Leaving for Africa

We were up early as usual, so we ran some last-minute errands including mailing our Kentucky and Federal estimated taxes. We filled up pickup since we didn’t know what gas prices would be like by the time we returned, and we had a dollar discount in Kroger fuel points that needed to be used by the end of June. Since the pickup has a large fuel tank, it made the most sense to fill it. We checked on the garden to see if there was anything that needed to be done then returned home for some last-minute packing.

Our neighbor across the road, Larry, picked us up at noon to drive us to the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington. Checking in was easy was easy at the airport. Bluegrass Airport is small and easy to get around. Because baggage weight restrictions in Zambia are for 33 pounds total weight, including carry-on, we didn’t bring much. Each of us brought two carry-on bags, mostly camera gear. We had to pack for a variety of weather since it is midwinter in the Southern Hemisphere now. We knew that the nights and mornings would be cool but the days would warm up. We didn’t bring a lot of clothes since each camp where we would be staying offered laundry service.

Our flight to Atlanta boarded on time at 4:30, and the aircraft was full. We had good bulkhead seats for the 90-minute flight which gave us plenty of legroom.

We met Whittingtons in Atlanta when we deplaned. Everyone was hungry so we ate at Longhorn Steakhouse in ATL. Afterwards we walked around a lot until our 10:30 flight to Johannesburg that departed on time.

The flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg was full. Mary bought tickets the first day they were available and paid a little more for Comfort Plus rather than coach. The bulkhead seats gave us plenty of legroom for the 16-hour flight. Whittingtons were in a row in front of us in business class.

We were surprised that dinner was served at midnight, chipotle chicken with a roll. Neither of us was very hungry since we had eaten a good meal at the Atlanta airport.