Africa Zoo

DJ and Shannon have a family pass to the zoo in Asheboro, and we decide to make a day of it and wander about together. I am not sure I will last, but figure if worse comes to worse, I can just find a shady spot and sit while they wander.

We pack their SUV and off we go into the heat of a North Carolina summer. The drive takes about an hour and a half, and soon we are pulling into a crowded parking lot. We climb out already sticky with the heat and head across a high bridge overlooking a pond teaming with gigantic snapping turtles, huge lazy fish, ducks and geese. There are food dispensing machines that explain the size of the inhabitants, but we do not stop now. After we are done gawking at the lions and elephants and giraffes we can feed the turtles.

Whoever planned this zoo was totally in tune with both animal and human needs. All the paths are swathed in shade trees and smooth to the shoe. Interspersed with the various exhibits there are vendors offering cold water, Italian ice, smoothies. Benches are scattered about in convenient locations, and here and there a small building with air conditioning inside offers a reprieve from the heat.

First we watch the giraffes and ostriches. Kelly slips a quarter in the binocular machine to get a better view. Then we meander up the path seeing all sorts of African native animals. The chimps and gorillas are entertaining, but Kelly's favorite, and I have to admit, mine too, are the pink flamingoes - 16 of them standing about on one leg preening. What vivid color! What unruffled behavior. I am mesmerized. I am also tired and sit on a bench while the kids enter the bird sanctuary.

I join them after a bit, playing a sort of "where's waldo" game as we seek to discover all the various bejeweled fowl hidden amongst trees and bushes. Cameras all about us are capturing wildlife prolifically. Finally we run out of time. The zoo is closing. After a quick trip to the gift shop (I found wild animal sticker books for the girls), we tromp back over the bridge, stopping to feed the turtles and watch them lazily navigate towards the pellets we toss.

DJ has packed a picnic dinner, and we munch happily while Katie and Kelly feed the geese who guard the parking lot. Then back home. A day well enjoyed. I got to walk with each girl for long stretches of time. What a joy to have their little hands trustingly hold on to mine, to hear their chatter as they discover the animals, to get them refreshing ices to cool them down. Man, its pure heaven. This is a trip that will last in memory for some long time. I hope the girls will remember it too, even though they are so young.