Satellite problems

Updated: July 27, 2000

Webmaster's note: The research team sent this message Thursday morning from a computer in Singida. In this report, they detail problems with their satellite phone, which we hope to resolve before the team must leave for Dar es Salaam.

Hi Friends,

First of all, we wanted to let you know that we are all well, have not been consumed by lions or anything of the sort. We began to have problems with the satellite connection during the time when we were downloading the messages you had for us including the one from the students in New Zealand. We got about 1/4 through that one and were not able to retrieve the message ....

Today we are in Singida to contact you via Peter Kuchar (a botanist we met who lives here) so that you all won't worry about us.

In any event, we are sorry to have to stop communicating at such an exciting time. I assume that you did get our message about finding a mammal (probably a bat) and also the leg and claw of a bird - or something. At least it wasn't a frog. Our plant fidings are still going well too - we have several fruits, possible seeds, and will probably end up with 150 -200 dicot leaves. The diversity is not increasing by much anymore, so I think we're getting a pretty good sample.

Our total number of specimens including fish and all was 287 by yesterday night (Wednesday). We are all in great spirits and doing well.

Here are our plans: We will pack up by Saturday afternoon and leave very early Sunday AM for Tarangire Park which is right on the way to Arusha from here. We have heard the road is actually better that way than the way we came. We'll take the "good" Land Rover to the park and send the other straight on to Arusha. We made reservations today to stay at a tented camp at Tarangire near the entrance to the park on Sunday night. Monday AM we'll look for game and then in the afternoon go on to Arusha or Moshi depending on the time. On Tuesday we'll drive on the very good paved road to Dar. If we have no contact with you before then, we'll get in touch from Dar. Our plane goes on Friday evening, so between Tuesday night and Friday we must get the fossil export permit and go through customs with the fossils.

That's about it from here. Gregg can hardly sleep - over the finding of the mammal. We heard hyenas the night before last.

Best to all - talk to you from Dar if not before.
The Team in Tanzania