An endless day that started at dawn. We leave for a village near Toleza. Taking advantage of the presence of the auger, Agostino had to build a well that had been financed in memory of a recently passed away person. The Toleza area is an area where it is usually quite easy to find water and therefore we had decided to dedicate the morning to this well and then resume with those of the Well of Desires.
Usually … not today! We come to 57 meters deep and we must stop, not even a drop of water. But do not give up, we move 100 meters and start again with another hole. But even here up to 42 meters nothing to do. Between yesterday and today there were already four failed attempts and it was now 3 in the afternoon and the day was lost. “Come on, the last 3 meters and then we change the village” we say to Agostino. The auger starts up again and after a while… water !!! What a joy and what a liberation, we broke the ice! After the usual cleaning of the well, we get back in the car and go to the new village. Arodiyo Mandimu, 50 families and around 400 people.
It was now 5:30 and the sun was setting but we are still starting to dig. It gets dark but we keep going until the ground still begins to collapse like yesterday. We need special pipes that we don’t have with us. End of works for today. Luckily Agostino has additional pipes in the warehouse and returning home we load the jeep so it is ready for tomorrow morning. Alarm clock set at 4:30 because we have to make up for lost time and tomorrow’s goal is to make two wells.
Today could have been better … but even worse … one more village can now drink “at home”.
Thanks Malawi.