Monday, October 2, 2000.  Quiet day. Stayed in until 3:00. Wrote postcards and checked email. Finally went out for lunch and a short walk along the beach. The surf was rough and the beach was empty. On the drive back to the house I passed a knot of emergency vehicles near the beach.  On the evening news I learned that they were searching for a teenage surfer who had disappeared.

Tuesday, October 3, 2000.  Heavy rain on the roof woke me up several times in the early morning hours. It was still raining when I finally got up. I was worried that I would not be able to visit the chimpanzee sanctuary construction site, but a phone called confirmed that the appointment was still on.

I followed the directions to the remote spot where the sanctuary is going up. The rain, which had subsided, started up again as Carole N led me around the soggy site. The foundation of the introduction building is in place, and the berms and islands and moats are  taking shape. In a few months 21 former Air Force chimps will have a new home. 

Links

Save The Chimps

Images

Future home of the sanctuary

Wednesday, October 4, 2000. What a day! I woke up suddenly around 3AM. The downpour had stopped and it was quiet. There was just a soft drizzle as I packed the car and set out once again. No heavy rain, but it was so steamy that I had to run my wipers to keep the windshield defogged.

I arrived at the Center for Orangutan and Chimpanzee Conservation at 11AM and for the next several hours Director Patti R showed me around the facility, introduced me to the residents and talked with me about the sanctuary movement. Loads of notes to type up.

Thursday, October 5, 2000.  Spending the night in Panacea, Florida, a bend in the road on the Gulf Coast.  I'd planned to get as far as Apalachicola, but I couldn't pronounce it. No, I was tired and figured I'd do better to stop and rest.

I've passed through or by a number of towns with interesting names. There was Peculiar, Missouri, and Enigma, Georgia, and just yesterday I kept seeing signs for Frostproof, Florida. If I stick to my itinerary, I will not go through one of my favorites, Drain, Oregon.

Saturday, October 7, 2000.  Drove to Jackson, Mississippi. Scenery not spectacular but pleasant. A cold front has moved in. The sultry weather of the past week is just a memory.

At the Jackson Zoo I enjoyed watching a small chimpanzee group in a spacious outdoor exhibit. Keeper Brian C gave me lots of information about the makeup of the group, which includes a 20-month-old baby.

Spending the night in Vicksburg in probably the most interesting motel of the trip. The Battlefield Inn has a grand, curved staircase in the lobby. As I descend I feel I should be wearing a debutante gown ... instead of overalls. Three large cages in the lobby hold three exotic birds, including an enormous macaw. Breakfast and cocktails are included in the price of the room.

Sunday, October 8, 2000.  Quite cool today. Good driving weather, except for the wind. Drove straight through Louisiana and into Texas. Stopped at Terrell, a town about 30 miles west of Dallas. Figured I would avoid the big city traffic until I head for the zoo tomorrow.