quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
Wishing you the very best of luck and safe travels. May this safari be your best yet, and I do hope Joyce gets the bigger leopard!

Bigger or not, she will definitely get the first one.

Cheers
Jim

Considering what he two of you have been through, this will be the most awesome trip!!!

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
Considering what he two of you have been through, this will be the most awesome trip!!!

Appreciate the thought but everyone has their challenges. I think what matters is how you handle them and what you learn from them.

Cancer in the household taught me the value of time. Thus I retired. That's what I would call the up side. For Joyce she realized how special so many people think she is, not just me.

I can not begin to explain what it's like when folks from Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, RSA, UAE, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Mexico, Canada, UK, and across the entire USA stand up loudly behind you cheering you on in a fight for your life.

It's priceless!!

These are the things cancer taught us.

So we will do out best to take all these folks with us on this trip in spirit. You all were part of us being able to go.

Cheers
Jim

Go well and enjoy yourselves.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Go well and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, Vic Falls April 16-19 if you and Julie are up for a road trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Go well and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, Vic Falls April 16-19 if you and Julie are up for a road trip.

Thanks mate and keep us posted during your extended safari.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Go well and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, Vic Falls April 16-19 if you and Julie are up for a road trip.

Thanks mate and keep us posted during your extended safari.

As much as conveniently possible. Otherwise Darin will put up any info we relate via her Sat phone fix. If we don't call her often enough she goes into withdraw and could have a seizure.

GOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Today's the big day! Good luck guys, really looking forward to hearing about your trip with Buzz! Spoke with Luwire guys this morning, all set!

Travel safe and we'll be keeping tabs on you!

Greg

Heading out!! I'll try and let you know how it goes in Seattle at checkin in about 4-5 hours.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Go well and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, Vic Falls April 16-19 if you and Julie are up for a road trip.

Thanks mate and keep us posted during your extended safari.

As much as conveniently possible. Otherwise Darin will put up any info we relate via her Sat phone fix. If we don't call her often enough she goes into withdraw and could have a seizure.

I'm already having one because I'm not going!

Hugs, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Go well and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, Vic Falls April 16-19 if you and Julie are up for a road trip.

Thanks mate and keep us posted during your extended safari.

As much as conveniently possible. Otherwise Darin will put up any info we relate via her Sat phone fix. If we don't call her often enough she goes into withdraw and could have a seizure.

I'm already having one because I'm not going!

Hugs, Darin

Darin,

Isn't it a bit early for Champagne?

Step one done!! Of course I didn't expect any issues in Anchorage since I was heading to Seattle from here and not an international departure. It was business as usual. A pleasant TSA guy swabbed the outside of my Tuffpak and didn't ask for the key to open it.

Alaska Air checked Joyce's bags through to Dubai and mine to Seattle at my request because I know Emirates will need to check serial numbers per their policy and form.

More later if I have time in Seattle.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Go well and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, Vic Falls April 16-19 if you and Julie are up for a road trip.

Thanks mate and keep us posted during your extended safari.

As much as conveniently possible. Otherwise Darin will put up any info we relate via her Sat phone fix. If we don't call her often enough she goes into withdraw and could have a seizure.

I'm already having one because I'm not going!

Hugs, Darin

Darin,

Isn't it a bit early for Champagne?

Andrew, Andrew, Andrew! It's never too early for champagne!

Good luck you guys!!

I hope we will be able to compare Leopard photos when we see you next, if only Zambia will approve cats. We'll see.

How exciting. Can't wait for the first report!

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Good luck you guys!!

I hope we will be able to compare Leopard photos when we see you next, if only Zambia will approve cats. We'll see.

How exciting. Can't wait for the first report!

We both put in for Pronghorn again for October so I hope we can get together with you guys again.

Presently sitting in Emirate's Lounge at SeaTac airport after obtaining my Tuffpak and checked case with ammo from Alaska Air.

No issue rechecking with Emirates. They were very efficient and helpful. After checking the ammo weight and firearm serial numbers the Emirates representative accompanied me to TSA.

No one required my coveted yellow sticky ITN number and Customs and Border Protection were not notified.

Presently sipping Piper Heidsieck Brut and my butt hole has relaxed.

Cheers
Jim and Joyce

Be careful relaxing that thing.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
Be careful relaxing that thing.

I hope you have a great trip.

Look forward to the hunt and trip reports.

Cheers,

Chris

Now you are really making me jealous! Time to celebrate!

Hugs, Darin

I have been praying for you guys on & off for a while.

Have a great trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
I have been praying for you guys on & off for a while.

Have a great trip.

Much appreciated!! Joyce's one year Pet Scan was negative for cancer and the Oncologist saw her yesterday and informed her to forget about a recheck in 6 months and just to wait for two years out from Chemo. He couldn't believe how fit she looked.

Thanks for the prayers
Jim

Safe travels and enjoy yourselves

Fascinating what modern technology can tell you.

It looks like that Jim and Joyce are just about to cross the Kazakhstan border going south.

They fly through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran then cross the Gulf to Dubai.

They land in 5:09 hours time!!

Amazing!

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

Presently sipping Piper Heidsieck Brut and my butt hole has relaxed.

Cheers
Jim and Joyce

Jim: Are you going hunting on Brokeback Mountain?

They are in Dubai! I just got a text that they had arrived!

Regards, D. Nelson

Best of luck to you both!

With the possibility of Jim and Joyce taming the Tyrannosaur, I thought a little blast from the past might be in order... he he

http://www.baxterbyrd.com/MISC/BOOM.mov

I wish you both a jolly good safari....really hope you get your elephant..

Made it to Dubai. Very pleasant flight in Business on Emirates. Was able to grab some shut eye but it's now midnight and my body does not want to sleep.

The gauntlet with Customs and the Dubai Police in regards to the firearms and ammunition did take approximately two hours all in. They were courteous but I had to unpack and repack three times for picture taking sessions. We take things like this in stride. It's all about the adventure. The tea and water we were given while waiting was outstanding.

Now in the relaxing in the Movenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate. Beautiful building and very nice room. WE may try and get on a higher floor tomorrow.

Scheduled to meet Saeed for lunch and a trip back to do some shooting and see his animals. Joyce is psyched for that one,

Cheers for now
Jim

Have fun!!!

Brett

Well now that you've left Alaska, I'm on my way up there tomorrow!!!! Shall I keep you posted about the rain and snow?

Hugs, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:
Well now that you've left Alaska, I'm on my way up there tomorrow!!!! Shall I keep you posted about the rain and snow?

Hugs, Darin

You will definitely see rain where you are headed.

Me on the other hand am sitting in the shade on a terrace watching Joyce write in her journal listen to Arabic speakers and Mynah birds chattering away.

Jim in jail in Dubai!

Joyce is very happy, as she will shoot both leopards!

Did they take his guns?

Best regards, D. Nelson

Strange animals you've got there in Dubai...

Incredibly fun day visiting with Saeed. We met for lunch in the Emirate's Mall and watched some folks ski indoors. Yup!! A definite first for us.

We then went back to his house to include a grand tour of the premises. Beautiful and quite the breeding operation of some endangered critters.

One surprising feature was how rough a Cheetah's tongue is. They purr far louder than any house cat as well.

Joyce shouldering the T-Rex. She needed a little help with the weight. Heavy son of a gun.