Home » Botswana » Jul 26, 2004 Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park, Botswana

Now is as good a time as any to introduce a word or two about our camp crew. They travel in an old Mercedes diesel truck, carrying all our supplies - tents, fuel, water, food, etc. At most, only three can ride in the cab of the truck, and possibly only two. The rest ride in the back, over the dusty, bumpy, bone-jarring roads. After that they proceed to set up four large tents, complete with a freshly dug pit toilet and bucket shower in the back of each; next is a dining tent, their own tents, and a “kitchen”. Then they’re off to gather fire wood and generally provide a seamless transition to our next camp. Let me tell you that it’s a very comforting sight after a hard day on the road to see camp all lit up, a lantern in front of each tent, a dozen or so hung around the dining tent, and a fire roaring ready to ward off the coming winter chill. We are well supported.

Jul 26, 2004 Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park, Botswana

Tom Schueneman
2006-03-27 15:41:37

Displayed times (last time: )

Now is as good a time as any to introduce a word or two about our camp crew. They travel in an old Mercedes diesel truck, carrying all our supplies - tents, fuel, water, food, etc. At most, only three can ride in the cab of the truck, and possibly only two. The rest ride in the back, over the dusty, bumpy, bone-jarring roads. After that they proceed to set up four large tents, complete with a freshly dug pit toilet and bucket shower in the back of each; next is a dining tent, their own tents, and a “kitchen”. Then they’re off to gather fire wood and generally provide a seamless transition to our next camp. Let me tell you that it’s a very comforting sight after a hard day on the road to see camp all lit up, a lantern in front of each tent, a dozen or so hung around the dining tent, and a fire roaring ready to ward off the coming winter chill. We are well supported.

Folks my age should well remember Jackson Browne singing the praises of his road crew “settin’ up them amps” and Jesse Colin Young’s “hauling ten tons of speakers and an old Steinway Grand” (in the interest of full disclosure, when I worked with Jesse he had moved on to three guitars, an effects rack, and a Lincoln Town(e) Car). A good road crew makes it or breaks it – without them you’re a guy in jeans standing in the middle of a field holding a guitar with only your mom and your girlfriend listening. Yes, all you guys going out with Sting and the Rolling Stones are good – real good. There’s nothing like having 400 union employees, fueled with donuts and coffee, descending on a place with ten semi-trucks and two tour busses to get your show up...
Any one of you union guys want to come out here and dig some toilets? I didn’t thing so. Five guys and one woman make it happen out here, and I wouldn’t feel better supported if I were riding to Madison Square Garden in a limo (and why I’d be doing that is another question). The point is that this is one crack safari ...