Boating / Drifting on the Great Zambezi River

On Tuesday night we went to sleep on our tents to much noise on the river – hippos.  I, Rita, thought they were just fussing at each other, via for their positions .  Steve on the other hand is convinced it is mating calls.  Whatever!  Steve and I already saw a little crocodile while walking around the camp grounds.  The kids and we were warned about crocs and poisonous snakes.  There is a three legged dog here to prove they are dangerous.

On Wednesday we woke up to a beautiful few – the river, the sun rising, and a pod of hippos out in the river.  We rented a boat with a driver and went slowly down the river.  At times the engine was turned off and we just drifted, once in a while turning it back on to fix how we were drifting.  We saw two little crocs and then a bigger one.  Then we got pretty close to the fourth croc.  He must have been sleeping.  He suddenly flipped into the river.  Steve managed to record this.

We got pretty close to several pods of hippos.  One pod was up on land and so we got to see up close what they looked like and not just a bunch of backs sticking out of the water.  That pod had little babies!!

Our driver was  looking for elephants.  We went past several places that they usually are.  Then we found five male elephants!  We just sat and  watched them for awhile.  We also saw a variety of birds.  Then we held onto our hats and speed back to camp.

Vacation

After avoiding the city for six months, we took two days to drive to Lusaka.  The first day we just enjoyed the drive.  Instead of speeding up and slowing down for pot holes we just took it slower.  I, Rita, spent the day crocheting.  It was pleasant and my nerves were still in tack.

We stayed over night at Forest Inn.  Other members on our team have stayed there and recommended it.  It was nice to not be rushed and to just relax.

On Sunday we drove the remaining three hours to Lusaka.  We unhooked the trailer and then went to lunch.  I didn’t realize I was really missing anything or hungry, but the chips (french fries) were really good.  We then went to the Sunday Market at Arcades and spent some money on crafts.

On Monday a family on our team left Zambia for their furlough in the states.  We went to the airport with them, Steve helped them with their many suitcases and we waved goodbye until we could no longer see them.  Then we also drove their vehicle back to the Guest House and handed in the keys for them.  The rest of the day and on Tuesday we did some shopping.

On Wednesday we headed for Zambezi Breezes to camp right on the Zambezi River.

Skinning a Puff Adder

Back in May after Tobias’ birthday party he went to the Schaeffer's house to stay over night.  When they had gotten home from our house one of their workers showed them a puff adder he had killed near the pig pens.

Here is Tobias holding the dead puff adder.

Here are the three boys skinning the snake with their pocket knives.

Don’t you wish you could help?

Curing  the snake skin.  They divided it three ways.  Yes, I have a snake skin somewhere in this house.

More Water Problems

About three weeks ago now in the middle of the night I heard water running.  I went and checked, it sounded like it was next to the bathtub.  Since I couldn’t find anything leaking inside I went back to bed.  Steve also heard the water running.  In the morning our guard told us the pump had been running all night.  Our reservoir was almost empty.

Our water reservoir.

We looked high and low looking for the leak.  We called in a plumber.  He said the grass looks too green and the dirt is damp here along the house.  So we started digging up the yard.

Digging up the yard, following the pipes, looking for a leak!

   

The leak is found!  A 5 inch hole – rusted through the pipe!

We called our LC (Logistics Coordinator) to get permission to spend the money to fix the pipe.  You couldn’t even see light through the pipes they are so clogged up.  So we replaced some piping.

New piping going from the reservoir to the house.

The new pipe hooked up to the old one going into the house.

 

Since then we have had the plumber back two more times to fix more leaks.  When you put in new pipe the water pressure is so much stronger that new leaks appear.  Also it works loose some of the stuff clogging the pipes only to clog up the pipe altogether.

Our Oldest Turns 14!!!

On May 8th, Tobias turned 14 years old.  He had two missionary friends stay overnight with him on Friday.  They set up the tent in the yard and carried all their stuff out.  While watching a movie in the house, it poured down rain.  One corner of the tent got soaked.  It happened to be Tobias’ corner.  So they set up our other tent in Heather’s room.  She was off at the Schaeffer’s house.  They had all girls and we had all boys at our house.

We had hamburgers, macaroni salad, his usually chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and homemade ice cream.  I think he could tell you which year he did not have this cake. 

Singing Happy Birthday!

Everyone took turns making the ice cream.

The Waterfalls near Isoka

After we drove on the roads I showed you in the last post, we parked in the middle of no where and started walking.

Steve has Abigail on his shoulders and is holding Isabel’s hand. 

This is the top of the falls.

 

Bottom of the falls.

Seth

Lane

Mill to grind maize using the waterfall instead of electric, except it needs some parts to make it work. 

Steve, Tobias, and Blake climbing around the falls.

Blake on the pipe that brings the water into the mill.  Tobias climbing around the rocks.

The Roads to the Water Falls near Isoka!

After leaving the village of Isoka, we headed to a waterfall on a blacktop road.

We turned onto a very nice dirt road, I mean Nice!

 

Then we turned onto this road.  It too was actually not too bad!

This is a road, believe it or not!

Not too sure this is a road anymore, but we are just following the vehicle in front of us.  He must know where he is going!

Stay tuned for pictures of the falls.