Previously published June 16, 2016. But a friend was asking how we got started and I thought it was good to go back and share the story again. Starting a long journey always begins with a first step. Sir Winslow would never have gone anywhere without beginning with careful planning.  I know he had help from his colleagues at Oxford, his connections with the Home Office, and people he had met on previous travels. Our family is leaving next week to head out west, and I think planning a trip 100 years later has got to be so much easier....

The zoo at Windy Willows was full of strange and exotic beasts. Sir Winslow had taken care to ensure that each one felt comfortable in their new surroundings. He had the help of his family and staff to make sure every animal was well looked after. The children each had found a favorite creature when they were young and dedicated all of their spare time to feeding, grooming, and playing with them. If you want to learn more about each of Sir Winslow’s children and his lovely wife, Lady Suzanne, please subscribe to our newsletter. It’s fun and we won’t...

The pond at Windy Willows had green frogs, wonderful, friendly, hop on your lap frogs. Now some people would say, “NO THANKS!” but Sir Winslow's children loved to take their fishing poles and head down to the pond for a lazy summer afternoon. It was the best! Cook packed a picnic lunch for them this particular day, the fishing gear had been rounded up, worms dug, and galoshes for each of them. There might have even been a pal or two from the village along for this excursion. Lady Suzanne promised to check on the children later in the afternoon...

During his stay in India where he was studying the Bengal tiger and counting their stripes, Sir Winslow came to know many other creatures. One of these animals was the peacock. On the edge of the jungle where the base camp was set, a flock of peacocks had been pecking in the brush. Their iridescent feathers glistened in the sunlight and it was impossible to not be mesmerized by the sight. However, during the night, it was a rather noisy neighbor. It has a horrible “CAW CAKKKKKKK” that kept the explorers awake for hours. Sir Winslow knew that something had...