Warren Nurses

This morning the sun is shining but yesterday was a torrential downpour, almost all day. I went to see Hirwa group in the morning for a routine health check, and the rain didn't start until I was ready to leave the gorillas so I had a GREAT visit! It was only about an hour walk, gradually uphill the whole way, and sometimes not so gradual. I do pretty well now - of course I get winded but I don't have to stop and rest anymore, and rarely feel like I just can't go on like I did in the beginning! But I have learned that I will NEVER be able to keep up with the trackers - they always slow their pace for me!

I have also learned other important lessons over the past 8 months:

• It is better to fall down than to grab one of the nasty nettles to keep your balance.
• It helps when you are going down a steep hill to pull over a bush and step on that, digging in your heels so that the branches catch you (that's what the gorillas do too).
• When following the tracker through thick vegetation, stay well back so that the machette does not hit you in the head (yesterday one of the leafy branches he cut landed on my head!).
• Test the vines before you count on them to hold your weight.
• Don't lean forward when walking downhill.
• Don't worry about it when you hear a lot of Kinyarwanda words, then your name, then more Kinyarwand words (I just smile as if I understand and keep walking).
  

Here are some of the images from my visit with Hirwa yesterday morning. At one point we were on a VERY steep slope, and Munyinya, the silverback, needed to pass us. I really wanted to follow the 7 meter distance rule that MGVP set, but the tracker and I had nowhere to go! The only way for us to get out of the way was to sit down as far to the side of the small trail as we could. Munyinya calmly walked within inches of us. I so wanted to let my hand fall across his shoulders and back. I drank in the moment - his powerful smell, calm but confident walk, the one glance in my direction. Absolutely amazing.

Munyinya in the bamboo just before it started to rain.

Trackers waiting for us to finish with the health check - where's Waldo?!

Munyinya and one of his females.

This is how it looked when we first spotted the group.

The view of town from the gorilla group.

The rest of the day was spent doing my desk job, but walking through the compound required an umbrella, so I sported my "Warren Nurses" umbrella for much of the day!


Other news - Ama successfully caught her first tennis ball on Monday! I'm so proud.