From Pos Monton to Pos Sorsaka

On Thursday August 27, 2015 we went back to the Christoffelpark to Pos Monton. There we had found the triple indigo tank systems, two complete systems and one remnant of a system. Our target was to go from there to another pos, Pos Sorsaka in the area of St. Hieronymus through a system of dry waterways (rois), that during the rain season channel the water from the mountains to lower lying areas. Of course we hoped to find the indigo tank system(s) of St. Hieronymus along the way. Fred and François did this trip already in 2008 but at that time they were not specifically looking for indigo tanks.
Chris Winkel was with us this time and also Eliane Haseth who accompanies us regularly when she is in Curaçao.

We met at the parking lot of the Christoffel park at 8 AM and from there we drove with two cars to the parking spot close to Pos Monton. Pos Monton is a place that is regularly visited by the local deer, so we tried to walk as quietly as possible to the pos. This time we were not lucky. No deer. We foudn out that the water level dropped considerably the last few months. 

Close to the pos are the indigo tank systems. I am always impressed by these indigo tank systems. Most of the indigo tanks that we see are built with limestone rocks. The systems here are constructed with the locally available Knip formation rocks. That are layered rocks some of them with a flint inclusion. That gives a completely different appearance to the construction. 
And, after we had learned in Cas Abou that the remnant of the third system there actually was not an indigo tank but a well, we took a closer look at the third system here. But this is definitely the corner of an indigo tank system. It has a right inside corner and the inside is covered with IJssel bricks in watertight plaster. We never see that in a well.

From there we went through the roi in the direction of Pos Sorsaka. Soon we crossed the borderwall between Savonet and St. Hieronymus. Along our way we found several waterworks that are not marked on the Werbata map; one of these had our special attention because it was marked on a more recent Kadaster map. Could that be the indigo tank system of St. Hieronymus? Strangely enough none of the indigo tanks systems is marked on the Werbata map. But it appeared to be a system of a square well with a windmill on top and a very small and a larger water tank next to it. In the rim of the well we found a number 1Z.83. Chris told us that this is the number of the well consisting of the map sheet (1Z) followed by the sequence number (83) of the well. 

The nature around the roi was impressive; a large Manzaliña forest, some large Tamarind trees and also several other old trees. But it was hot! So we took several breaks and we ran through our water much quicker than normal.
In the area that is called Poos Sorsaka on the Werbata map we found a large well which contained high standing water. A motorized pump was used to pump up the water. There is no well marked on the Werbata map, so this could be the former Pos Sorsaka that gave the area its name. We decided to take a long break here before we would return to the cars. 
Fred, Hetty, Chris and I decided to canvas the area; on the map a dam was marked so more than enough reason to check for its existence. The roi was impressive; deeply carved by the water; it must be beautiful to see the water rushing through it after heavy rainfall. But maybe it is better to avoid this area in the rain season because of the large number of Manzaliña trees. We found the dam and also several other waterworks. Apparently this area was used for agriculture; there is a dry well, a very large watertank and a system of pipes with valves to distribute the water. One of the pipes ended in a concrete drain, apparently used to transport the water even further.

After a while we went back to the well where the others were still resting. Shortly after we started our hike back along the same route. Once again we quietly approached Pos Monton; this time we saw and heard a number of deer fleeing when we arrived at the pos. And this time the flowers of the water lilies were open.

This concluded a very nice but also a very hot hike. It is a long time ago that I drank all my water (2,5 liter) during the hike. So some of us decided to replenish the lost fluids at the 4th of July snack in Barber.

• In blue our track from Pos Monton in Savonet to Pos Sorsaka in St. Hieronymus In blue our track from Pos Monton in Savonet to Pos Sorsaka in St. Hieronymus
• Pos Monton - water level is lower than during our previous visit Pos Monton - water level is lower than during our previous visit
• Water lilies in the pos Water lilies in the pos
• Carel, Eliane and Eddy next to the pos Carel, Eliane and Eddy next to the pos
• Carel gives Eliane an eagle's feather Carel gives Eliane an eagle's feather
• The two indigo tank systems side by side The two indigo tank systems side by side
• Nicely built from Knip formation rocks Nicely built from Knip formation rocks
• The leftmost indigo tank system The leftmost indigo tank system
• Inner corner of the third system confirms that this is indeed also an indigo tank Inner corner of the third system confirms that this is indeed also an indigo tank
• Only remnant of the third indigo tank system Only remnant of the third indigo tank system
• Fred near the border wall between Savonet and St, Hieronymus Fred near the border wall between Savonet and St, Hieronymus
• Pale between Savonet and St. Hieronymus Pale between Savonet and St. Hieronymus
• Nice Manzaliña forest Nice Manzaliña forest
• Dam Dam
• Impressive Manzaliña tree Impressive Manzaliña tree
• Large Tamarind tree Large Tamarind tree
• One of the wells - rectangular One of the wells - rectangular
• inside is round - well contains water inside is round - well contains water
• Water tank for cattle Water tank for cattle
• Number of the well - number 83, 1Z is the card number Number of the well - number 83, 1Z is the card number
• Natural wooden sculpture Natural wooden sculpture
• Palu di sia and Brasia on the side of the roi Palu di sia and Brasia on the side of the roi
• Flowers of the ground bromeliad Flowers of the ground bromeliad
• Ground bromeliad - nice colors Ground bromeliad - nice colors
• Time for a break Time for a break
• Large Manzaliña tree Large Manzaliña tree
• Well close to Pos Sorsaka Well close to Pos Sorsaka
• Also rectangular with a round inside Also rectangular with a round inside
• This well had a motorized pump This well had a motorized pump
• Another break close in the area of Pos Sorsaka Another break close in the area of Pos Sorsaka
• Deep roi Deep roi
• Indju on the side of the roi Indju on the side of the roi
• Antoher dam - this one is visible on the Werbata map Antoher dam - this one is visible on the Werbata map
• Water tank for cattle close to the dam Water tank for cattle close to the dam
• Well - only the hole is left Well - only the hole is left
• Large water tank Large water tank
• Pipes with valves to distribute the water Pipes with valves to distribute the water
• Another large valve Another large valve
• Here the water flows in a concrete irrigation drain Here the water flows in a concrete irrigation drain
• Fungus on a tree Fungus on a tree
• When we come back at Pos Monton the flower of the water lilies are open When we come back at Pos Monton the flower of the water lilies are open
• It was a very hot and tiresome hike It was a very hot and tiresome hike
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