An absolutely amazing day!

Greetings  one and all....

       I've  seen more amazing things in the last  24 hours  than  ever  before.  It's  hard to  know where to start...so I'll try to give  you the  thumbnail  sketch. 

       Our colleagues joined us right on schedule and traveled through Nairobi  and were wowed by the contrasts, the large number of schools and the scenery as we traveled North to Nanyuki.    As  we left this large town/city we drove down a road that most would call  a cow  path for about three miles...and just when we were convinced that we were going nowhere, the road improved and we traveled another hour North to the Research Center.   My hope came true...we indeed saw a zebra  on the way and LOTS of other  incredible animals...even though the sunsets promptly at 6 here.  Picture a moon and star-lit night with  giraffe's lumbering gracefully within 100  feet of where we were.  It was great fun to spot  glowing eyeballs beside the road  and then to shine a light in their direction to identify the animals.

       We arrived at the  Research Center at 8:30ish and move into our very cool  round bandas with thatched rooves.  Get this ... on the way to the bathroom you have to be careful  not to step in elephant "droppings"...yes, you  guessed  it, they're HUGE!  Elephant dung suggests that they're everywhere!  We  can't wait to see them...maybe tomorrow!

     Today we've had a chance to talk with great researchers studying how  raising  cattle  can happen while also supporting a wide variety of incredible mammals.   It seems like  we've seen so many birds, and animals that it's hard to  start today....Giraffe's,zebras,vervet monkeys, birds galore including eagles, a  hyena, a leopard, gazelles, water bucks, ostriches etc.,etc.

      It seems that internet connections won't support  video skype calls so you'll be  without my smiling face for a few more days!  Tomorrow promises to be amazing as well...so do check back in for more news!  Take care, M.Watkins