Proof!

Our efforts with the pool have paid off.  And we've been in the water a few times the past week and weekends.  However the rainy season is gearing up, so it is a fight between having enough solar radiation to warm the water, enough chlorine to temper the algae growth, time for the pool robot to clean the bottom and rainfall!

But, here we are enjoying the water and sunshine on Saturday.

This and That

The latest emerging insect seems to be moths.  These range in size from about 1/4" across the wingspan to about 2" across.  Each morning, outside the kitchen and under the security light the wall is covered.  This photo was taken about 4 days ago.

Other than being annoying, dead moths also attract the ants!  Nature's clean-up crew is always ready to haul away the debris.  Not so bad, unless of course, the moths fall in the house!  Fortunately our housekeeper is diligent about keeping the floors clean and we've been spared any ants coming in (so far).  Josephine also needed extra money for her daughters' tuition (school is not free here).  Rather than give a loan (which only increases poverty) she offered to come in 1 1/2 hours earlier than usual and keep the backyard cleaned.

The other insects that never really go away are mosquitos.  I never thought I'd welcome insect spray inside our home.  Living here makes spraying a daily necessity.  Each night, right after the sun goes down we spray all the curtains.  Then about 1 hour prior to bedtime we switch to the "low odor" spray, and do it again.  That, along with our Peaceful Sleep plug-ins usually keeps us mosquito free at night.   And sometimes not.  This morning there was one pesky one buzzing around our ears, and I found two fresh bites on my face.

Our nighttime guard has been bailing out the water since Tuesday and should be done by tomorrow.  He stays about 2 hours after his shift.  The pool is almost ready to scrape and refill!  That should help abate our mosquito population, and hopefully provide a nice respite from the heat in the afternoons.

We are still working on getting outside mosquito repellants made, using wine bottles, torch oil and citronella oil ..

Never ending, but when I look out on the back yard, if I remembered to spray under the desk where I write, the view is beautiful.

Getting the Rain Gauge Ready

Actually, we had been given hope through out June, July and August that we would have a swimming pool to enjoy when the weather turned from cold to hot.  Unfortunately, we were snookered by the famous Zambian custom of giving hope (false hope, that is.)

After all the effort to get the pool emptied, scrubbed cleaned and refilled it was discovered that not only was the pump out of order, there wasn't even electricity to the pool. (in June)

The result is more loosed ceiling access inside the house, filthy foot and hand prints on those access areas, electricity restored to the pool, and a new pump.  (in August)

Then the waiting game began.  Final verdict .. we aren't high enough up on the feeding chain to "deserve" pool maintenance.  And so, in the meantime the organics blowing into the pool continued to accumulate.  (first of September)

Mary and I were back in the US, and because Tom's work schedule is long days, and very little time off on the weekends, there was nobody to keep it cleaned, nor to direct domestic help to do so.

And so, returning to find out KCM would not take care of it, and after turning down the generous offer from the local pool company to take care of it (generous only to them, btw) we opted to try to treat the water ourselves.

The "pool maid" cleaner was pulling up a lot, but the water was so murky we did not realize how much had actually settled on the bottom.  Tom made the executive decision that if we wanted any chance to get it ready we would need to drain the pool.

So, we reversed the pump, which managed to pull out only 12" of depth.  Then the undersized pump could overcome the head required, and we went switched to siphoning with garden hoses.  They are now at the maximum.  Next step is to pay our night guard to get it bailed out, and the organics scooped.

Then, time to refill with city water, and learn how to get the water safe to swim in.  Less than 50 days until Mary and I return to the States.  Maybe we'll get in a few weekends of swimming, or maybe not.  There isn't much to keep us occupied here beyond school work.

I used to say our years in Austin, Nevada served as purgatory.  Was I ever wrong.

Kapishya Visit - Monday Afternoon Rafting

We enjoyed lunch, poolside, rested a bit then took a ride up to a bridge for a raft trip back down to the Lodge.  African humor, but the children we saw swimming loved having the hippo and croc heads to hold onto.

 Believe it or not, this is the "bridge" we launched from, somewhere beyond the tall grass in the foreground.

On the raft, beginning our intrepid float downstream.  Will there be crocs?

Tom mans one of the oars, our guide manned the other.

Mary, ready for another adventure.

So far, fairly tame .. still looking for crocs.

Oh, no, even more calm water!  Paddling time.

Oh, a bit of turbulence (which is a real stretch on the meaning of the word.)

Reedy areas, in little calm ponds nearby.

And water lilies, prime croc territory, no? "No."

Rocks were rather abundant along the way, this one quite large.  Just a little push with the oar and we missed hitting it.

Surely, here is where a croc would be, right?  "No, boss."

This part turned out to actually be tricky to maneuver through.  We turned around and started to float backwards.

Still no crocs.  We were beginning to suspect we were back in Disney World.




Rather odd tree I missed when we were going down the right way.  Caught it while going backwards, then they got the raft turned right.

Crocs?  "No, (what are they asking about crocs for?)"

Looking down in the water.  Sunlight reflection makes it appear murky in the photo, but the water was clear, and plenty of algae type moss on the rocks.  We spotted a few small fish swimming, but no crocs.

More branches to dodge and duck under, and the water picked up a bit more steam.

But, short lived.  Back to calm waters.  Smoke in the background from burning brush (and trees when it got too hot.)

And finally back to our chalet.

Guess we'll have to content with the croc in the swimming pool.

We changed into swim suits and headed to the hot spring for one final soak.  Tom and I enjoyed nice gin and tonics (strictly medicinal, of course) and Mary a lemonade.

Another special part of the Lodge is the Spa that Mark built.  He has 4 local women who are trained to give massages and pedicures.  Tom and I opted for a relaxing back, shoulder and neck massage .. nice way to end our day!