Cyclone Charlotte – deposits and withdrawals
The power of water is unimaginable and unstoppable.
Even though cyclone Charlotte never quite reached us here in Cairns, her far reaching effects were certainly felt.
The beaches were hit really hard, with the beach itself pretty much dragged away. Where once there was wide expanses of golden sand, there are now steep drops and exposed roots. Below is my own beach, Clifton, that I visited on my way to the Post Office this arvo.
“Just a few shots” I said to myself as I stood at the water’s edge. BUT, whilst taking this photo, a big wave washed over me, my handbag and my dress. Drowned rats have looked more elegant. However, the water was bubblebath warm, so it wasn’t unpleasant, until I remembered the irukandji about….
A quick trip back home, and a change into another dress, handbag and out the door again BUT the Spray truck got me! Wet again in the space of 10 mins.
With the overflow of Dead Man’s Gully, huge deposits of mud and silt clog our gutters and street. The Vacuum Truck tried this morning in vain to take it away:
After 40 mins of sucking and blowing clouds of dust, it was time for the reinforcements:
Filling the tank from the neighbour’s lawn manhole.
Then it’s time to play with a gigantic waterpistol!
He spent a lot of time on our section of driveway, and about 1.5 hours just in our end of the street.
He even gave our driveway the “extra cannons”, which squirt out sideways.
He was a lovely fellow and thoroughly deserved ” Tradie’s Afternoon Tea” (Beer). He diligently said he’d drink it after work though!
I finally made it to the Post Office, sans sea water, beachsand, tank water and mud.
Upon my return I saw that the Vacuum truck had returned, and this time managed to make beautifully swirly patterns in our gutter mud. At least it’s only 4 inches thick now…
And for details of the final withdrawal, we took a look at Trinity Beach this afternoon. It was very heavily damaged by the king tides, with the concrete foundations for not only the swimming nets, but the Life Savers Hut, being washed away. They managed to salvage the Hut with a quick thinking crane operator.
The steps end very abruptly now.
Where the Life Savers hut and the swimming net reels used to be.
The boys, with Yorkey’s Knob in the background on the left. Delightful name for a suburb don’t you think?
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- I am an Island……Cyclone Charlotte kisses Cairns
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Struth! That’s quite a bit of damage.
What will they do with the beach?
Umm, excuse my ignorance but whats irukandji ?
Beautiful pictures, even with the wash aways, very tropical. For two pins I would get in my car and drive up there to photograph the millstream falls and the others on the tablelands…do not think I would like the cable car route very much as am not good in enclosed spaces……the “wet” makes me nostalgic for the north…..Used to come down the mountain in the wet season in the steam trains with head hanging out the window and soot in my eyes and rain on my head.
Going to the Post Office…. I am a little guilty owe you a couple of dry cleanings!! Your street is great with the creeks and the no through road…..and happy tradie…
James used to love the street sweeper coming down our street….it was a regular ‘google’ item too…
Those poor old beaches, it feels just like yesterday….5 months ago actually…..
Your scenery is just beautiful…Looking at the skies now who would have thought there was such destruction….
Hey it’s 40 degrees in Perth today – send us some of your water!
Any sign of crocs with all that water lapping your doorsteps?
So glad you are back on your blog – it is always something to look forward to – reading about your adventures.
Even though the beaches are damaged the scenery still looks beautiful and tropical. I had funny visions of you awash in the bubbles and then sprayed by the truck. Its a neat truck.
Hi all,
No blog last night – wild thunderstorms directly overhead.
I often think of all the different climates we are all experiencing directly, and vicariously through the internet!
More dumping rain forecast unfortunately……
Great to see you here Tamara!
Storm damage is not nice but nature will always come back. In saying that the photographs you have taken are very good and it is terrific to review when we lived on the atherton tablelands 4 years ago. Its definatley a “green to be seen”
Thanks again for the blog
Colin
Hi Colin and thanks for stopping by.
You have an interesting website/s – and I know exactly how you feel. I think we’re up to move no.12 in 23 years. I am the Master of the Packing Tape Gun!
Whereabouts in the Tablelands did you live? I’ve vowed to get up there soon, as Kuranda ia the furthest “up the hill” I’ve been.
Cheers
Cindy