The correct way to ford a river

[bvudzichena]

Once you've done the basics such as spraying WD-40 onto any and all electrical parts that can get wet, you should approach the crossing with caution - checking for crocodiles and pythons.

[bvudzichena]

Any crossing point - no matter how shallow it may seem to the casual observer - must be walked prior to crossing.

Most drivers are silly enough to walk the fords themselves, but those of us who are older and wiser send other family members to get the lay of the land.

Anyway, who's going to do the driving if the designated driver gets eaten by a crocodile?

[merrick]

Once you've done the basics such as spraying WD-40 onto any and all electrical parts that can get wet, you should approach the crossing with caution - checking for crocodiles and pythons.
i must be as thick as my old woman says i am ?????

[merrick]

is there more to come or am i realy stupid:)

[bvudzichena]

Once you know it's safe to cross, it's time to proceed.

We've all heard talk of the "bow wave". Well normally the idea is to push a wave ahead of the truck, thereby creating a bit of "vacuum" that will help keep the engine electrics dry and will also help keep the fan from splashing water over the engine.

But if the water isn't deep enough, you can still get your tyres to make individual tyre waves.

[bvudzichena]

If you persist, you will eventually make it to the end of the Jonkershoek eco trail, where you will be rewarded with vistas like these.

[merrick]

:)i get it the velt is slightly damp just cos you won world cup dont take the mick:)

[Roger Whittle]

Ah, you mean like this Bvudzi? :eek::D

Roger.

[bvudzichena]

Roger,

That picture is a shining example of what happens when you don't send a kid over to check the water levels.

You may well find that after not having his lovely SWAMBO around for a couple of days, Emlyn was so taken by Brigid that he focused all his attention on her, rather than on his driving :D:D:D

Duckin'...

[seriesowner]

If you persist, you will eventually make it to the end of the Jonkershoek eco trail, where you will be rewarded with vistas like these.

In our case the end of the trail was rewarded with this:

(Well Mrs Seriesowner was thirsty)

[K&S]

you should approach the crossing with caution - checking for crocodiles and pythons.

You mean like the 2 and a bit metre long python we found on our walk the day before yesterday?

[Marc Lurie]

That's a beauty. What a fine snake. I've seen plenty pythons, and they always amaze me. The most amazing though was on the beach in Mozambique. We saw the snake on an old tortoise shell, and after we photographed it it slithered off towards the sea. I've never seen a snake in sea water before, but it was obviously happy there.

And before other forum members freak out... they're not venomous, just bloody big:D They can give you a nasty bite though.

[bvudzichena]

A couple of years ago I watched a 3m African Rock Python munch a German Shepherd Dog. We arrived on the scene too late to save to do so we figured the best thing to do is to let nature take it's course.

It's never a good idea to disturb a constrictor when it's eating as it'll regurgitate it's food and then go and kill something else.

That's a nice snake Kev. Just the thing to keep in our washing basket in the bathroom :D

[Madoobri]

If you persist, you will eventually make it to the end of the Jonkershoek eco trail, where you will be rewarded with vistas like these.

Nice pics Bvud ... they remind me very much of some parts of Scotland, especially the last one :)

[K&S]

And before other forum members freak out... they're not venomous, just bloody big:D They can give you a nasty bite though.

Now my daughter knows that but still stroked it before it hightailed off into the bush. You'll just see her head in this shot and then everyone looking for it afterwards :eek: . For a big snake it has quite a turn of speed.

[bvudzichena]

Kev,

One of the reasons why small children are so easily taken by pythons is the speed with which pythons move. They can outrun kids on the ground and their strike is lighning fast.

From where that snake was, it could easily have spun around and bit your daughter in the face. Please tell her that Uncle Bvudzi (the snake man) says she must leave them well alone.

We all also know they have teeth that are inclined, meaning that once they've bitten, even a half miss can see the recipient end up with 50 to 60 teeth in his or her body. After that the coiling starts and it's all over very quickly.

Back in the days when I kept a 3m Red Tailed Boa in the repterarium, I used to feed it Jack Russels. Chickens didn't work well as the snake would be hungry within a week. Cats put up a fight and I'd end up having to treat the snake's wounds. Jackies were in plentiful (free) supply at the SPCA and it used to be over very quickly. I'd remove everything from the bathroom, put the snake in the bath, deliver her lunch and close the door. Yap yap and silence. I should have a video of the whole process somewhere. Anyway, it was quick, the dog would be dead in seconds as the snake got it by the snout every time and it would be suffocated shortly after that.

So Kev. Keep an eye on your dogs when you're walking in the bush. My GSD was poisoned by thieves, so now it's up to you to keep the GSD flag flying.