Walking4Water

Without the Land Rover, getting clean water is one of our most important tasks. But sometimes it is difficult. Here’s a week’s worth of experiences:

Day One and Day Two

- Not bad, there were pumps every 15km or so (10 miles) , we filled our two camelbaks and 2 water bottles.

Day Three

- Out. Of. Water.

Walked about 5 miles, found a bush mechanic who gave us a glass of water each.

Walked another mile. Bought a 1.5lt bottle from a small store. (BTW first COLD water we had in many, many months).

Walked remaining 5 miles to town, found a pump, with enough water to get us through to thenext morning.

Day Four

- Walked to small village. Inquired about water. Was pointed in a general direction, walked about 20 minutes before finding the pump. Walked back. Goal was to make next river by nightfall. Sucessful.

Day Five.

- Goal was to make the next two rivers, Rio Bunga and Rio Repembe.

Rio Bunga - no water.

Found small unmarked village and a pump! Filled up main water containers.

Rio Repembe- no water.

Decision point: Go forward with a chance or go back 5 miles and get more. We decided to go foward the next day and ration water.

Day Six:

Next River is River Gorgongosa, approx 20 miles away.

5:30am - I woke up already feeling like I had a hangover. Then I remembered, nope, just in the middle of Africa with only a bit of water.

And nothing, nothing, nothing we find.

8:30am - Found people, asked them for water. But was offered a sip of “trational beer” - made with too much yeast, in a diesel jug with leaves as a stopper, poured into a Coke can with the top cut off. Live ants floating on the top. You don’t refuse gifts in Africa, but it wasn’t what we really needed. Bottoms up?

10am - Two Land Riover pulled over. More like, sped past, screeched to a halt, flipped a U-turn and sped back. Yay! They had water! And also gave us apples, oranges,beef jerky, sweetened condensed milk. It was like Christmas! Glad they came becuase it would have been a rough stretch. In late afternoon we finally found a well. River Gorgongosa was also dry.

Day Seven

Now we know there is a town 8-10 miles away, so feeling okay and have water. Man pulls over in the early morning with a bottle of ice water. 2 times in one week that we got cold water! Couldn’t believe our luck! Made it to the next village fine, and now writing from a major town.

We survived!

But yea, so water is a big deal.