This was the day that Dan's Cadonkey project was getting started, so we drove over to Ken's house to observe what we thought would be the weighing of the cows and donkeys. Along the way, we saw an elephant and so stopped for some photos.

Once we got to Ken's, the kids led the way to see the cows and donkeys as we checked out the housing for his staff but noted that the cows didn't look so good though the donkeys seemed all right so we kept studying the cows

as the donkeys wondered what would happen to the cows as the fire that had been used in the branding burned on and the animals waited

and we did closer inspections of the cows as the project leaders had a debate about what to do as the ranch hands watched as did Sarah, Jane and sometimes Ben until the donkeys were edged into the pen as the cows were being prepared for rejection and the fires burnt as Dan studied the donkeys until he was able to choose the ones he wanted to pen in tightly and prepare for entry into the chutes as I knew that it would be a massive camera day and so did these donkeys, I guess. As the first donkeys were led into the chute the horse was peacefully roaming the ring and the weighing could begin

with these numbers poked into the ears of the donkeys. As the process continued, we took many pictures trying to capture the sense of donkeys refusing to enter the chute, of herders yanking donkeys into position, of weights being recorded and of errors being attached to numbers

pausing to see a donkey up close and then seeing a donkey with his ear number as the process continued

and we tried to capture an actual piercing

before recording the water as Jane posed we noted the helpers houses and a camel crossed the property

before we observed the donkeys who had been processed

as Nancy watched and after 1 more picture we decided to make a movie P1030251.MOV and then watch efforts to get a donkey suited up to pull a cart because sometimes the primitive way is the best way to get the job done.

Next we took family pictures of Sarah, Jane and Ben

Sarah and Jane Ben alone Sarah and Jane and then we assembled for a round of family photos

On the way back for lunch, we saw this warthog and these zebras

and these giraffes

including movies P1030304.MOV P1030305.MOV before driving on to the place on the black cotton where the water tanks have been gathered (but not filled) the acacia have been spread with thorns showing (to keep the lions away) the parts for the tin houses have been delivered (but not assembled) for the herders to sleep in and we saw the area where the cows and donkeys would be corralled and some constructed houses of the type the herders would live in as we realized that this protection would keep us out too if we were lions and then Dan gave us a quick lesson in the 5 different grasses of that region as I recorded some dung (ever so important to their work) and focused in on the acacia to see the bugs that live within

After lunch we headed out with Ken and his troupe to see elephants on our way to the next village. We started with a camel and Suzanne posed with Ken and the camel

and then after looking back at the car I posed as well.

On our way to the Ilmotiok school, we saw many goats eating whatever they could find on over grazed lands

as Jane and Sarah led us to the school but first I recorded the school's lion fence and then we noted the school building its title and its slogan before watching the chief and the assembled discuss matters relating to the village and the school.

Sarah and I withdrew from this discussion and took pictures of a few of the neighborhood children who seemed very happy to see us. As the goats came our group started making its way back to the cars but not before I caught some native costumes the children again and the goats who came near and showed their colors before the teacher and this lady of the village (with her grand daughter) appeared. Next, we saw this man who had lost his wife but acquired a new one (for no cows) and entered Ol Gaboli which is attempting to be an eco tourist site and saw the welcoming signs along with one of the cabins where teenagers are now living. On the way back, I missed getting the bird in the tree but we were treated to some wonderful giraffes in the middle of the road

who were practicing some head (or in this case, neck) butting and having an expert in animal behavior in the car we watched their interactions for quite some time

P1030499.MOV P1030500.MOV P1030501.MOV before they went at it a little more with entwined necks

and took another movie P1030564.MOV and a few more stills (in all a bit less than 10 minutes and a bit more than 150 photos).

Next we saw an elephant actually a few who were hanging out by the side of the road

and after some time of picture taking and moving the car slightly we provoked one of the elephants into a pose that would have worried us more had we not been in a car.

After a bird sighting and some pictures with too little light we came across Grevy's zebra rushing into the scene and then slowing down for an ideal photo op

We saw one more mammal crossing the road before making our way home past the buffalo as darkness fell.