The ample public picnic-ground I had scouted out the week before just happened to be reserved for a huge company BBQ of 300+ persons - consigning our little group to a tailgate party in the parking lot. The upside to that misadventure was a front row seat to the elephant caravan en route to their daily bath in the pond.
What's this? Aslan on the loose at the African Lion Safari? Nah, this image is too wimpy to fit the bill. The Aslan I know isn't even safe, but he IS good. Capital G Good.
I dunno....gives me a headache just lookin' at that head-dress.
Yes, well, uhm... ahem.... front row seats to the typical monkey-business of course!
The African Lion Safari proved to be a surprising treat for all involved -- except it was almost too much excitement for one day. Half day actually. We were practically the first caravan in line to pass thru the gates at 9am and then first in line for tickets on the Safari bus expedition thru the compounds. Can you imagine deliberately taking your own car through this jungle? Fourteen of us occupied the back four seats plus back bench of the bus.
As it turned out, to ride a vehicle unrestrained by seatbelt and carseat proved to be a new, trepidatious, possibly overwhelming experience in and of itself to our three 3 year olds.
I should have known.
We were in place waiting for a loudly idling coach bus to start the safari, I was standing in the aisle making conversation with the twins when little Rachel - worry and fear etched all over her elfin face, squeaked out a tearful plea for me to sit down. How interesting that such a simple thing could be the undoing of little miss 'go-get-'em while her brother Micah, more commonly known as mister type A for anxiety, just bounced non-stop from one lap to the other squealing like a monkey. ?? And cousin Julsie? She uttered nary a beep all the while clutching Grandpa's arm with a vice-like grip. (see below) What a moment. 
This was an odd fellow compared to his counterparts - all scrunched up in a solitary smug pose.
This was an odd fellow compared to his counterparts - all scrunched up in a solitary smug pose.
Can you 'see' the conflict in her countenance? Wonderment and finger fidgeting worry all rolled in one? (The pic of her vice grip is portrayed in the previous blog post)
Julsie will always be the cautious one me thinks.
I don't believe they caught the difference between a mechanical zebra and the real thing. This one definitely moved faster and was more engaging to watch as it roused the lions and lionesses into action.
Part way through the next hour after making some internal adjustments and relaxing a bit, Rachel allowed me to stand in the aisle and converse with her without scolding me back to my seat!
