A new new camera!

On the way down to JL for my daily visit, it seems, there was a young couple - he had a huge backpack. I could hear him giving her instructions where to get off the bus. I could see all they had was a hand scribbled map. He pointed where to get off, but his finger was moving over quite a large part of the map. But as the bus came, he gave the backpack to her (it was bigger than her) and they had their tearful goodbyes.

I asked where she was going. To the bus station. 'I'm going near there. Follow me.'

She was 19, from Germany, and had just spent three weeks in the Highlands (only 4 days with rain) and two weeks in a 'chaotic' flat in Edinburgh. The gorgeous young man seeing her off was French, and she had just met him here. She was heading to York to meet her father, who was a violin maker there, then she was going back to Berlin to study Photo-journalism.

In our brief time together, I managed to tell her about my new camera and my trip to Tanzania! Oh to be young again. But I certainly never carried a backpack that big!

I have done a few indoor tasks while the new battery charged. I have just checked a few things the Travel Agent sent. One is a form from the Safari people about 'Over 60s Fit to Travel' questionnaire.

There were some rather alarming things to answer, though I knew it didn't apply to our particular safari which is comfortable lodges. But we should:

* be able to live without creature comforts
* be able to maintain a fast pace throughout the day
* be able to undertake an overnight sit up journey
* be happy to travel with fun loving passengers who may not always be quiet, and sleep is last in their list of priorities
* be willing to take your turn in cooking the evening meal

I emailed the travel agent, pretending to be horrified, and saying that although I was reasonably fit (for an old codger), I could not run far if, say, chased by a marauding elephant, so should I mention this? And although I'd find climbing into a high vehicle a challenge and may need a push, if said marauding elephant was coming, I'd do it pretty fast on my own. Also, I did not want to cook any meals!

She emailed back immediately, having passed on my concerns to the manager of the tours, who said I have no need to worry!

Pays to check, though.