A Gal's Gotta Rant - Smoggy Reflections.

Walking in Circles: How Johannesburg Makes Me Question Humanity

So, I know this blog is primarily about my hiking adventures, but a gal's gotta vent or she'll implode.

If you caught one of my earliest posts, you’ll remember that during the COVID quarantine, I started walking… and kept walking. Around. And around. And around the same mind numbing loop, day in and day out, like a hamster on a wheel. Somehow, in that monotony, I found a bizarre sense of peace and - dare I say it? - a flicker of hope.

That was my tiny glimmer of light at the end of a seemingly endless, pitch-black tunnel.

The Weekday Grind: Hamster Wheels Are Not Just for Hamsters

Alas, one cannot hike 24/7 because, you know… work. So, the hamster-wheel loops continued through the week… until the next glorious weekend rolled around.

This morning, as I trudged through my concrete-surrounded, pollution infested area -also known as the cesspool of Johannesburg - I had a moment of reflection.

Hiking as a Lifeline in the Midst of Chaos

Since I began my hiking journey, each adventure has been a lifeline, helping me survive the Monday-to-Friday grind. I feel fractionally more zen, smile for no reason here and there… okay, intermittently, fine.

But this morning, I was trying to smile while inhaling early morning commuter carbon monoxide. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the geniuses who think their cars need to idle for 15 minutes before hitting the road - because apparently, engines catch a chill in the VERY mild Johannesburg winter.

It’s not the world’s fault that I have the most sensitive sense of smell on the planet. Nor is it the world’s fault that every smell physically assaults me and robs me of my hard-earned zen. But living with it? HELL. Just… spare a thought.

A Sunrise Scene Ruined by Humanity

Anyway, back to my walk. I glanced over a rooftop and saw a stunning “sunrise-ish” scene. A sunrise hike is right at the top of my bucket list, and there it was—right on my doorstep. But here’s the catch: no fresh air, no birds chirping… NOTHING. We ruined it. Dammit.

My kids were right: our generation trashed this planet spectacularly. You know,, my Salt and Pepper... the Gen Z lot—entitled little buggers. From the generation that treat WiFi (great for the planet) as oxygen, who drive everywhere (great for the planet) because walking might make their legs crumble, who jet-set around the world (great for the planet), who want bigger houses, more concrete, less nature, you get my drift. Yep, those ones.

Whose to blame? It doesn’t matter who did it—because all of us contributed, continue to contribute, and, well… IDIOTS! The lot of us.

And you know what? If we want to exist in this world in any way other than remotely (yes, Gen Z and millennials, that means “far away,” not “working from home”), we’re basically doomed unless we stop adding to the planet’s slow, painful demise.

Yes, call me an old hippie or a frustrated old hag... you know what... call me what you want. JUST BRING THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD I FIND EVERY WEEKEND BACK TO MY FRONT DOOR!!

Vent Over, Hikes Await

Anyway, venting complete. I’m off for a weekend of hikes and can’t wait to share the adventures—hopefully in a slightly less polluted paradise.