Well not really a race because races are generally quickly than the last 7 days have felt.  This whole 14 days extension was about the Gorilla's do once that was over it really was about waiting to finish.  Don't get me wrong, if this was the first part of the tour then it would have been great: Game drives around a lake to see Rhino's, Chimpanzee walks, a Kigali visit, rafting the Nile and cycling through a NP with wild animals, namely the Buffalo and Leopard, add to this the Gorilla's and this 14 days would have been enough.  But for us it really didn't compare to the other NP's that we had visited and I would say that 56 days of camping and travelling on the truck were starting to wear us down.
Since Kigali, which was a surprise, we had to backtrack to Nairobi.  I hate backtracking.  I would always prefer to take another route as you get to see different things, at least a different road.  We did stay at different Camp sites, the one on the Nile River and Lake Naivasha, which was good, but like I said, we were over it ...  At the Nile river though I did get to watch one of the Cricket games of the year when NZ overcame SA in the semi's.  Jono, a great bloke from the Tour, is from NZ so it was good to watch the game with him and help him celebrate with a beer or two.
The last African activity that we did was to cycle through Hell's Gate National Park.  It is a small NP but famed for it's landscapes and thermal hot springs.  In fact at least 4 movies have used this Park as set locations: Tomb Raider 2, King Solomon's Mine, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle and Born Free, because of all the interesting landscapes that the Rift Valley and running water processes have left behind.  All the animals are wild and it was interesting to be able to cycle past Zebra, Gazelle, Warthogs and Buffalo without a care.  It's also nice to know that they are Leopards in the park, as evidence by the hanging Zebra we saw and also the fresh footprints along the path we walked, and that they could have appeared at any time.  On the ride back we also encountered a Giraffe which was great.  Having said all this I was absolutely knackered by then end of it and at one point said "I wish that Buffalo would charge and put me out of my misery".  I also slapped the ass of a Donkey which got some chuckles out of people.
Currently we are staying at Camp Karen and just waiting for the next leg to start.  But first I would like to thank Acacia for honoring a promise made 16 years ago.  I am extremely thankful to Vivian and his team for allowing this to happen.  I would like to thank Elton (our guide) and Kumbu and Philile (our drivers) for putting up with me for 56 days and not losing it, especially Elton.  Audrey and I both agree that his job would be a nightmare if you had a bunch of dickheads on board, hell it's even hard when everyone was helpful and respective.  Good job I say.  And to all the other Tourists, Safarists if you like, who have added to this experience, everyone on board has help Audrey and I have a great time.

Europe ... here we come

And happy birthday to Ashleigh.  We all turn 40 this year and I'm not happy about it.  You need to tell me what it's like Ash.
And to Dad who is one day closer to retirement on the 30th.  Happy Birthday.