Tag Archives: damage from flood waters

Across Australia Trip, Destinations, Family Happy Snaps, Landscapes, Photography, Travel Journal

Day 362: Kurrajong

Leave a comment

Friday, 30 May 2014                                                                                                       222kms

Nath and I took the boat for our last cruise on the beautiful waters of Ningaloo to Pilgramunna while Poppy took the car and trailer there to pick us up. The water was a bit choppy, green and murky so we couldn’t really see anything which was a bit disappointing for our last boat outing. I was shocked to see the devastation of poor Pilgramunna. Where we camped last August was gone! It was now a washed out rocky creek bed. Most of what was sand before was now river rock.

As soon as we got back to camp, we packed the car with Nanny and Poppy’s belongings, the kids and Nath said their goodbyes, and I drove them to Bundegi boat ramp for a look; into to town for lunch and then out to the airport. They were there with plenty of time to spare which was better than running late, as I usually am. I said my goodbyes and headed back to town to get water, make a couple of phone calls and head back to camp. It was after 3.30pm before I arrived, which was much later than I had expected to be. Nath had been busy packing up the boat stuff, but again the boat trailer wheels were ceased on. With a bit of help from the block splitter we managed to separate them. I smelt the camp oven after Nath had cleaned it in salt water, and holy moly, I could still smell that manky fish head. I decided to give it a scrub with vanilla fresh in the hope that it will kill the bacteria and smell before I pack my baking trays into it. I think I got it a bit better, but only time will tell.

We had a late night of packing and were both completely over it. We really should have started packing up yesterday. We missed our last sunset over the reef which I had wanted to chill out and watch, but we were still plugging away at the packing. The kids got a nice hot shower before bed, and I had planned on having one as well, after I finished. I even boiled the water again, but as I poured the kettle into the bucket in the shower tent, a million moths started flying around inside the tent; far too many for my liking, so I gave up on the idea and went to bed dirty. I was sooo looking forward to having clean hair again, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

 

Until next time…. Happy and Safe Travels.

Across Australia Trip, Destinations, Family Happy Snaps, Landscapes, Photography, Travel Journal

Day 348: Kurrajong

Leave a comment

Friday, 16 May 2014                                                                                                   212.3kms

We woke to the rumble of the ocean crashing on the reef, the birds singing a song, the claps of thunder around us and the flashes of lighting filling the sky. Considering it was 6.15am, it was almost completely dark in the van. The rain followed so we jumped up to bring things under cover before they got wet. Then the thunderstorm arrived and it bucketed down. We ate breakfast and decided to collect the water streaming off the awning and gazebo. We probably should have been more on it and found the big party tubs first up as by the time we remembered them, the rain had eased. That is what happens when it rains first thing in the morning before we are actually awake. We did manage to nearly fill them which is great. Lots of fresh rain water for washing up and showering in.

When there was a break in the rain, Nath ran out and unstrapped the boat. It rained again so we had to wait before we could get it off. It did eventually stop altogether so we were able to take the boat off. Nath had the trailer set up as well so we put the boat on it.

At 11.15am I left camp headed for town. I stopped along the way to grab a couple of photos of the damage done to the road from the big rain and flood almost 3 weeks ago. I had a look at Tantabiddi as well, to see where the sand wall had been broken through and was no-more. The damage is quite devastating.

Once in town I got a gas swap (can’t believe we forgot yesterday!) at Home Hardware and then headed out of town to Pebble Beach to sit with a nice view while I updated the website some more. The road was muddy and a bit slippery, and I did think after I started driving on it whether it was such a good idea as I couldn’t afford to get bogged out here. As it turns out, it was solid under the top mud so I was fine.

I then headed to the airport and once again didn’t see the plane land as it was early. It is the first one that I have seen fly overhead, so that is an improvement. There was water over the road on a few of the floodways, but with no on-coming traffic, I could swerve around them.

I found Nanny and Poppy waiting for their bag and once we had it, we headed back to town for a few supplies, water and to book another week at Kurrajong, that way we don’t have to pack up and move while they are here, as it would simply be too hard.

We then headed towards the National Park, with a stop at Yardie Homestead for boat fuel and diesel. At the entrance to the National Park, I had to go around the road closed blockade as it was 4.45pm and they had closed the road for the night. I knew that the road hadn’t changed since this morning as we had not had any more rain, so it would be okay to go on, plus, we were booked in there and I wasn’t going to stay anywhere else. This time driving through it was sunny, yay. This morning it was still overcast.

When we made it back to camp Nath had set up our tent, but couldn’t blow up the mattress without the car. He and the kids had been for a swim and set up more things around camp. Elokin and Hendrix took Nanny for a walk along the beach while Nath and I organised a roast pork dinner. Yummo!

 

 

Until next time…. Happy and Safe Travels.