Spectral Gems

Spectral Gems

September 13, 2011

Our African Adventure - Part 1

I'd listened to Roger describe Tanzania and Kenya. I'd seen the pictures. Nothing prepared me. The scenery was beautiful, so untouched and rugged. The animals were incredible; not in a game park, but just out in the wild with us!


9-13 Kudu
Kudu on the side of the road

Giraffe
Giraffe sighting

 

Tsavorite

I was not prepared for the roads. Oh, did I say roads? I meant path or trail or an unending series of potholes! We went to one of the mines producing Tsavorite. The mine was four hours from the nearest town. It was get-to-able after a two hour drive through a sisal plantation. Sisal fiber is a strong fiber obtained from the leaves of agave plants used to make ropes and rugs. The sisal plantation has been in the same family since colonial times.

 

Sisal plantation
Sisal plantation

 

Tsavorite mine
Tsavorite mine

 

Tsavorite rough
Tsavorite rough

 

The roads, err potholes, were horrible. The rough is amazing; can't wait to see Roger's Tsavorite creations! He's busy at the wheel cutting for Gemstone Roundtables this fall. 

 

Regards,Like us on Facebook

 

Ginger and Roger Dery
248-545-3546
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