Of course, right before going on a long 11–day trip something happens...
Click in center to view 16 second video:
Sure enough on July 8, we had severe weather with quite a downpour and of course ALL our bridges + pond + greenhouse flooded...
It broke my heart to see Pieter's hard work partly being destroyed!
Wearing my rubber clogs, I went outside and look at the center bridge's first pole being whacked out!
Debris all over the bridge...
The force of water is strong.
Lots of sand also comes in the roaring stream; from elsewhere of course.
Here you can see how it got whacked out.
Also the soil below the start of the bridge got washed away...
The debris is hanging in the shrubs...
This is the final bridge, our third one... There was even more debris that whacked agains it full force.
So much sand left behind on the lawn.
Zooming in to all that wood and debris from whatever and wherever...
When I walked over to the greenhouse, there was water inside as well!
Our pond is constantly being fed by an underground spring and there is an overflow by means of a drain pipe that leads excessive water away to the creek.
But now it all got flooded and Pieter had to poke the pipe open, as it got clogged up from debris, like leaves.
Did walk closer to our first bridge, near the road.
An entire pole rammed into it.
Our Moonflower Ipomoea alba was happy with all that excessive rain!
Of course, Pieter managed to repair the bridges once more, just before we departed on July 16.
While we were gone, we had again some damage to the center bridge due to yet again severe rain!
Related links:
NOW or NEVER — Travel WEST with us | previous post by me about our 11–day journey
Building a Bridge in Two Days | previous post by me about how it all started
{IMPACT and AFTERMATH of TROPICAL THUNDERSTORMS} | previous post by me with short videos for getting an idea how severe it looks...
What a terrible disaster. So sorry to hear about all your hard work destroyed. Praise God no one got hurt.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteOne cannot win from Mother Nature and just when we thought all the upkeep is done and we're fine for years to come it gets all whacked out...
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh, gosh, that's discouraging. Mother Nature is powerful indeed, but it's a shame to see the damage after all Pieter's hard work. And then to have more damage after the repair...! If it were me, I'd want to give up. Fingers crossed that no more damage occurs.
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteOh, it has been like this now for 25 years... It seems we can't win but so far we've never given up. I sure would not be able to do it!
Hugs,
Mariette
Che disastro Mariette!Mi dispiace tanto.
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteTante volte così...
Abbracci,
Mariette
Oh no!!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteOh yes, mean Mother Nature did it AGAIN! And that right before our long trip out West...
Hugs,
Mariette
Los excesos son malos. Por mi tierra hay ahora escasez de agua, debido a que este invierno apenas ha llovido y las inundaciones son devastadoras....el mundo está muy mal repartido.
ReplyDeleteFeliz semana. Besos.
Querida Antónia,
DeleteEl papá de Pieter siempre decía, es con dinero al igual que con agua. Hay mucho pero la distribución es pobre...
Abrazos,
Mariette
Oh no! All that work, too that your Pieter put into that. So discouraging. I’m so sorry that happened to your property.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debby,
DeleteYes, and that right before we left for our 11–day trip and it got damaged AGAIN while we were out west. It hardens you and teaches you all about perseverance!
Hugs,
Mariette
Bloody hell that isn't good so much damage Mother nature can be a right bitch at times
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteNo, that is nothing to applaud and Mother Nature is stubbornly mean...
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh, what a travesty! Pieter had done such a wonderful job initially, and I know he must be heartbroken to see the damage. Glad he could do something to repair most of the chaos. All this reminds us of the overwhelming obstacles nature can throw at us when we least expect it. That's when faith certainly kicks in!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
DeleteIt was almost too good to be true... But yes, before we left on our 11–day journey, Pieter had repaired it and while we were on the road, again some damage due to heavy rain.
Nature is indomitable and indeed, with good faith we kind of pick ourselves back up and go on.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh no! All that hard work! Glad that no one was hurt though.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature can be pretty mean.
Hugs and blessings, dearest Mariette.
Dearest Veronica,
DeleteIt is sad to see the fruits of your labor being attacked in such a way...
Hugs,
Mariette
That's sad to see so much destruction due to heavy rains. It seems some parts of the globe are suffering with lots of damage from heavy rains and other parts of the globe are in severe drought.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sami,
DeleteYes, it is very sad and we certainly have had our share of rains.
Can't get over the fact that our 11–day road trip was so perfectly sunny throughout all 16 states.
Water is like money, there is a poor distribution of it throughout this world!
Hugs,
Mariette
Wished I Lived Down The Street - What A Mess - But The Future Is So Bright
ReplyDeleteStay Strong,
Cheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteThank you and we both have always survived such attacks. We NEVER give up—NEVER!
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh no, no, no, no! The repairs must have been difficult. Give Pieter hugs from Helen. Lots of them.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteWell, this is one of many times but this was bitter–sweet after just having redone them with pride.
Pieter says, thanks for the hugs—much needed after such setbacks!
Hugs,
Pieter & Mariette
Oh, my God, so much destruction. And right before your travel. :(
ReplyDeleteIt's always hard to see so much hard work destroyed in a mater of minutes or hours and I'm glad you were able to fix everything, before heading out on your trip.
I hope this Winter doesn't bring more floods. Like you said, water has much strenght and can destroy everything in it's path.
Praying that your garden it's safe from future floods and that the damages you found when you came back, weren't as heavy.
Dearest Paula,
DeleteThat always happens as added stress, when you least can use it... if EVER!
No the damage done while we were gone was not that heavy and so far we've lived now for weeks through a kind of a wet monsoon but no more flooding.
It happens only from heavy tropical showers.
Let's hope it will last us a while.
Hugs,
Mariette
I forgot to ask: were your kitties and Kwekkie okay? I hope so.
ReplyDeleteDearest Paula,
DeleteYes, our kitties stay indoors when we have torrential rains and Kwekkie is okay too.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh so sad. Pieter had so much trouble doing the maintenance work and the rain comes crashing down.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteThis has happened over and over in all those years... Nature can be cruel.
But the extra pressure and stress, right before our 11–day trip was not nice.
Team Vedder did it again and Pieter could rest beside me in the passenger seat; no more heavy lifting or working.
Hugs,
Mariette