1Oct 2009, Lake Bogoria, Kenya (109 photos), by Harold Deason

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

1 Oct 2009, Lake Bogoria, Kenya

I have been trying to catch up with my body clock that thinks that it is 8 hours later than my watch indicates. These pictures are from our day trip to Lake Bogoria, Kenya where 13 of us piled into a Toyota Van and made the 3 hour trip to see the area. Some of the pictures were made from the moving and shaking van so please excuse the fuzz. The trip to Lake Bogoria was very interesting and we experience many common and unusual bumps in the roads since some of them are in bad need of repair but the scenes along the way were just beautiful and often times just very simple. Unfortunately my GPS was not attached to my camera so that I would know where we were when I had taken a pictures. In one area they grew hundreds of acres of agave that looks like a cactus but they they produce sical from to make ropes, roofs and assorted other items. The road side were dotted with little stands that sold a variety of items that they made, fresh fruits, vegatables, honey, Coke and Fanta. The visit to Lake Bogoria was great and the temperature was mush warmer than Njoro. Lake Bogoria is a laline, alkaline lake that lies in a volcanic region in a half-graben basin south of Lake Baringo, Kenya, a little north of the equator. Lake Bogoria is home at times to one of the world's largest populations of lesser flamingoes. It is a shallow lake (about 10 meters deep), and is about 34 km long by 3.5 km wide. In the geo-thermal springs we cooked the eggs that we had taken for lunch. We put the eggs in a doubled plastic bag, tied onto the end of a stick and placed the bag into the springs and like magic the eggs cooked. Being downwind of the springs was like being in a steam bath. We cooked lunch and enjoyed the friendship while we waited and watched. While I did not see all 373 species of birds in the park I was able to capture several species with my camera. The lunch was fantastic and then we loaded up and went to the Lake Bogoria Resort and Spa for a cold Coke Light and swimming in the geo-thermal heated swimming pool. It was a great way to relax. Unfortunately all good things must come to a end so back in the van for the return trip to Njoro. The trip was shorter and many caught naps on the the way back. We made it back to Njoro and we will always remember this day of great fun and fellowship with wonderful friends. I will do it again.

Masai Mara 2009 (90 photos), by Harold Deason

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

28 September 2009

Greeting from Kenya. It has been another picture perfect day in Njoro and were have got a lot done on the Bio Sand Filter. Sorry I have not been able to upload pictures but the connections have been so slow on Safaricom that I have not be able to upload any.

The Bio Sand Filter is about 50% filled with media and the crew is busy seperating and grading the sand for the filter. Today we cleaned the large underground cistrom and it is ready to receive fresh water from the filter.

Tomorrow I will run and test the system that we installed last year and regenerate the greensand filter for removal of iron and magnesiam. There should be no surprises or problems.

Nancy has been working in the clinic and helped deliver a baby girl yesterday morning. It was exciting and she gave the baby one of the caps that the ladies from Grace had made alone with one of the blankets.

We had a great church service yesterday and went to the Njoro Country Club for lunch and it was very good. They had great fried chicken and chips.

We are having a great time and many memories each day. Have a great day and more later.

24 Sep 2009

Greeting from Njoro, Kenya. It has been a wonderful trip todate. We had a great trip to Maasi Mara and saw 4 of the big 5 and we should be able to see the White Rhino on Saturday when we visit Lake Nakuru. Work is going great and the Bio Sand Filter is really looking good and should really produce some great filter results. We are about 40% complete on this project. I am staying with the same family that I did last year and it was a real pleasure to be with them again. The community has once again turned out to really support the water purification project that will provide them with good clean clear water.

Connections have been slow or often not available so when I get better connection I will upload some of th 800+ photos

Hope all are well and I will see you soon.

8 Sep 2009 Boo @ Zoo (17 photos), by Harold Deason

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

8 Sept 2009 Boo@Zoo, Birmingham, Alabama Zoo

Today was another action packed day that I mostly missed due to Master Gardener Meeting but I did get there for the painting of the donkey and a couple chickens. The crew had done a great job converting the building from last year to the western ghost town. James was the animal creature today. He brought the sheets of plywood alive as assortments of animals for the town.

The rain might have weathered aged some of the building but that is okay.

More on Thrusday

Boo AT Zoo 2009 (19 photos), by Harold Deason

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Birds

This is an attempt to get pictures uploaded to the blog. I hope to upload many during the time I am gone so this is just a test to see how it works.

Welcome to my Harold's TIdbits

This is my first attempt at a blog but I felt it was probably the best way for me to keep friends and family informed and to share my experiences during my Mission Trip to Kenya. I hope you enjoy the updates, hopefully daily, when we have the uplink to get the data and pictures sent.

I will be traveling with my beautiful wife Nancy, Jim and Mary Price, and Chris Ndei to perform work on the water purfication system that we install in June of 2008 in Njoro, Kenya in the clinic of Presbyterian Church East Africa (PCEA) Njoro. If this trip is anywhere as successful and rewarding as the last one you may never hear the end of tales and experiences.

I will be setting up the blog over the next couple weeks and adding new sections were you will be able to hopefully see photos of our journeys which will start in Birmingham, AL and terminate in Kenya.

Keep tuned in and your advice will all be appreciated.

Harold

Introduction