River coming Down

[Skinny]

On my way to work this morning the mighty Orange is now coming down in a slow "flood". The Fish river is in full flood, the Gariep is also in full flood and the sluice gates of the Mariental Dam were opened on Friday so that water hit Ai-Ais today so expect that water to be with us by tomorrow or Wednesday. I think it is going to be a big on as the water is very close to the road in some place already. Maybe I am going to get a holiday for a few days. The bridge at Ausenkeer washed away last night so water water ever where........ time to drink lots and lots of  or better still tea.

[Sheena]

With the amount of rain we have had here it is no wonder.  It has rained every day since the 2nd Feb.  I am enjoying every minute of the rain!!!

[SandyB]

Such good news  Kaye .. as you said previously the river was drying up ... so now  water to keep the town green ...

[Bertie Horak]

Really good news.  It was always exciting when the river rose.  Oh boy, did that river supply loads of fun for us kids! Fishing, swimming, building rafts, clay for "klei-latte", watching the birds and animals around it, and the smell of the Orange - still able to recall the smell from memory. 

[Skinny]

Sorry the dreaded shake rattle and rolls back..... But back to land of the living. River is bigger and redder and fatter and rolloung down the valleys like a gigantic snake. Quite fasinating to see. Glad to see that there is water again and they opened more sluice gates this morning as there are 500 cubic meters of water per second flowing down the fish, and 100 cubics per second flowing into the mariental dam which is 71.3 % full so they are now releasing 100 cubics per second out, so waiting for the next influx to come. So those who enjoy fishing the barbels will be out in full force. Yes Bertie lots of clay as well and the flamingos will be getting pinker and the sea redder, and great drift wood to collect for my garden.

[Adriaan Van Rooyen]

Found any blue bulls floating by?

[Skinny]

Plenty and the sharks are circling and waiting to tear them to pieces AGAIN!!!!!!

[Skinny]

The river has risen at least four foot since Friday and now only a couple of foot from the road. The water from The Hardap Dam has not reached us yet. Will try to get some photos on my way home tomorrow. It is amazing to see. The width of the river has gone from about 400m in some parts to about a 700m and trees are already covered and little islands gone. The water is not rageing but coming down in a steady slow rolling stream.

Mike please go down to the mouth and see what it looks like on that side.
Thanks

[SandyB]

Such good news .. I was up in gauteng yesterday and today on business trip .. and yes I dread going up  to that dustbowl .. depressing  brown  grasslands  ... yes feeling nice and fresh and green there  as a result of the good summer  rains they had .. but  i ask the burning question .. I see so many new developments  .. not one  roof  on any of these new buildngs  has gutters... They do go through  dry periods ..  so why not  encourage rainwater harvesting ??  one or  two  or  maybe 3  depending on  size of property   1 kiloliter tanks  can go a  long way to saving water that would just runaway .?? I have done it ..   not yet to  3 + kilolitre capacity but   will tackle when  energy is there ... also  further  all these  new developments  ..  i see  so few  solar  geysers ,, Oh sure  they got solar for the pool  Huh ??  there is a power crisis and every solar geyser fitted  cuts down on  consumption  relievong the grid and allowing  industry to run  smoother ... especially up there where theres tons of sun ???

[Michael Alexander]

So I popped down to the River on Tuesday, took the following snaps.... everything has turned brown, but the big water has still got to get to us..... lots of driftwood lying about..... check out the egg I found.... about twice the size of a jumbo size chicken egg....

will pop down again 2morrow....

[Michael Alexander]

.

[SandyB]

Nice pics ...

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Brai wood ???? Looks like eucalyptus ????

[Skinny]

 
Well the river is running like a train. The Naute dam water is now added to the Fish and Hardup?Hardap so expect the river to start rising even more. It looks quite spectacular in some places. Alot of the little island have disappeared I just hope that there are no Gemsbok caught on the islands that are left. However am sure that the little red helicopter will keep its beady little eyes out for them! Lots and Lots of Ostriches on the Sendlingsdrift road at the moment and a few arseholes who think they can drive at any speed especially when they have never driven on the road before, so those of you who are driving on the road at the moment please becarefull. Watch out for a green sorento 4x4  registration BTG511NC. He got a few choice words from me the way he was driving. Idiot.

[Gregg]

More pics would be appreciated.....