One of the casualties of Saturday's heavy storm - an old Cypress knocked over by the gale force winds. Andreas (left) and Four wonder at the power that did this. On the bright side, there's plenty more firewood for winter.
A heavy storm, the worst we’ve had in two years, hit the Mooi River area on New Year’s Eve. Graceland lost a large Cypress, upended with its roots ripped out; another big Cypress was virtually spilt in half. Not sure why these trees were so popular in our area – their shallow root systems are completely unsuited to the weather conditions. Lots of branches were also ripped off other trees, including the far hardier Pin Oaks, and many of the fly traps – such critical tools at this time of year – were blown off their moorings.
The storm happened quickly, dark clouds building in the south just a few minutes before gale force winds and rain hit us. Even though it was a Saturday afternoon, Graceland’s team were alive to the danger; Andreas, Four and I were able to get the last of the foals into the stable block moments before the worst of the storm arrived. Not quickly enough to avoid a good drenching though. After losing two foals in the aftermath of a storm last year, we now have a set policy on the farm to bring foals and their mothers in whenever lightning and thunder threatens.
At one stage it felt as though the roof of the stable barn was about to fly off. Some split pole fencing did, but apart from that and the trees, we got off pretty lightly. Thankfully, none of the horses were hurt. As usual, those in the fields went into open ground and turned their backsides into the rain, stoically waiting out the chaos. Master breeder Federico Tesio says this is instinct, absorbed from the early horses that surely braved far worse on the great Steppes of Asia.
Eskom’s service was disrupted for a few hours after one of its poles was knocked over by the storm. Summerhill’s general dealer store had a large tree fall on it, smashing the roof. Fortunately, nobody was hurt but it was a close thing. Speaking to her shortly after the storm, Cheryl Goss told me there were three trees knocked over on the driveway between their home and the Giant’s Castle Road – and one of her recenyl planted acacias was ripped out of the ground. The Gosses live two hills away on the same ridge so would have experienced just what we did.
The luckiest escape was by a lady who pulled over for safety under an oak tree on the Lower Lotheni Road near Rosetta – just moments before a giant branch crashed into her vehicle, missing her by inches. It took hours to cut the unfortunate woman out of her car. She broke a few bones on her arms and hands but, again, will count herself lucky. Reminded me of the story of the bird, the jackal and the cowpat. Sometimes apparent safe havens can be even more dangerous than staying exposed.
No harbour was available for commuters on the Joburb/Durban N3 who felt the worst of the storm – as will their insurance companies. The toll road between Mooi River and Nottingham Road looked like a battleground with cars littered along both sides of the road, windows smashed and bonnets buckled by hailstones. Our thoughts are with them, and local crop farmers who are probably still counting the cost of Mother Nature’s power. Farming has never been easy. As extremes conditions, like Saturday’s storm, keep reminding us.
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