Fun with elephant road block in Botswana

Getting close to Chobe National Park, after driving many hours through deep sand:

Some elephants had different plans that morning though:

Pulling back about half a mile, we found a way around. At the gate, the friendly guard already suspected that elephants had blocked the road, as we were the first ones checking into the park that morning.

Their car however was not around, so I offered my assistance. 

Pictures below:

The guard promptly dismantled the entire gate, so we could use the chain...

Must admit I felt extremely good doing this...

And proud of the result...

Botswana Travel Plan Update

Hans Schoelink has a route planned.


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No flying backwards with Air Botswana this year. Instead we will be driving all the way, crossing the Makadikgadi Basin half-way Botswana to visit Kubu Island.

Marco de Lange managed to get us in business class ;-)

This will be our tank: Landrover Defender 130:

(Photo from www.4x4campers.co.za)

Interview about the partnership with IBM

Yesterday, Ed Brill  and I contributed to episode 162 of the famous Taking Notes Podcast by Bruce Elgort and Julian Robichaux.

Reason was that Ed Brill had publicly made the announcement (link) on his blog about the expended partnership between my company Trust Factory and IBM entered into with regards to our DNA Analysis Services.

Despite the hick-ups I caused while Ed was talking (people pinging me on Skype and my Mac started shouting that Notes needed my attention), it was a very nice and learning full experience for me.

I really think Bruce and Julian did a great job 'polishing' my input up into an excellent podcast. These guys are real pro's.

Anyway, listen for yourself (warning: the first 60 seconds are an advertisement):

Botswana here we come (again)

Tickets booked (Lufthansa) to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Toyota Land-cruiser booked, and very important:
picked up my new lens today:

This time we will start in Johannesburg and drive all the way up to Botswana, Moremi, Chobe, Kasane and then through Zimbabwe back down to South Africa.

Of course Hans & Marco are helping us out again.
(sorry for the short notice guys ;-)

The Beauty of Server Consolidation