A very long walk & Encouragement to save water in South Africa
If you have read one of my previous posts or know me quite well, you would know that walking 6 km is not exactly how I do things around here. I enjoy running, I'm not exactly a walker (lol walking dead). However, on this night, I had a nagging pain inside my upper left ribs somewhere. I just couldn't kept running. And it wouldn't go away! So a walk it was. And quite a beautiful one.
I enjoy driving to the dam close to us (usually with a friend @chopelina) and running around it a few times. One lap around is about 3 km, almost 2 miles. It's a nice distance, especially if you're a beginner, to do one lap. At the moment I'm doing 2 laps a few times a week.
The route has several different parts. At some points it's a one-man path, and at others the path is wide enough for a car. There's even a little bridge, a small stream to cross on rocks, and some steps.
It was a pretty nice walk. Good company usually makes a mundane activity much less mundane. I hope to do a 5 km today without much walking. Let's see how it goes. If there's a nice sunset I'll snap some pictures for you couch potatoes ;) I kid. I don't think something like a lazy Steemit user exists. You guys are awesome.
Unfortunately, the Western Cape is experiencing a monster of a drought at the moment. This dam ALWAYS has water. It's completely barren. It used to have a fish population as well as some flamingo's. With this post I would also like to raise awareness to this matter we're facing. I read somewhere (this might only be half true, but check it out yourself) that Cape Town might be the first major city to completely run out of fresh water.
On Monday, 22 January, these clouds just kept looming over the Helderberg basin. It might have drizzled at some places. Luckily, several spots in the Western Cape had sheets of rain pouring down as well as some huge hail stones (according to @chr7is who happened to be in Caledon). Let's hope for some more soon. Our day zero is approaching, only 74 days left...
So, just to be THAT person. Some water saving tips:
- Have a bucket in your shower for up to 4 flushes per day (if 2 people shower).
- It's lonely in the shower, bring a friend if you can ;) still keeping shower time to 90 seconds!
- Buy drinking water. I don't know if there's any truth to the stomach problems being caused by the bottom 'sludge water' coming through our taps. My common sense tells me the water is still being treated either way. Even if you're happy with consuming tap water, rather use bottled. It saves up to 4 liters a day (including cooking water) per person. We fill up 5 liter bottles for R 6 each (about half dollar) at a shop.
- Use paper plates, use less dish water, and try to gather gray water if you have accessible drain pipes. Even more toilet flushing water to your disposal.
- This is gross, but 12 April is around the corner. If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down.
That's my brain wave of the day. I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the post meant something to you. Have a awesome week. To more running, and to avoiding day zero Cape Towniens! :) *clink
The water shortage in Cape Town is a serious matter that a lot of people don't acknowledge.
Posts like these are a great way to raise even more awareness of the matter.
Thanks for sharing this, a lot of people NEED to read this.
Thanks for the awesome comment.
We are thinking about how you are battling and lived with drought conditions here in Durban. Know exactly what you are saying, water is precious, worth more than all the money in the world, without it we are really kaput (finished).
Beautiful scenery love the Cape photography @xramonahx
Thank you Joan! Happy to hear you feel the same.
We have the drought situation in California as well. You know what I mean, I believe. When it finally does rain, the brush growth explodes. But by next fall it is all dried and ready to burn at the slightest spark. Not good. It's sad seeing the water dry up in the lakes. Two people showers doesn't sound bad. The wife and I already practice that one. :)
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Good post, peopple need to be aware of whats happening, I wrote an article about the ramifications of Day 0 if you wanna check it out.
Will do! :)
Thanx for the water saving tips!
The views look amazing btw ;)
A beautiful #walkwithme, I hope you are back to running soon. I'm really sorry hearing about the drought there :( :(
Thank you for the lovely comment Lyndsay 😊 your posts look awesome. Giving you a follow! x
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