Mysterious Mount Cameroon

Where are you hiding, Mount Cameroon? It’s the largest mountain in West Africa, the eighth largest on the continent of Africa, rising to 4,095 metres. And it’s right here…somewhere. I know it lies between Limbe and Kumba.

While we were in Limbe, I kept looking at the hills opposite the ocean, thinking, “Surely it’s got to be right there!” but there was nothing but cloud and haze. No luck as we drove past Buea, which lies at the foot of the mountain, and is the stepping off point for the Race of Hope, a day-long marathon run up the mountain. Even from Big Bekondo it should be possible to see the mountain as it’s not that far away, but there has only been one day so far that it has been visible. I had hopes to see it up close in Limbe, but I guess better luck next time.

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It's a girl!

I awoke this morning to the sound of my phone ringing. It wasn't the first time the bells and whistles had attempted to pull me from my slumber so I knew it meant one of two things: either I'd overslept and my boss was calling to find out where I was, or the much anticipated baby had announced her intention to make an entrance. Felicitously, it was the latter. After a lightning fast labour lasting a mere 2 hours, Mai-Anh Esther made her entry into the world at 8:35 am (the preferred interval for Braun babies. Jon, Rebecca, and I were all born between 8 and 8:30 in the morning while Lien was born around 8 in the evening.) She is a hearty 9 lbs 2 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. "She's already got more hair than Lien does!" was the first comment made by both Jon and me. She's a perfectly contented, sleepy little girl who's hardly opened her eyes once, even to let mommy see them, and she had no objection to being passed from person to person all evening, nor to Li...

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