12/27/2000   Zebra Park and Bloemfontein   S 29°07   E 26°12   +17 Wake-up at dawn! The song of thousands of birds and a warm coffee made by Vale give us the energy to accomplish our 3rd mission - Explore. In the Mountain Zebra National Park, we climb high hills, almost like the Grand Canyon, in Arizona; at last, the great african spaces we had been waiting for! Close to us, the first baboons, then kudus ans springboks... and a big herd of zebras. On the camper's roof, Aleko is watching out for the animals movements, as Marco slows down. We approach slowly and turn the engine off. Only the warm wind separates the Team's glances from the herd of zebras, but we don't know who is the most afraid. This is the key moment of a western, with Ennio Morricone's music. Theo walks like a ghost towards the first group, that runs immediately away (1-0 for the zebras). On the second attempt, he sprints across the stones, and fails, only 10 meters from them (2-0). On his third try, Theo misses the zebras very closely...but then he collapses. Mission failed! The Team consoles itself with a handful of warm zebra sh... But, to tell the truth, the fact it's almost impossible for a man to catch a herd of zebras makes us happy. We would like to stay fo ever in this place out of time, but the Virtual People indicates us the North. We go towards Bloemfontein. In a street of Cradock, an old white hippie hails Aleko:"Hey you! Come here!". A bit surprised, our red elephant walks towards her. The old woman, who smells alcohol, looks at him badly and says:"You should go to the hairdresser, long hairs are out of fashion!". Vale: I eat some chocolate and my desires fly away Theo: If one of the planets of the solar system had to be the Paradise, it would be the Earth! Road notes: 18th day - 1902 Km - 5 fills of diesel (3 rands per litre x 100 litres x 5 = 1500 rands) - 3 regions crossed: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State - 7 hitch-hikers - animals crushed : 1 bird, numerous flies - more than 15 hours of music, song the most listened: 'Lady', from Modjo 8 parcs crossed - 0 fines - average speed 84 km/h. We will go on to the North. You won't find any Journal but we will write on the FORUM (now on-line in the Community section). Write your questions and comments, we will sharethem  with the other Nomads spread on the Planet. Guide our next steps,insert contacts & info on