Camping Details

We dropped down our tents under a Baobab tree. This was a very important fact because it helped us find our way home after going to the toilets, which were located on the other side of a quarter mile of brush. All you had to do was look up to where the stars were blotted out in a roughly Baobobish shape, and that was where you were going. Last year M failed to think of this plan and ended up lost in the dark. Fortunately the anaconda can't see very well in the dark either, so M survived. If he hadn't, we wouldn't have had anybody to organize the expedition this time around. Moving on...

I carefully chose a location for each of our three tents. Then my comrades showed up and vetoed them all. Such is life. We managed to sleep okay despite the boulders and tree trunks and mountain ranges under our sleeping bags.

We set up our campfire in a large dirt space so that nothing would catch fire. Unfortunately the reason for the large dirt space was a thriving ant colony living just below the surface. We had to dance as we served up our food or they would have picked us up and hauled us away.

The next morning we had a devotional and then took a group picture just to make sure that neither the ants nor the anaconda had carried anyone off in the night. Several people headed home and the rest of us went to work.

First we measured out 50 meters of twine. Then we used pliers to clamp old bottle caps (the metal kind) on to the string at regular intervals. I think it was about 70 cm.

Then we took that string out to a field and staked it down into rows. It took us forever to get the lines straight. Literally forever. As I write this, they still aren't straight. They never will be. But we eventually just said "close enough for cowboy work!"  Eventually a hole will be dug at each marker (crimped bottle cap). Each crop season the hole will be filled with mulch and seeded with a different crop. This method nearly eliminates soil erosion, uses water very efficiently, and provides it's own mulch. Or something like that. I am making this up as I go...

Here is the open area that will soon be a field. Well, one corner of it anyway.

After our string-laying adventures it was already time for lunch. It took a while for lunch to actually get made, but it was great once we got it! Oh yeah, I suppose this looks weird to most of you. Welcome to Senegal, this is how we eat. Except normally you don't use a spoon.

We then engaged in a very manly activity. This throwing star was hurled into the the trunk of the Baobob by a Ninja so stealthy and quick that nobody is quite certain who he was. But it was me. And I hold the height record. And it took us five guys, two cups of coffee, two hours, and two rakes tied together to finally get the throwing star back down!

Afterwards we went on a walk. We made a tour of the entire outside perimeter of the reforestation project. Inside the fence there were a lot of beautiful trees and plants.  None of these were specially planted, the seeds are always in the soil but they normally never have a chance to grow because of the overabundance of livestock that eat the new shoots.

In this panoramic photo you can see the reforestation area on the left half and the non-protected area on the right half. The project has been going for 7 years and the main difference between the two areas is a fence. The one is capable of sustaining livestock, produce, and a charcoal business. The other is considered nearly useless. Boundaries and barriers can be helpful! I feel like there may be some spiritual parallels.

Howdy to our neighbors! We saw quite a few of these carts go by as we walked.

The next day we went to church in a village whose name I don't recall. It was a wonderful service! I like that church a lot. I could tell that they had a lot of joy but also a great respect for God.

Here is a panoramic shot taken in the street. You can see the church on the far right side.