I love where I live, but...

**david petley** · 10-10-2010, 04:49 PM

...sometimes when it rains, it gets a bit boring.

I live at the end of 4km of road that runs beside a creek. The creek has four crossings that 99% of the time do not cause any issues.

However, it has been raining for a week now, so by Saturday, the crossings were under water and we start to worry about water coming over the door sills on our cars as we cross. Thank god I telecommute and so far my phone line is not cut.

Last night, from 6pm to 6am this morning, the heavens really opened up and we had 8 inches (212mm) of rain. The creek is wild and raging, and any car trying to cross those crossings now would have water lapping at their windscreens, not just their door sills, and would most likely be washed off the crossings.

Right now it is still raining as heavily as last night and predicted not to ease until late Tuesday, so getting across the creek may need to wait until at least next Thursday, when it is predicted that more heavy rain will be back for a few days.

I have a few days worth of food, a couple of hours of tobacco, and I am expecting to not be able to get out to shop for food and other essentials until possibly a week from today, maybe longer based on previous experiences.

Such fun.

david

**asheep_uk** · 10-10-2010, 05:06 PM

I’m going to say the same thing everyone says to gshock: photos.

But seriously, that’s nuts. Have you considered buying a boat?

**david petley** · 10-10-2010, 05:31 PM

the photos will need to wait until it stops raining or I grow 3 hands, I need one hand for the unbrella, and my camera is a bit heavy for one other.

...and regards a boat ...LOL

It is a wild and rocky foothills creek, full of giant boulders and sudden drops.

I did know someone who was washed off one of the crossings. He travelled down the creek for about 100 metres before he managed to get out by grabbing an overhanging branch. He ended up with concussion, many scrape wounds, a fractured ankle and 3 broken ribs. I expect a boat would break in a similar fashion.

**david petley** · 10-10-2010, 05:34 PM

I have a measuring rock at the first crossing. If the water is halfway up that rock, I will be able to get out if I really have a need. Anything over halfway up that rock I just sit tight.

<addendum> I just went and looked at my rock, the water is about 24" (600mm) over the safe mark and looking like a caramel milkshake.

**el-Ignoramus** · 10-10-2010, 07:29 PM

if you revert to Cannibalism, let us know your favorite recipes

**david petley** · 10-10-2010, 08:10 PM

some pics if anyone is interested

this is looking up the creek from the near edge of the crossing -

this the actual crossing from the same location -

...as is this -

...and these -

a couple more -

david

<addendum> the crossings get worse as more creeks join together, by the last crossing, there is about 4 times as much water flowing and a land cruiser would dissappear up to the wiper blades and have a bow wave up the windscreen.

**david petley** · 10-10-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by el-Ignoramus

if you revert to Cannibalism, let us know your favorite recipes

I worry more about lack of tobacco (addict) ...and everything is so damp I couldn't keep my neighbour alight.

david

**Frets** · 10-10-2010, 08:41 PM

I take it the local government isn't going to spring for a bridge.

**gerbick** · 10-10-2010, 08:42 PM

If you call that a creek... we need to see what you call a river.

**david petley** · 10-10-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Frets

I take it the local government isn't going to spring for a bridge.

...hahahahahahahahahahaha

Really, in a normal year, the creek might be cut like that once or twice a year, during our wet season (Mar/April/May).

September and October are our driest months, we have had more rain in 8 hours than we normally get in the whole of October. About now the creek normally looks like it is about to stop flowing.

Originally Posted by gerbick

If you call that a creek... we need to see what you call a river.

Really, in most times, two steps across a couple of rocks will see you on the other side with dry feet.

**cancerinform** · 10-11-2010, 06:17 AM

May be you should consider moving to a less deserted location.

**david petley** · 10-11-2010, 06:46 AM

...because of a little rain, nah

...It is just patience that is needed, and a less addictive nature to handle the lack of tobacco.

**el-Ignoramus** · 10-11-2010, 08:06 AM

All is missing from these pics is Stallone with his Massive gun held above his head and a 14" dagger in his teeth

I heard it's best to cook the giblets while still warm, do you have fava Beans? and a Nice Chianti??

**asheep_uk** · 10-11-2010, 01:58 PM

Two words: zip wire.

**gerbick** · 10-11-2010, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by asheep_uk

Two words: zip wire.

No... Zip line... for a car...

**david petley** · 10-12-2010, 12:50 AM

hooray, I managed to get out and back in just now, so have restocked and can sit tight for a bit (we are expecting more heavy rain for the next few days).

I had a bow wave coming over the top of the bonnet coming back in over the first crossing, but the one in the pics above is only about 8 inches deep now.

david

**el-Ignoramus** · 10-14-2010, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by david petley

hooray, I managed to get out and back in just now, so have restocked and can sit tight for a bit (we are expecting more heavy rain for the next few days).

I had a bow wave coming over the top of the bonnet coming back in over the first crossing, but the one in the pics above is only about 8 inches deep now.

david

dp, Where is THAT???

**david petley** · 10-14-2010, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by el-Ignoramus

dp, Where is THAT???

28.15.50S 153.16.50E

**david petley** · 10-14-2010, 02:14 PM

Our little valley has the highest rainfall in the whole state, often inches more than on the coast. The weather kinda bumps up against a big cliff and dumps all of the rain on us.

This might give you some idea of the terrain -

The darkest of the forest in that pic is part of the World Heritage listed Border Ranges National Park ...some of the best examples of Temperate and Sub-tropical rainforest around the place. At the top of those cliffs there are Antarctic Beech over 1,000 years old.

**Loyal Rogue** · 10-19-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by david petley

hooray, I managed to get out and back in just now, so have restocked and can sit tight for a bit (we are expecting more heavy rain for the next few days).

Nicotine addiction is a hell of a motivator.

Glad to see you didn't get washed downstream.

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