How Adventure Finds Me

Coastline grasslands bathed in amber glow surrounded us as the hum of car engines purred through the humid air. The long line of cars snaked across the land, into the distance where the river blocked our safe passage back into the city.The waters of the river were murky and eerily still, especially considering the sheer number of crocodiles known to taunt the locals near the river. Every muscle of mine tensed on the journey here, and now I shuddered at the horror of possibly having to traverse those waters at nightfall.

The day had left our skins rawly shining red and the monstrous appetites in our bellies very much awakened. The seven of us could still feel the sand on our toes and hot breeze of the coast. My pregnant sister-in-law held the only complaints of the day, and I suppose she was the only one not comforted by our relative isolation. Such are the days on the white sands of Mozambique beaches.

The queue slivered forward tormentingly slowly as the sun gently perched upon the horizon. Carmine and scarlet softly exploded upwards until the sky was the perfect blending of colours, the rainbow of day-end. Chill descended as the sun began to fall, taking the iridescence with her.

The bulging river came into view, it's waters now restless as the tide rose threateningly before us. As luck would have it, we were informed that the crossing could not take place until the tides had calmed. As everyone's attention turned to the pregnant lady, my own concerns revolved around where I was going to relieve myself.

Could I tolerate six hours while waiting for the tide to fall? Nope; no, I would definitely be relieved involuntarily should anything happen while crossing those infested waters. And knowing myself, that anything could involve incidents as little as the tug of a misunderstood ripple. To my potentially endless embarrassment, of course. But we were surrounded with nothing but bush and a bumpy (and occupied) dirt road.

Tolerating goosebumps and stirring mosquitoes (and a full bladder), the family was working out a game-plan and inspecting the dwindling supplies from the day.

Not another twenty minutes later, we were allowed to cross, despite the shaky waters. Fortunately, without incident or unwelcome relieving of any kind, we made it safely across the looming waters.