Water troughs

 

 

 

 

I loved finding these hand carved water troughs all over the place on the continent. We take our water so much for granted these days, and especially in this country, and so when you first encounter these troughs it makes you realise how easy it is for us to simply turn on the tap and hey presto – instant hot or cold water.

 

Caravanning and camping especially has made us very aware of the chores involved with water, that when it is needed it has be fetched and later it has to be taken away again and disposed of ! double trouble so to speak ! and the sheer effort ....and all that trotting back n forth.....

When in Switzerland 2010 (we were there specifically for the Orienteering World Masters) we came across a very interesting ancient tradition. We were staying on a campsite high up in the mountains at a small town called Le Locle …………….. One of the garden features there was an enormous tree trunk trough into which a spring was fed via a pipe and spout. It was all very rustic looking but in excellent working order and this spout was where we actually got our drinking/cooking water.

 

 Lovely fresh spring water straight from deep in the the mountain. What could be better n free too ?

Imagine our surprise when it was all dismantled and set on fire one night (August 1st) and a gigantic new tree trunk brought in and carved out on site to replace the old one. Quite an event. It was a time of great festivity with music, an oompah band, accordions, guitars and local singers. It all ended with a fireworks display which went on for seemingly hours. A highlight in their year and lots of fun… a sort of Swiss Bank Holiday.

 

 

Again while staying in Flimms, Switzerland on a different campsite in 2012 we came across the same tradition but in a more modern style with a rock band and not so much audience participation - except for the dancing of course! But the burning old wooden water trough smoked on quietly for days just the same.

Funnily enough this particular campsite was very un-Swiss, rather ramshackle with a laid back feel and it even had a yurt for rent along with some traveller buses which seemed to be permanent ? The best bit for me was the freshly baked pizza in the wood fired outdoor oven. The baker made the dough in the morning, let it prove all day and then evening time get cracking with the rolling out and topping. Quite delicious and crispy based.

 

 

It has been interesting to notice quite how many of the older properties in Britain still aren’t on mains water. The nearby well or spring still has a place even in our modern society. I must admit though that I am looking forward to having water from my own tap again – a luxury that we take for granted until it is not there!!