Car troubles.

Laragin boost charged the battery so the cruiser is going again- we’ll see how long that lasts! He admitted he didn’t really know why the cruiser has gone through three new batteries in one year so I think that the cruiser will be going to Nairobi on the next trip. Didn’t tell you about all the car troubles we had two nights ago! Cruiser died at south den, so the brand new battery I bought in Nairobi lasted all of three weeks. Laragin was out of town and Langat couldn’t find a vehicle so it wasn’t until 9 that we got a jump start from the balloon crew. Chelle was out of town but she gave me Daniel’s number and he asked his balloon crew to come and resuce us. Jump works great gets the car going and everything is fine until about ten minutes later when the car dies because it has run out of gas. Which was weird because we had over a quarter tank when we’d left for obs and previously that has been more than enough diesel fuel to get us through two obs sessions. So by 10 we get a second rescue and this time we leave the cruiser out in the bush and get a lift back to camp. Almost back to camp we ran into Moses and Jorgi who had attempted to drive the maruti out to get us! Neither of them really knows how to drive so getting the maruti that far was quite a feat. Got to bed by 10:30. Long night! Next morning we take the maruti up to the lodge for diesel thinking that all we have to do is fill up the tank and then jump it and we’re golden. Nope. Jumping it nor push starting it works. Langat is busy with morning work at the conservancy and can’t come out and help us. Finally a photographer with a beefy land rover pulled me back to the conservancy where Langat and Laragin (just returned) tell us that the engine was full of air from it being empty and us trying to jump it plus a leak in the fuelline causing the tank to empty much more quickly. So it wasn’t just us being stupid wazungu girls running out of gas and not knowing how to properly jump a car! Battery still wouldn’t charge though so Laragin took the battery and did a slow charge on it and since then the car has been starting fine but we’ll see how long the battery lasts in this car before its drained again. Must be an alternator problem or else some other thing that is causing the batteries to drain fast.

Saw T-Rex again this morning and collected poop from her! Seems like she’s back for good now which is great and Emily thought she saw nipples so maybe she’s got some little cubbies somewhere! Waffles is on a natal den now which is super exciting, she’s using Biscuits n’ Gravy den and we almost didn’t see her she was sacked out so deep inside. No sign of George there but hopefully once more cubs start being born he’ll show up at the den scene. Saw some bat-eared fox kits last night trying to nurse from their mom who was standing up. Super adorable standing on their little back legs with their front paws wind milling in the air as they tried to balance. Waaay too cute. Cuteness overload.

Dinner and drinks with Amanda last night and had a good time talking about nairobi troubles, car problems, Emily’s malaria (now fully gone) and talking with Gamey about talking to kenyan guys and getting hit on and about guys being waaay too forward. Decided that bare shoulders is less of a big deal than thighs since skirts are the norm here and tight tops are not unusual.