SOUTH AFRICA: TIA

[Nyati]

My fiancé found this guy on me, we won’t say exactly where.

A reminder to us to be sure and check ourselves for ticks thoroughly any time we’ve been in the brush, I got lazy and didn’t.

View attachment 526006

Ha ! This is a small one, I got a huge green one in "you know where", souvenir of Natal.

Caused quite a commotion at the emergency room at the hospital in Madrid I went to have it removed, they had never seen something like it

 

[pilar]

Please tell me ticks and chiggers aren’t a problem over there

 

[gillettehunter]

Ticks can be depending on time of year and weather. Do a search on here about tick bite fever. I got it in the East Cape. Likely pepper ticks. Then do a search on permethrin. Any chance of ticks and my clothes all get treated with it.
Bruce

 

[pilar]

Ticks can be depending on time of year and weather. Do a search on here about tick bite fever. I got it in the East Cape. Likely pepper ticks. Then do a search on permethrin. Any chance of ticks and my clothes all get treated with it.
Bruce

Yeah I have had tick fever from Mexico and I never want it again
will spray my clothes down

 

[Sourdough]

So. Here we sit in the airport waiting for our flight, about two hours now. We had Bruce assist us getting from the Intercontinental to the ticket counter, then getting the firearms checked in. He was fantastic as usual. SAP was friendly, passport checkout was friendly. Now fingers are crossed that Delta doesn’t screw it up.

I’ll have a lot more to say about South Africa and it’s people once I’m back and rested but the short of it is I was right about it feeling like the 1960’s to me, everyone minding their own business and too busy with life to become mental midget woke assholes like the US. We are smiling big.

 

[Sourdough]

Snakes.

Saw four of them this trip.

First was a black mamba in the middle of a track while we were hunting. Big enough to have easily made a full belt and I sat there like a bump on a log with a loaded 375 in front of me.

Second was another black mamba in the middle of a gravel road we were on. It was in the bushes before we could even think of stopping plus the guns were in their case and locked. And not quite long enough for a belt.

Third was a cobra in the middle of a tar road! Up with its hood spread like it was ready to strike.

Fourth was a puff adder near my second to last animal.

 

[Sourdough]

At the gate security was searching everyone’s carry on luggage, pockets, purses, wallets, shoes, belts- everything. Plus swabbing for explosives.

EXCEPT for folks with SSSS in the lower right corner of the boarding pass, which was both of us.

We were escorted to sit in an area separate from everyone else. There was one other person who told us that he had been in country for 24 hours doing a “lecture”. And that SSSS meant something good. He looked suspiciously like a contractor to me but who knows.

Anyway, a security person called him up and swabbed shoes, clothing, hands, ankles, and his carryon. Then I was called up and the same for me, then my fiancé and the same for her. They were very polite. And then we were free to head to front of the line (Delta One).

I’m pretty convinced Bruce had something to do with the special treatment we received, but that’s just my best guess.

 

[Frederik]

Glad you had an excellent trip and thank you for the positive words about South Africa. With all the turmoil corruption crime and more there is still gems and gold to be found if you know where to look and very special people that try their best to keep making changes.

 

[Philip Glass]

Yes, that's why I mentioned it. They are becoming increasingly affordable and capable, so many of the local law enforcement and fire departments have started using them. One could conceivably carry a smaller model in the PH's vehicle. But I do not know whether they are legal to own and operate in the various African nations.

It is commonly done in some areas.

 

[Philip Glass]

My fiancé found this guy on me, we won’t say exactly where.

A reminder to us to be sure and check ourselves for ticks thoroughly any time we’ve been in the brush, I got lazy and didn’t.

View attachment 526006

Sawyer clothing spray!

 

[spike.t]

Glad you had an excellent trip and thank you for the positive words about South Africa. With all the turmoil corruption crime and more there is still gems and gold to be found if you know where to look and very special people that try their best to keep making changes.

Mmm....so you know where the gold is as well....

 

[Frederik]

Mmm....so you know where the gold is as well....

I know where it is the question is, how to get it out?

 

[Sourdough]

In Atlanta! Only a hour late this time. Done with passport control, I have a Global Entry card so just Walt up to a machine that checks my face with the database and I’m off.

Then collect our baggage. Then have the rifles checked and hunting boots sprayed.

Then to TSA for the firearms inspection and dropping the luggage with them.

All in all surprisingly fast and courteous.

In a Delta Sky Club now waiting for our flight to New Orleans.

 

[Sourdough]

Made it to New Orleans without issue. Friend picked us up and we are headed to our Louisiana home.

It was a bit of a shock when we landed in Atlanta seeing all the white people. Isn’t that interesting.

 

[degoins]

Made it to New Orleans without issue. Friend picked us up and we are headed to our Louisiana home.

It was a bit of a shock when we landed in Atlanta seeing all the white people. Isn’t that interesting.

LOL

 

[Katy Darren]

Enjoyable read, thank you for taking the time and effort!