Inches and Inches

This image from Watsonville, CA was submitted by Suzy M.

"After weeks and weeks and weeks of no rain, the heavens finally opened and dumped it all out at once!"  

My Your Our Water

Pack a Snack    or

There are over 131 miles of canals to adventure. Check out a map and hit the trails. However, sometimes Triking takes a lot out of ya. If you find yourself hungry and parched while recreating along the Arizona Canal, take a break at O.H.S.O. at 48th. It has a great trike parking area right off the canal!

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Cuyahoga  River

 This image of Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland, Ohio was submitted by Bernadette G.

"I grew up with water, the River and the Lake. My father, my brother, my husband all worked on the tugs." 

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Neon Lights

Im going to take a leap of assumption and state that if you are reading this blog it is more likely than not that you have 24 hour access to clean water. World wide over 780 million people lack access to a clean water source. Approximately, 3.4 million people die yearly as a result of water related disease, that's almost the entire city of Los Angeles.

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J and J

The Trike had just been pulled out of the Livery and already it had an audience. Jackie, a Scottsdale resident and Jane, a soon to be transplant from Arkansas, were headed to the market when they stopped for a chat. They were curious if the power from pedaling the Trike provided clean water... now that's pedal power !

http://www.worldwidewater.biz/pedal-powered-water-bike/

http://inhabitat.com/aquaduct-bike-purifies-water-as-you-pedal/

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In the Middle of the Pacific 

Nestled in the Ko’olau Mountains along the windward coast of Oahu is the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. It is in this lush paradise that the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a flood control dam in 1976 after several devastating water events. The resulting reservoir covers 32 acres and is capable of holding back 10 times the amount of water during periods of flood. These images were submitted by Andre M.

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Happy Holidays !

Did you know a single tree can give off 70 gallons of water per day in evaporation?  AND a cut Christmas tree can drink up to a gallon of water every 24 hours!

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Ambassadors 

Meet Bob & Rich. They are ambassadors for the City of Scottsdale. It was only natural that they would be drawn to the Trike aka the canal ambassador. The conversation began with a booming inquiry from the curbside, " is that thing electric ? "..... I wish Bob, I wish. 

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Shape Shifter 

Water is the only naturally occurring substance on earth that takes three forms: liquid, gas, and solid. When water, H2O,  changes phase its physical appearance changes due to parting of molecules. For example, in the solid phase water molecules are close together and in the gaseous phase they are the furthest apart. Did you know that frozen water is about 9% lighter than liquid water?  This is why ice floats on water.

Anticipation

"I suppose it's a luxury to have clean cold water always readily available and a little extra on hand incase of an earthquake....and even though there is drought, one must always be prepared for rain."   Life in West Hollywood

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Rare Appearance

I do my best to stay out of the photos but on this Triking occasion an exception was made. 

After a full morning of Triking on the multi use path along the Arizona Canal, I had the good fortune to meet a pair of friendly gentleman sharing a cigar. Inquiries about the sign and the jumpsuit led to a full and lengthy conversation about the beginnings of Salt River Project, dams, reservoirs, canals, drought, water conservation, and water distribution. Thank you for a fruitful and engaging exchange that led to this photograph of Steve and a Triker.

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Glacial Lemonade

somedays, good stuff just happens...

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Looking for Trike in all the Right Places

What's better than a treasure hunt you ask? Well, a Trike hunt of course!! Word has spread of the Sparkle Blue Trike on the canal paths and people are on the look out along the Arizona Canal for the infamous three wheeler. Some even follow muddy Trike Tracks to the Livery for an up close Trike experience. This is the stuff of Urban Legends... 

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Ever wet Everglades

This image was submitted by Connie S. while on vacation away from her desert home of Arizona.

"Water in south Florida once flowed freely from the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee and southward over low-lying lands to the estuaries of Biscayne Bay, the Ten Thousand Islands, and Florida Bay. This shallow, slow-moving sheet of water covered almost 11,000 square miles, creating a mosaic of ponds, sloughs, sawgrass marshes, hardwood hammock, and forested uplands. For thousands of years this intricate system evolved into a finely balanced ecosystem that formed the biological infrastructure for the southern half of the state. However, to early colonial settlers and developers the Everglades were potential farm land and communities. By the early 1900s', the drainage process to transform wetland to land ready to be developed was underway. The results would be severely damaging to the ecosystem and the species it supported." National ParksService

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After a Big Rain

This is Cave Creek at Spur Cross after a Big Rain. The video was submitted by Jon V.

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49th State

Arizona, the 48th state to enter the Union and Alaska, the 49th state to enter the Union have more in common than simply starting and ending with the letter A.  
A lovely morning conversation huddled around the Trike with Danny and his son Derek proved both informative and entertaining. Regular migration from Fairbanks, Alaska to Scottsdale, Arizona offers a very unique perspective on water, water use, water conservation and water costs. One might assume that the land of snow and glaciers would offer unlimited water resources, oddly-the opposite is true. I was surprised to learn that the cost of water is significantly higher in the Alaskan frontier than in the Arizonan desert. I also learned some interesting tidbits about septic tanks and leech fields in both vastly different landscapes.

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Almost Canada

Snow. Followed by rain. Followed by nightfall. Frozen. This image was submitted by Marianne B. in Schenectady, New York.

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The Artsy Side of Triking

On the way to the canal the Trike made a stop at Gebert Contemporary on Main. A self serving side stop to survey the new works hung for the holidays led to a charming conversation with Stacy B. about water, the canal, the multi use paths close to her home and of course aesthetics. Sparkle blue looks good on you !

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Between Cairo and Alexandria

Water is Memory. Flowing. Connecting. The tides, currents and undertow of a childhood spent between Cairo and Alexandria in a secular and forward moving Egypt that has long since been washed away. These visually and emotionally layered images were submitted to My Your Our Water  by artist Khaled H. who lives and works in Cairo, Egypt.

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Summer Splashes

This is Bob. While his t-shirt may tout southern sports he is a desert guy through and through. He can spin a descriptive tale of "what was there and what is now here": desert, buildings, highways, and old haunts. In fact, Bob used to swim the canals in the summer as a boy as he made his way to the ponds in Papago Park. Let's hope he has a soft spot for Suns Orange too! Thanks for sharing the summer stories.

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 Waterstation

We have the tendency to think of water primarily as a resource we consume or use to grow agriculture. Water is a life and land saver... and not only after a 5 mile run! Flashback to 1673 in Amsterdam where Jan van der Heyden is credited with fashioning the first fire hose out of 50-foot lengths of leather sewn together like a boot. The leather hose held together by copper rivets was introduced in Philadelphia around 1794. However, in most areas most fires were extinguished with buckets of water hauled to the scene until the mid 19th century.

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Simply Golden

Triking on the Old Cross Cut Canal has led to many encounters with two legged and four legged walkers. Jake, Ginger & CJ enjoy the neighborhood proximity of the once canal now park. CJ, who is an ocean girl from California, walks to the Arizona Canal to photograph the sparkle diamond reflections on the flowing water at sunset. You can put a fish in the desert but it's gonna find the water!

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My Your Our Water Love

simple words

primary colors

flowing 

connecting

a perfect pair

Love and Water.

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Market Goers

Morning Triking starts at 2nd and Brown in Old Town Scottsdale. On Saturday mornings this area becomes the site of the well attended Scottsdale Farmer's Market. It was on one of these fabulous Saturday Markets that the we, the Trike and I,  had the good fortune to gain the acquaintance of Alex and Sherrie. While I'd like to say it was my dapper white jumpsuit that garnered their attention, I do believe it was the My Your Our Water sign and their personal connection to water, arts and SRP that lured them into conversation. Alex is a civil engineer armed with a vast knowledge of watery stuffs and Sherrie is a freelance writer rich in arts empathy. Thank you for a well rounded conversation of water and aesthetics.

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Back at Roosevelt

Salt River Project delivers about 800,000 acre-feet of water annually to approximately a 375 square mile service area. The water  managed by SRP travels a long way before it reaches your kitchen sink:

My Your Our Water starts as a water source such as rain or snow, it travels through the forest & watershed, the reservoirs, the dams, the rivers, the canals, it arrives at the various city and municipal partnerships, then makes its way to farms & agricultural areas, and finally is delivered to the end users (aka us!)

Tip Top 

It's never too early or too late to get in shape or stay in shape. Vincent and Juan routinely exercise along the multi use path of the Old Cross Cut Canal. They burn calories, chew the fat, and talk to strangers. Ok, just one stranger on a sparkle blue Trike. Great energy guys!

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It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

December rain brings saturated color to the desert. Reds and greens and golds all hung with ornamental water droplets. The average annual rainfall for Phoenix, Arizona is 8.04 inches which is 80% less than the national average. Enjoy the gift of desert rain !

East Coast

Some call it the shore while others call it the beach, to one it is simply serenity. This image of Sea Bright Beach in New Jersey was submitted by Evan C. 

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Veritas

This lovely trio was out bright and early on the Arizona Canal womaning the water station for a 5k fund raiser run for Veritas Archway Charter School. Jody, Kate and Janel were responsible for the hydration of hundreds, well maybe not hundreds but A LOT of thirsty people. Hi 5 ladies- H2O never tasted so good!

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Potty Talk

In one year, the average American residence uses over 100,000 gallons of water indoors and outside. More than 45% of that water use occurs in the bathroom, with nearly 27% being used by toilets! Luckily, toilet water usage can be curbed by checking for and fixing leaks, retrofitting older toilets, or installing new toilets. A running toilet can waste about 200 gallons every day. Curious how a single flush can save gallons... ?

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Aloha!

 As it often happens with the Trike, one conversation often attracts a second conversation and so it was this fine afternoon. Meet Kimo, he is Hawaiian and well versed in living a life connected to H2O. He was totally engaged, aware and ready to a have a super solid conversation about water: water rights, water conservation, and water economics. The dialogue flowed easily from one topic to the next and finally docked at a lovely spot of mutual admiration.   Me ka aloha pumehana

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Local goes Global

Miles and miles away, across the Grand Pacific, a young woman native to the desert has found a new home on the waterfront of Singapore.  This water submission from Ashleigh S. captures the global connectedness of water. Colored candy ribbon lights flex and fold in each wake and ripple of the night water.

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After Turkey Trike

Previously, I mentioned the Old Cross Cut Canal versus the New Cross Cut Canal. In case you are looking for a great triking path to burn off that extra helping of stuffing, check out the Old Cross Cut Canal path and park that begins at 48th street and Indian School. Sweatpants allowed.

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The imagery and written text were both submitted by artist and sailor Keay E. 

“To him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his mercies are to eternity.”

There is a memory I turn over endlessly.  

A fleeting second of suspension above a broken sun and below the vault of heaven, between the firmament and the waters.  Splitting a moment of toes digging into coarse Floridian grass and the release of that energy as inertia, an arc of gravity and the inevitable crush of cleaving water. The thunder of bubbles and pressure resolving to the clicking of oysters and underwater silence.  

I can parse that memory, tell of the lawn party where adults raised cocktails to ward off humidity and heat, forays into the frosty air conditioning and slippery polished floors.  The belly laugh of my grandfather as he would drop ice cubes into the bathing suits of the running children. Tell of days in the sun and in boats, beachcombing or walking the sandbar at low tide, sunburns and brown skin. I can tear up knowing these are memories of home and family that I will never be able to have in a “real” sense again.  

A moment, this touchstone of memory is a path to a personal eternity, a point in time filled with the embrace of water, youth and a broken sun.

Thankful

Thankful for clean clear crisp water in the middle of the dry dusty desert.

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H2OPE

Who gets up at 6am to run along the Arizona Canal to help raise money and awareness for clean water? Nathan, Jan, Cheryl, Bob, Suzy and Birungi, that's who! This amazing septet participated in the Run for the Pour sponsored by Esperanca. The 5k, complete with logs and 5 gallon buckets to carry, was designed to not just raise funds for clean water but to highlight the enormous efforts that millions of individuals undertake on a daily basis simply to haul water to their home. 

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Day and Night

A keen eye and a deliberate camera resulted in these lovely images submitted to My Your Our Water. From Lake Roosevelt to Chaparral Lake Park, Raj G. captured the dynamic range of desert water bodies both remote and urban.

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From India to Arizona

Saturday was a full Trike day. After a long ride on the canal, the Trike took a small detour on return to the Livery. It was in front of the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, that we had the pleasure of making a new acquaintance. Once upon a time, Raj had a small farm in India and he studied water in school. He shared his opinions, stories, experiences and knowledge about cool technology that measures the moisture in the soil to aid farmers in knowing when to water a field so as to not over or under water a crop.

Thanks for sharing your insights and you look like a natural Triker!

MyYourOurWater

Two Bucks

Nearly 66% of individuals who lack safe drinking water live on less than $2 a day. It should also be noted that people living in the areas commonly referred to as "slums", regularly pay 5 to 10 times more per liter of water than the individuals living in the well established neighborhoods of the same city.

1 out of 9

780 million people lack access to clean water.

If you are reading this blog, it is more than highly probable that you comprise the other 8.

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Nuts about Water!

Ok, well peanuts technically are NOT a nut but legumes about water doesn't have the same ring. Did you know that the peanut crop needs between 20-30 inches of water each growing season? Luckily most of that water refreshment comes from regional rainfall. This water submission is courtesy of  The Art Resource Center in Tempe Arizona run by master gardener and water friend Sherrie Z.

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Who you calling a slack tub?

Meet George. He is a blacksmith and raiser of livestock. George is an Arizona native and connected to the land and the water through birth, work and family. As a practicing skilled blacksmith, George uses the water in the slack tub to quickly cool a metal piece on which he is working as well as control the fire in the forge. During our charming and nostalgic conversation, George shared stories of his grandfather helping dig out the canals, water running from the McDowell Mountains to the homestead as well as his own boyhood adventures swimming and goofing around in the many canals. Thanks for the great stories and the metal bits!

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Quality on Tap

A beach reared Californian transplanted to Iowa, Kayce S. shared one of her new daily water views.  "It's strange to go from ocean and beach to water tower and corn."

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The Three Map-kateers

These three fabulous ladies were out for a LONG morning bike ride along the Arizona Canal when our Trike and bike paths crossed. Melissa, Deb and Harriet were beyond thrilled to get their very own fold out SRP map of the multi use canal paths with watershed, dam and reservoir map on the reverse side. The avid bikers and water conservationists ( Harriet just switched to a zeroscape yard) were so full of enthusiasm and spunk that it was hard to keep up with them. Alas, the encounter was not 100% perfect, I'm afraid I may have directed them to the Old Cross Cut Canal path instead of the New Cross Cut Canal. My apologies ladies and I hope the rest of your ride was fantastic regardless of your route!

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Freshwater Statistics

About 71% of the earth's surface is covered in water.

About 97.5 % of the water is saltwater.

That leaves about 2.5 % freshwater.

Almost 70% of that freshwater is locked in glacial ice.

Almost 30% of that freshwater is trapped in ground soil.

That leaves less than .0007% of all water on earth accessible for direct human use.

This is the water found in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and tappable unground sources.

This .0007% is renewed through rain and snow fall.

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