Cyclones are a thing!
Hello, and welcome!
Writing from the smallish (30,000) town of Lobatse, Botswana at 4:46 p.m. because it has taken me all day to figure out this thing called "blogging".
Why? I want to keep in touch in a more productive way than Facebook and because I want this blog to be exclusive, not inclusive. In other words, I want to share what's happening here on the ground with the people I love, not 400 of my closest friends. And, the cool thing about it is, you can actually comment - if you like. :)
Plan? To share some of the stories and pictures - mainly pictures - of day to day life 10,000 miles from home.
Recently, we experienced approximately 8+ days of continued rain, courtesy of Cyclone Dineo that slammed into the coast of Mozambique and moved inland into Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. You will be quite surprised as I was, I'm sure, that Cyclones are REAL! They don't just exist in Ames, Iowa--imagine! This cyclone was so intense that the rain it produced took the dam in Gaborone (the capital of Botswana) from 1% capacity to over 100%. Which is fantastic news - but we are still experiencing 1 - 3 days without water from the tap. This is quite random, there is no notice, one day you wake up and there isn't any water. First, you check it periodically from hour to hour...then you forget and leave the tap on and come home to a flooded house. It can happen! We prepare by filling containers with water so that allows us to at least cook and flush the toilet and take quick splash baths until the water flows again. The plan is to get a "jojo" which is a water tank that you pay to have filled and then - voila! - we will always have water. :) Speaking of water, though, many "experts" predict that our next war will not be over oil, etc., it will be over water. It is something that in the US we really do take for granted, each day you turn on the tap and water gushes. It's interesting to see how you must cope when that "normal" becomes a luxury.
Currently, we live in Lobatse, Botswana. Lobatse sits on the border (approximately 5 kilometers) of South Africa and is situated in a valley surrounded by some lovely hills. As Cyclone Dineo was busy creating some gorgeous storm clouds, we went to the highest place above Lobatse that is accessible via a service road leading up to the backside of our farm, and a cell phone tower, to capture the moment. Hopefully, the pictures do the storm justice. Meanwhile, the rain has abated at least temporarily, the clouds are still here hovering but not delivering. The rainy season ends in March, then our winter will slowly begin.
Writing from the smallish (30,000) town of Lobatse, Botswana at 4:46 p.m. because it has taken me all day to figure out this thing called "blogging".
Why? I want to keep in touch in a more productive way than Facebook and because I want this blog to be exclusive, not inclusive. In other words, I want to share what's happening here on the ground with the people I love, not 400 of my closest friends. And, the cool thing about it is, you can actually comment - if you like. :)
Plan? To share some of the stories and pictures - mainly pictures - of day to day life 10,000 miles from home.
Recently, we experienced approximately 8+ days of continued rain, courtesy of Cyclone Dineo that slammed into the coast of Mozambique and moved inland into Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. You will be quite surprised as I was, I'm sure, that Cyclones are REAL! They don't just exist in Ames, Iowa--imagine! This cyclone was so intense that the rain it produced took the dam in Gaborone (the capital of Botswana) from 1% capacity to over 100%. Which is fantastic news - but we are still experiencing 1 - 3 days without water from the tap. This is quite random, there is no notice, one day you wake up and there isn't any water. First, you check it periodically from hour to hour...then you forget and leave the tap on and come home to a flooded house. It can happen! We prepare by filling containers with water so that allows us to at least cook and flush the toilet and take quick splash baths until the water flows again. The plan is to get a "jojo" which is a water tank that you pay to have filled and then - voila! - we will always have water. :) Speaking of water, though, many "experts" predict that our next war will not be over oil, etc., it will be over water. It is something that in the US we really do take for granted, each day you turn on the tap and water gushes. It's interesting to see how you must cope when that "normal" becomes a luxury.
Currently, we live in Lobatse, Botswana. Lobatse sits on the border (approximately 5 kilometers) of South Africa and is situated in a valley surrounded by some lovely hills. As Cyclone Dineo was busy creating some gorgeous storm clouds, we went to the highest place above Lobatse that is accessible via a service road leading up to the backside of our farm, and a cell phone tower, to capture the moment. Hopefully, the pictures do the storm justice. Meanwhile, the rain has abated at least temporarily, the clouds are still here hovering but not delivering. The rainy season ends in March, then our winter will slowly begin.
Thanks for sharing this, Karen!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Hopefully, it won't become dull. :)
DeleteI love having the ability to follow your adventures!
ReplyDeleteImagine the adventure when you come to visit.......:)
DeleteGood times...
ReplyDeleteGM
No "cyclones" here on L-O-Dub (Lake of the Woods) today. Just lots of ice and more ice fishing. Good news for avid hard-water anglers, and those of us in the biz.
ReplyDeleteWhat else? Gret turned 14 yesterday. I can still take her to the hoop. But that's mostly based on size deferential :) She can't keep the big guy out of the lane.
With spring coming... It doesn't appear as though I'm going to make the Catalina Wine Mixer.
But, there are plans in the works for Islamorada, FL and Charleston, SC. Fishing with S & J in The Keys... Fam trip to the coast... (most likely more fishing / hot fire)
After that, it will be back to reality. REALITY? Another summer on the island in Canada, eh!
Set the hook Bottswannawanna,
GM
What's the Catalina Wine Mixer??!! Happy birthday to Grets, can't believe she is 14, whaaatttt?! Fishing in the Keys sounds amazing. What's in Charleston? I think I would just plant myself in the Keys and enjoy the sunshine! xoxo PS - only fishing in Botswana is up north in the Chobe River! Hope to explore it soon.
DeleteVery cool! Love the idea of the blog. :-) Love you miss you!
ReplyDeleteI don't miss you. At all. KIDDING!!! Love you, miss you more.
DeleteI enjoy reading your stories of life in Botswana. We have had some crazy weather too. Tornado watch, one sighted near Walcott...in February?! It is crazy to think we've had temps in the 60s-70 already. It is Iowa after all so possible snow showers are in the forecast. I'm looking forward to sunshine and tropical weather as we head south of the border to Cozumel for spring break. Konnor and I are going to try scuba diving! We'll all do some snorkeling too.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear about schools in Botswana.
Happy Birthday!
Rhonda
Happy early birthday to you, Rhonda!!!! Nick sent me a video of the hailstorm on his porch, you're right - definitely some weird / wicked storms for February. Cozumel!!!!!!!! Let me know about the scuba diving, what you think. We have thought about it for the last five years, did a bit of snorkeling in South Padre, but would love to try scuba. Enjoy!!!
Delete