The mountains were crying rivers of tears.

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Now to understand this post, you will have to watch the short video included in the post.
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We came out as soon as the rain stopped, as I had a feeling that we should come and have a look at the river.

There were wide areas covered in water pools after the rain and a few of nature's residents also came out to inspect the areas. So we stopped at a few places on the way and oh yes, the river was running very strong. I have gathered a few photos in this post to show you some of the beauties that we saw on the way.
Come and see.

This wet Pied Crow did not look very happy :)
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An Egyptian goose was also scouting around and it's amazing how they know not to swim in the strong river water at the back.
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A little squirrel also made a quick appearance.
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The river ran wide and very fast in some places.
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Then we went along to have a look at a farm and it seemed that this Nguni cow and her two egret bodyguards were unperturbed by the rain.
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The sun was trying to light up that valley in the mountain range.
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Soon all was clearing again and it looked like a typical summer's day.
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But on the way back home the clouds were reminding us that they were in charge of the day.
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Lovely sights indeed and no people around so soon after the rain, so we had it all to ourselves. Sadly, there are some serious floods far away inland and they have opened all the sluice gates of a big dam again as the dam was overflowing. When they open those gates all of the houses below the dam get flooded and we were trapped in one of those floods some years ago.
The two major rivers, Vaal and the Orange rivers are both in flood, bursting their banks and swallowing everything downstream that's in their way. Trees are uprooted and bridges are simply washed away. Such is the power of flooding waters and it is very scary.
Thankfully down here by us they have built storm water channels that guide the flood waters into the sea and minimal damages are caused.
Such is life in the storms.

I hope that you have enjoyed the story and the pictures.

And That's All Friends.

Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting a post on behalf of @papilloncharity

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102 comments
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Inland flooding has taken a heavy toll on infrastructure once again, have not heard any loss of life thankfully.

Enjoyed seeing strength of water coming through it washes everything bringing good top soil into valleys where streams never flow this strong.

!LUV
!PIZZA

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There were some drownings that I saw in today's newspaper and yes, it is bad inland. Many houses lost below the Barrage as they opened the Vaal Dam's sluice gates.

Just such a pity that all of that water runs into the ocean. By now they should have built a large dam to hold most of the water, especially as this is a water scarce province.

!PIZZA
!LUV

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Vaal opened sluice gates in 1978 if I remember all 60 region beneath was flooded, people warned not to build too close to the river, dam has to open sluice gates from time to time....

More dams would be helpful if deep not wide, evaporation is a problem, Port Elizabeth region still in drought with empty dams, underground piping should have been placed to feed that region a long time ago.

!PIZZA
!WINEX

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This was in Jan 2011, below the Vaal, when we had to move out urgently at 3 am the next morning. The entire first floor was flooded.

And later the water streamed in at the surface of where Marian was standing. 16 of the dam's flood gates were opened.

So no, people have not learned to build further away from the river banks and severe damages were caused. I almost got into trouble in my canoe on that water.

Deep is certainly the way to go and a pity that they did not deepen the main feed dam of this are when it was almost empty. PE is in deep trouble all because of no planning for these occasions.

!BEER

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These rains the water has distributed down East and West, dams are full everywhere except Eastern Cape by what I have seen so far. Bloemhof opening sluices at 3pm today so more flooding anticipated.

Our beaches are strewn with plastic washed down once again from inland, cleaning operations being arranged as municipality workers no longer appear!

!LUV
!PIZZA

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Seems that there are many floods now inland and we had our first on Monday for about 4 hours. Sadly not in the dam catchment areas and people are worried. Bloemhof dam can also create much damages.
Sis, I am disgusted by the fondness of littering in this country. We have some 700,000 graduates sitting at home and surely some of them can be employed to teach people about the effects of littering?
I wonder what your municipality workers are doing?

!PIZZA and !LUV

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Each town arranges groups of citizens to clean and clear, municipality workers sleep under the trees more than doing any physical work of actually cleaning.

ANC control Ethekweni (greater Durban), our municipality is DA who are ignored when putting in requests. ANC run municipality where Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital is situated, our municipality arranged water to them, how can anyone expect a hospital to run without water?

Youth could be absorbed into many fields if given a chance, many are willing to work.

!WINEX
!LOLZ

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And of course, no one around to watch the municipality workers. Thankfully we also have groups of volunteers around that do great work. Especially the beach cleaners and the friends of the river.

Situations like that between the political parties all over this country. But I think with the elections in 2024, the ANC is going to pull a ribbit out of the hat with an instant fix of the loadshedding. Stories abound about buying Russian gas, the Karpowership contract and Nuclear. Much money again to disappear.

Oh yes, the youth are desperate for jobs and maybe some big opportunities will come their way, but one can only hope.

!LOLZ
!WINEX

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Need to quietly teach people to think long and hard, vote when time comes, try rebuild there is no quick fix.

Watched Moeletsi Mbeki Interview always found him a forward thinking person.

!BEER

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It is certainly going to be a long road to build this country back up from the ashes.
I will try to watch the link if the data will allow and thank you.

!PIZZA as I don't know if I have any !BEER left.

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ANC said they would do this, well now they have accomplished what they set out to do, now to get rid of the trash, set up a government that does work for the people. If we can rid ourselves of sheeple, this country could grow positively under the right leaders.

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The problem is that there are not many true and ethical leaders to be found. Most everyone is on the take and those that are not don't have the courage to rock the boat by standing up against it. As soon as anyone make a fuss, they are ether character assassinated, fired, or killed.

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Traditional leaders, tribal leaders, politicians all have their hands out or in the cookie jar, minimal workforce able to keep them going, much needs to change!

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So right and a shocking article about the about the cartels that operate in Eskom was posted by Daily Maverick today. A real eye opener.

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Speculation about events has been going on for a long time, about time something is done about the matter now.

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Big trouble ahead and it's going to be interesting to see how they cover all of this up. Which they will undoubtedly try to do.

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Under the carpet, I doubt there is much place left!

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97 Mansions have many carpets to hide things under. And then they also have many couches to stuff things in.

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!LOLZ with the lights on! Security guards at every door and window as well 🙃

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(Edited)

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Ahah, a goose and a squirrel, a funny shot. In life, two different animals can be friends, for example, a cat and a dog.

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Glad that you liked the shot and yes, different animals can indeed get on well together. A friend of mine had a dog that allowed baby kittens to drink on her after the kittens mother died.
!BEER

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I remember living in Nature one most common thing after heavy rainfall is seeing water flood like that in video... River makes it own way through the mountains and people build their houses away from these locations to avoid damage.

Well, when this flooding ends the whole landscape or soil shines like born again... You're lucky to experience something this natural.. Awesome Shots and those landscapes is truly breathtaking! Felt fresh after reading this. Positive Vibes here like always.

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I wish that they will do the same in our country, but many people build their houses on the banks. So when the river floods, the water simply destroys the houses. I know floods well, as we were once trapped in one. That's why I decided to go and have a look at the river.
Glad that you enjoyed the post!
!PIZZA

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I wish so... Last year our country had a terrible Flood that floated whole villages more like worst flood in history... It hurts to see natural disasters ruining people life and happening more often now.

Glad you went there to look. Have a Great day.

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Sorry about last year and yes, the floods are getting worse all over the world. They say that global warming is the cause and that we can expect worse disasters.

Thank you and may your day also be good.

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I hope people will realize and take initiative for increasing global warming issue.

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The more that we talk about it in our posts, hopefully then more people will also start to talk about the global warning issues.

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There are pros and cons of the rain, depending on where we're standing. Such is, indeed, life.

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So true and one can either stand in wonder, or in tears, as such is life indeed.

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Beautiful photos indeed, my friend, I love the crow looking at you because you didn't ask her before you took the photo 😉 !LOLZ and I love the photos of the mountains and the clouds 😊

Of course I am sad that many people have lost their homes again, but I'm glad that you live where you live where they have built water channels to avoid bigger damages caused by floods.

!invest_vote

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Good evening Hannes,

I am just in after a 4 hour power cut and rather that I do as much as I can now, as tomorrow is going to be worse.

That crow really looked a bit miserable 🤣 !LOLZ and I am glad that you liked the clouds and the mountains 😉

We are also praying for the people as it always sad to lose everything that they own in a flood, or a fire.
Thankfully the people in this town created the storm water channels after the town was flooded a few times in the past.

Cheers and thanks.

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Good evening Zac,

you're most welcome, my friend, and may your prayers come true 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good afternoon Hannes,

Our second power cut for the day, 8am to 12 noon is now complete and 2 more to come.
Thank you for the great wishes 🙏

Cheers and thanks.

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Good evening Zac,

I'm a bit earlier online today because my bed is already calling 😂😴 !LOLZ

You're most welcome, my friend 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good evening Hannes,

Only now back from the power cuts and another 10 hours lost today.
I hope that you had a lovely long peaceful sleep 😊 !LOLZ

Cheers and thanks.

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Good morning Zac,

I'm replying today from the office because I have come home much too late yesterday and at the moment I have some time in the office.
I might not be online again till Monday because tomorrow morning we'll leave to Lower Austria, where our daughter and also our niece live, and we'll spend the weekend there.

You may be sure that my sleep was fine and long enough 🤣 !LOLZ

Hope your pains have eased down and you'll have an awesome weekend, my friend 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good evening Hannes,

I am replying so late because we had yet another power cut.

Well then my friend you go out there and have some fun with your family, as you know that I want only the best for you.

That's great to hear and now you are charged up for the weekend 🤣 !LOLZ

I hope so, as the called earlier tonight to tell me that he is sending a prescription for the nerve relaxing pills to the chemist. So we popped out to the chemist to pick the pills up and those things make me to have deep sleeps with no pain. Last night I was awake every two hours.

Cheers and thanks.

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Good morning Zac,

I am happy to hear that you got new pills and hope they work fine without side effects.
Hope you're feeling better by now anyway.

We have had a wonderful but exhausting weekend. This week started busy and I didn't have time for going online or on the Hive. At home I was just too tired to turn the computer on. So this is a very late response and I hope that this afternoon I will find the mood to turn the computer on to do the other replies and have a look through the few photos I made on Sunday morning 😅 !LOLZ

Wishing you an awesome day my friend 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good afternoon Hannes,

Thank you and yes, this was my first morning today to wake up without any cramps in my leg 🤞

It seems that you have had a very active time and even mountain goats have to rest at times. Even if it is that you can rest at work, so much work can make you old before your time. So my advice is for you to take it easy for the rest of the year now. Balance is important in life and you have to create a fine balance between sleeping at home and sleeping at work 🤣🤣🤣 !LOLZ

Wishing you also a great day my friend 😀

Cheers and thanks.

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Good morning Zac,

after 12 hours at work yesterday, I haven't been in the mood to go online, so I'm sorry for another early morning reply. You're probably still sleeping painless and dreaming sweet dreams, I hope 😴

I'm quickly replying here at work before I have to prepare for my first meeting this day ... work has become very complicated since the beginning of this year, very complicated, and there's no time for sleeping at the moment 😅 !LOLZ

It sounds great that you're feeling better and I hope to hear such great news every day, my friend 😊

It's gray and rainy here and from time to time a snow flake can be seen ... I'm looking forward to the spring 😀

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good afternoon Hannes,

I was indeed still sleeping 11 hours ago, as the pills are starting to work, and I also got a new tube of gel called Traumeel to massage into the sore leg muscles. Still a dull throb, but I will get it right.
You are working long hours again and I am sorry to see that your work has now become extra complicated. I can sense that the complications are interfering with your sleeping time at work 😉 !LOLZ

You gave me so much !BEER that I can now open up a bottle store 🤣🤣🤣

Still the iron issue to sort out, but thank you, as the leg is starting to feel better.

Sounds promising and new life will soon be all around you in nature 👌

Cheers and thanks.

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Good morning Zac,

it's a rainy morning here and in a couple of minutes we'll drive to work ... no sleeping at work anymore, but I hope that better times will come 🤣 !LOLZ

And I hope that tomorrow I will have enough time for the Hive.
I didn't have time to reply, so I sent you beer to calm you down 😉

The name of the gel sounds familiar to me. Maybe they have it here too. I am glad that it helps. I completely forgot about the iron issue and the little man who wants to discover your inside with a camera. Hopefully this will be successfully done soon too.

Wishing you a happy Friday my friend ☺️

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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The image of the mountain is absolutely stunning Zac, just wow! What a wonderful world we live in.
If only people open their eyes and see the beauty, but also start respecting nature.
Gosh, it sounds like there has been a lot of rain there!
Thank you for sharing the stunning Cape with us.

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Thank you Lady Lizzie and yes, so many have no regard for nature. Tonight we went to the chemist and while my wife collected the medicine I was waiting outside. A car pulled out of a parking space and they must have been eating some take-aways inside the car, and then they simply dumped the empty bottles and packets in the parking space. They don't realize that their litter could end up in a stormwater drain that leads into the river. I saw it too late to stop the guy.
A sad reply I know, but everyone has to start waking up about littering and the damages that it causes in nature.

!PIZZA

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We've even seen people throwing takeaway containers out their car windows on the freeway, absolutely disrespectful!
Our municipality hardly ever clean our verges, so we keep ours clean and when walking down the road, pick up litter. Some residents refuse to do this, as they say, it's the function of the municipality! We live in a cul-de-sac, and there are three households that take pride in keeping the verges clean. The back boundary of the school is across the road, so the 3 of us get our gardener to clean up a large section of the road.
A sad response from me as well.

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Oh yes and I make them know that they have been seen with my hooter.
Whenever one travels down a suburban road, one can see who the neat and responsible are by simply looking at the areas in front of the houses. Some are clean with lovely succulents and flowers at the front and others are overgrown and trashy. It says a lot about the homeowners. We are lucky as a part of our levy pays for a garden service and they keep the public areas spic and span in the road.
Lazy people will always find an excuse, but you guys can certainly be proud of yourselves by keeping your areas clean. A great example that you set for others.
In life we will win at times and we will lose at times, but we simply have to stick to our core of decency, as at the end we will emerge as winners.

!PIZZA and !LUV

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