwe Wildlife Reserve Day 1
May 31, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Nice 2 hour drive from Durban. We were picked by Paul at the airport. He’ll be our safari tour guide for the next 3 days.

We’re off to see the Big 5.

We saw a warthog (Pumpa-Lion King)

I need to watch Lion King again.

We saw elephants, giraffes 🦒 in the distance and zebras!

We’re staying at Hilltop Camp. It started raining as we pulled into the camp. Accommodations are nice. We’re staying in a thatch roof 2 bed hut. Think Africa.

Glenn is figuring out all the electrical attachments (different than Europe, South America and Australia). So he can plug his sleep machine in and we can charge up our phones.Read more
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- Jun 1, 2023, 6:05am
- ☁️ 59 °F
- Altitude: 359 m
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Hlabisa Sivivaneni -28.09307, 32.04185628°5’35” S 32°2’31” E
Day 6
Day 2 of my Safari Part 1
June 1, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
We got up by 5:30am for a 6:00am departure.

We saw Lion tracks. But no lion. I spotted the giraffes

Breakfast back at the Camp.
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- Jun 1, 2023, 11:17am
- ☀️ 72 °F
- Altitude: 82 m
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Mtubatuba Vergelee -28.102364, 32.27757228°6’9” S 32°16’39” E
Day 6
Day 2 Cheetah reserve Part 2
June 1, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We spent 1 hour at a cheetah rehabilitation. We went inside where the wildcats live. Very interesting!
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- Jun 1, 2023, 4:18pm
- ☀️ 70 °F
- Altitude: 159 m
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Hlabisa KwaNompondo -28.07736, 32.12243328°4’38” S 32°7’21” E
Day 6
Day 2 part 3
June 1, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
After a good 1.5 hour nap, we journeyed back into the Hiace van to spot more animals.

Glenn and Paul ate lunch while I slept. We were driving for another 2 hours before it got dark. We saw a beautiful sunset.

The day was perfect!Read more
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Traveler Africa visit with Eric & Susan
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- Jun 2, 2023, 7:57am
- ☀️ 55 °F
- Altitude: 443 m
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Hlabisa Godeni -28.085394, 32.04358328°5’7” S 32°2’37” E
Day 7
Day 3 Safari heading to Hippo
June 2, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
On our way to see the Hippopotamus, we saw Lion, Giraffes, Zebras and Elephants!

As we drove along the national park road, we came across some droppings and then the buffalo (that looked like water buffalo) were asking skittish and nervously looking around. Then Paul heard the Babboons screeching/yelling through the jungle, sending out warning signals to the rest of the animals that the lions were near by.

Our tour guide, Paul looked over his shoulder back and forth then turned into the day-time picnic area and there were 3 lions, about 3-4 years old. They were casually strolling through the picnic area sniffing the bar-b-que pits. We understand that these 3 lions are brothers.

There is another pride of lions over several tolling hills away. Again I need to watch the Lion King movie again.

We took a 2 hour boat ride thru the estuary and spotted H.u.g.e. hippopotamus several times. We saw crocodiles and several South African bald eagles.

Now we are headed to the “largest mall in the Southern hemisphere in 1982” to meet up with Eric and Susan.

We’ve had some cell phone chip problems but we got all sorted out at the rest stop/potty stop and to purchase a “wimpy hamburger”

We’ve had Paul as our tour guide for the past 3 days. And now for a 4 day visit with Eric and Susan. We’ve know them for 45 years as Eric was in Northwest Bible Church with me back in the 1970’s. Glenn and I took mom and dad down to Austin along with baby Ellen for their wedding.Read more
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- Jun 3, 2023, 8:56am
- ☁️ 61 °F
- Altitude: 679 m
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal The Msunduzi Claredon -29.608238, 30.34740829°36’30” S 30°20’51” E
Day 8
With Eric and Susan
June 3, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
We met Friday night at the huge Pavilion Mall in Durban. We had a delicious meal getting caught up on what’s happened. We told stories about our being brought up in the Methodist church and the switch over to Northwest. And the old high school youth group trips, old friends and old times.

We drove in 2 cars through the curvey roads up towards Pietermaritzburg And eventually the Union Bible Institute campus in Hilton.

We are staying in a guest house.Friday night we slept under 2 blankets. No heat.

Saturday morning, we left at 8 to go to outdoor market and then we walked thru the botanical gardens. We’re south of the Ecuador, so it’s winter here, the trees are turning. Susan stayed back to fight her cold.

Then a tour of the town. We stopped at the old train station that has a history story of Gahdi. Then we ran several errands with Eric and also drove up to a resort near-by.

I took a 3 hour nap and we joined Eric, Susan and adult daughter Stephanie, David and 2 grandchildren Brad and Ira for dinner. We celebrated Eric’s 66thRead more
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