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Front Cover
I just love this cover. The pic is nearly at the end of our 24 week Great
African Safari (GAS), sand matting across the Sahara Desert – 54°C in the shade –
a total adventure that truly changed my life – I met Grumpy – introduced forever
more as “My African Souvenir”. There are many layers on this cover just like
this great African overland itself.
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P2
There is a folded sheet showing the Bedford Trucks layout & hidden compartments.
The commencement date of the GAS, The key symbolizes that I am wanting to share
/ open our memories with the reader. The giraffe in an ongoing joke that fits
this theme & the Dr Livingstone cartoon says it all really “Are you outgoing,
adventurous & like meeting people?”
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P3
Day 1 of the GAS – The truck, which we latter named Nullis Secundis (2nd to
none), a list of the punter's names, a few quips & Art Mould© 166XLge Oval Mask.
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P4
Found a great ephemera sheet and added a coffee stained map, plus the Encounter
Overland Logo & some appropriate stickers.
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P5
Titled “Truck Life”. The truck was a s adventurous as the punters. Apparently
being lifted onto a barge on the Congo River was a no no but what a highlight
those 5 days were (see P13).
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P6
This simple page shows a variety of African Textiles. A glassine Envelope holds
a Political Map of Africa.
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P7
Titled “Chores” Although I added the quips “Special & Fun” I don't think at the
time anyone would have said that. I have added Art Mould© AM098 XXLge Rectangle
Frame
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P8
My Birthday. My favourite photo that I snapped was of the 3 Malawi boys and I
was definitely not going to push the truck out of mud on that day of all days. I
traded some film for a brass bangle that I have worn every day since with the
Masai Warrior when in Milindi.
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P9
Titled “Camp Chores”. Although we did operate a roster we do seem to have a lot
of the girls in these pics. Our driver, Dennis, was in his element tinkering
with the truck – of course some of the guys were willing helpers too.
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P10
Elephant dung paper or so I am told, is the background sheet. The mini black
pocket holds the original pages from the Encounter overland brochure - it is
good to be a hoarder!!! - and shows the departure date from Jo'burg & arrival
date in London. 18 countries whew. I have since added decorated tags to this
page.
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P11
Market Shopping was usually fun but some markets were a challenge with little
fresh food and virtually no meat. |
P13
A variety of Camp Sites are shown here. Niamey's sandy park was an uncomfortable
Easter stop but we were saved by the local US Marine Base. The central photo
shows the cook tent and others on the steel deck of the Congo River Barge. Used
Art Mould© AM211 Lge Stylized Gum Leaf. |
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P15
More friendly locals at a variety of markets. The centre pic is from a serviette
and the black mask on centre base is using “Fantastic”. |
P17
Thrills were grabbed at every opportunity & that's right I do not appear in any
of these pics. Grumpy was one of only 5 that successfully climbed Mt
Kilimanjaro. I was greatful just to stand on the equator line.
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P18
Can you believe this is the very moment Grumpy & I first hugged - & we got it on
film. The other marriage from the trip was of Russell & Cathy B – good catches
hey?
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P19
The Dinner. Charlie & Di (yes their real names) joined our group in Nairobi. Di
told me Charlie was a great cook & he needed to get onto the cooking roster – I
volunteered to do 2 stints to accommodate him & here is our Formal Dinner to
launch him - Feb 13th - Valentine's Eve. Only days before we had trekked Silver
Backed Gorillas in Virunga Nat Pk and had walked on Lake Navasha viewing 1000.s
of Flamingos. What a week. |
P21
Here we all are – I think this is the only page where all 21 faces are shown.
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P22
My favourite animal pic – a lioness at Masa Mara Nat Pk. I have stamped a few
tags here with African images and the backing paper is numerous old pics of
Africans. |
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P23
The actual itinerary we did – not strictly following the letter in the
brochure. |
P24
Grumpy took this background pic of Victoria Falls, ZM, from a light plane just
before joining the GAS. All other pics are from our combined albums. |
The Box Lid
The box was crafted by Grumpy based on a Japanese Box where the sides drop down.
I covered the top with the map of our journey and the sides were sections of
Michelin's maps of Africa with various stamps & casts from a variety of our
African Art Moulds© stuck on. I lined the inside of the box with copies of the
various currencies I collected during our visits to 18 African nations.
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