To accept the things we cannot change

So, we woke up in the city of Maun and went back to the airport and the maintenance bay, where they of course had started to recognise us. Unfortunately they found out that the issue was more severe than expected. They needed a new cable and that specific one wasn't possible to get hold of until 3-7 weeks. However, they had a plan. If I, as the co-pilot, just reached out under the dashboard and fiddled with the cables, we could adjust the wing flaps during flight. I was quite resistant. And so was the pilot (but maybe for more air-dynamic reasons). So, we said no to that, booked a commercial flight back to the delta and decided to give this whole situation a think. It was strange to leave the plane behind. That small little cabin that had started to feel like home.

“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” 

And, as shown here, we had lovely days in the delta. Two nights later we were ready to go back and pick up the plane (and fly without the flaps) to continue to Mashatu for our last stay. We were anxious about both the plane and the weather and we wanted to leave as early as possible to have the time on our side. But the commercial flight came later than expected and took another route. It was dropping passengers off at another place and when we finally reached our destination, we realised that one of our hand luggages was missing. We blamed the staff, who said it was our responsibility. However, we were told to leave the hand luggage at the back of the plane and someone off loaded it, while we weren't aloud to leave the aircraft. Clearly, we were quite upset... They tried to locate the bag, but continued to refer to our  own responsibility.

“But the conceited man did not hear him. Conceited people never hear anything but praise.” 

The airline eventually located the bag, but couldn't bring it until it was too late to leave for our destination. So, again we were stuck in the city of Maun, unbelievably disappointed. We had tried our best to change plans, adjust to all the new circumstances that appeared and make adult and responsible decisions. However, it seemed like it didn't matter how prepared we were. Bizarre things were happening, over and over again no matter what we did. We went back to the same hotel as earlier with a strange sense of being stuck in a time loop. We planned to leave for the next destination the day after, however resentfully realising one can never take anything for granted. 

“No one is ever satisfied where he is.”

And we left early, one day delayed. Picked the plane up, said good bye to all the people that had helped us so much and left for Mashatu. With unnecessarily strong headwinds and sights of elephants and zebras from the air we landed in Mashatu 45 minutes late, but safe and happy. We had somewhat regained our confidence the last days of challenges had taken from us.  

Quotes from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
All the posts about Flying Souther Africa as the little prince.