One of my Deutscher Jagdterriers has decided to take to Duck Hunting

Have been taking my 7 month old Jagd with me Duck Hunting. Snatch seems to be into the aquatic scene more than his brother Tug who likes to just stick his head under and look around. They both take to water fine but Snatch is into honing his retrieving skills at the moment so I drag him along. He's kinda got a feel for it but has a long way to go to beat my old Labrador, "Danny Boy" who I miss terribly.

Lasting Impressions that never went away

I have often said if you want to be happy as an adult you must never forget the dreams you had as a child. You should if you could, pursue them as your manifest destiny, your chart for life, for there lies your true desire! It's not Rocket Science for back then you were pure in heart and pure in mind. Back then you hadn't been influenced by lots of stuff, we just knew what made us happy and dreamed, more or less, for more of the same. As a youngster I watched the Wonderful World of Disney, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Curt Gowdy and the American Sportsman, read lots of books and magazines about hunting, fishing, the west, outdoor life and the rest, my mind constantly focusing on the future and a simple life of adventure in the Great Outdoors. One movie that set me to thinking about other continents was unknown to me by name for most of my life. "Sammy Going South" was a movie I saw when I was pretty young maybe 10 maybe more. I saw only the last thirty or so minutes and never forgot it. Occasionally over the years I asked around to folks that had a movie thing going on you know movie hound types, especially old movie hound types but never had a hit, just a cold trail. I didn't know the name of the movie, the names of the actors or even when it was made, it was a long time ago and from what I could remember the main adult character was small of statue but I couldn't be sure. I did searches on line and tried lots of different methods and pretty much gave up. Time passed and ever so often I'd give it another shot and in so doing about a year ago I stumbled across a site that allowed me to find what I was looking for. Sammy Going South was made as an English movie and released in America under the title, A Boy Ten Feet Tall in 1963 or so, I was 8 years old. The story was about a young boy that made his way 4500 miles or so across Africa mostly on his own from North to South and all that he encountered along the way. The main adult character turned out to be Edward G Robinson. I ordered a copy of the movie, watched it for the first time in 40 years or so and sat back in satisfaction at knowing that I hadn't been just a young kid that, as a young kid had over exaggerated the impression the movie made on me, the feelings were the same, the memories came back sharp and clear. The movie had been real and I had found it. Not just for me but for my daughter and my new grandchild, a granddaughter that will be here in April and for all the other nephews, cousins and kids that I know or will know that are coming down my path. I want to sit and watch them watch it, see what they soak up, watch their concentration, listen to what they say about it and hopefully they will be touched a bit like I was, hopefully it will enhance their young spirits towards travel, adventure and making their own life what they dream it will be. This isn't the end of the story. I just recently found a great copy of the book by W. H. Canaway, I hope to read it soon down at the cabin in Mississippi, sittin by the wood stove, warm and cozy with nothing but my old dreams keeping me company.

Thomas Prin, Buffalo Man

The Buffalo Tracking Team came for a few days to put more tracking collars on the local Cape Buffalo herds trying to plant one in every herd in the reserve and surrounding blocks. This being their second season it took just 2 days of flying, darting and attaching the collars to meet their quota for this year. Much is being learned about the number and movement of the Niassa herds some totaling upwards of 3 hundred, a fantastic site, especially if your in a position to set and watch them pass unnoticed. I met my friend Thomas Prin last year briefly during the capture period and this year we were able to spend a little more time together as we went and camped with friends on the Top of Mecula Mountain in the heart of the Reserve. Thomas records the movements of the herds using electronic tracking throughout the year, spending around 8 months a year living in the Bush. He has been christened the “Buffalo Man” by the local population. Although young, Thomas is very experienced in the Bush, as his family has been involved in the business of Hunting and Safaris in West Africa for years. It was a pleasure getting to know him better and I look forward to spending more time with him. Here are a few shots from Thomas and myself. Thomas will become a contributor for the “Dancing With The Wild Beast” BlogSpot, which is dedicated to the preservation of the Niassa Reserve and features posts by folks that live and work there. A lot of news is forthcoming from the Reserve as we have all been a bit behind on posting; please continue to check in occasionally. AP

Random Pics from Photo Safari Group

On Top Of Mecula

We headed up to Mecula Mountain for an overnighter, good time! Elephants were about but the highlight of the trip was the drive up. Mecula is around 4000 ft. highest in Mozambique I believe and a different world all together. Hard to upload from here, so more pics when I arrive home. In the meantime go to Bryan Allen's site which you can access from here and check out our progress.

More IN COUNTRY

I'm hanging with a great group of folks that Bryan Allen has assembled for a Photo Safari Workshop and will be posting to various sites. We are at the Lugenda River Photographic Camp of Luwire Safaris Mozambique. Here are a few of my shots from the sidelines of the group in action. I must say they have come loaded for bear with all manner of gear and I look forward to the finished product. More Later

In Country

On the Lugenda, Oct 28 2010

The "Snatch" and The "Tug"

Snatch and Tug, our two Jagd Terriers. Their names are an understatement!

Down to Molly Harmon Spring for some self bottled water

Molly Harmon is just a little ways a way from our place in Mississippi. We usually pack some back in plastic jugs and coolers, Water the way God made it!