Rain, Rain, Go Away

We might finally be on the trailing edge of the rain band that has been plaguing us since Wednesday. And it's not a moment too soon as we are all a bit stir crazy! Tilly has been a crazy dog from being cooped up and she's decided that she doesn't like the rain. She's been ignoring her house-training and using Dave's office instead of heading out the door. Yesterday he took everything out of his office, pulled up the carpet and tossed it out. It's been very frustrating to have her go backwards like this and we can only hope that by the next rains she's confident in going outside or can hold it longer!

It looked like there might be a break in the rain this morning so we headed off to the beach for a much needed temporary escape. We had to change plans as we tried to get there, though

That's the golf course underwater - at least there will be some grass after the water receeds...usually it's hard packed red dirt on the fairways and "greens"!

We decided to try to head out to a beach further up the coast as Dave and I had been there on Thursday during some heavy rain and the roads were still passable. By the time we drove the four minutes to the second beach, the skies had opened up again. It could have been coming down in buckets and I still would have walked the dogs - Tilly was driving me bonkers in the car. We put up with some heavy rain for the first few minutes but then it turned to just a light misting. The dogs didn't care and sped up and down the dunes, into the sea and round and round us as we walked!

The Gulf was dead flat, if a little brown/red from the rains, and Dora enjoyed some quiet swims...until Tilly had to join her


Dora even went out to retrieve the ball that Dig had dropped in deep water for Ross to fetch.

We were almost back to the cars when we noticed things getting a little brighter. Sure enough, off to the north there was some blue sky and actual sunshine!

We were so excited about it we could almost ignore what was overhead and off to the East over the Gulf

The blue sky continued to expand as we drove away from the beach but it will need to get a lot bluer before all the water on the roads dries up


The white cockies are enjoying the fruits of the rain. There are all sorts of bird treats on the ground for them to pick at


A whole bunch have come back to the trees around the house and they are talking incessantly. These are very loud birds and their chatter almost makes me miss the patter of rain drops...but not quite!

Still raining

Doesn't look like the weather is going to be any better today or tomorrow, either. Dave and I have been trying to break up the boredom of being trapped inside by going for some drives during the lulls in rain showers. Yesterday he had to drive around to Tantabiddi, where we have our Whale Shark boat, to check on the dinghy - which turned out to be sinking. The flooding was crazy and Dave got some good shots.
The road just on the edge of town...


Usually flat and dry...


The road just north of Tantabiddi

Looks like the boat ramp at Tantabiddi wont' be usable for a while and that big rut down the side isn't going to help!

My hubby is such a softie - he rescued a whole box of frogs from the road on the way home. They must have become pretty good friends during the car ride


It's still raining today but some of the roads are open again - others are still pretty flooded. This is the turn off & road to the Lighthouse




More frogs were on the road today

And some kangas

Looking north from the Lighthouse - that grey on the land under the towers is all water!

to the West

It was so windy that when I faced south, the wind literally knocked me over!

Tilly never misses an opportunity to take advantage of Dave being a softy - she was straight into the front seat when I jumped out


This is the road that goes around the Cape...hopefully they'll do more than just stick some cones by it soon

The dogs have been cooped up for too long and Tilly was obnoxious in the car, as usual. She discovered a new toy - the rear seatbelt


Dora is pretty fed up with Til at the moment, but remains patient instead of getting snarky


We decided to try to hit the beach to let them out for a little run...the road wasn't great, but we made it! We had to drive through the a bit of flooding

Then down a little hill that is eroding away

before crossing a new river




There's miles of standing water everywhere

Coming back to town across the same crossing as the firetruck Dave shot yesterday

View from the middle of the road to the West

The emus are belligerently taking over the roads as their lairs get swamped.

Dora was ready to go home; Tilly was longing for more playtime...

It's raining, it's pouring...

After a glorious week of weather, during which I was too busy to post, today is disgusting. It has been pouring rain since about 3am and we are totally socked in. The inclement weather is the news of the day, so all the fun stuff I've been doing since my last post will have to wait another day! It doesn't look like the rain is due to let up anytime soon.

Here's the view from our front porch during one of the lulls - at some stages of this front you can't see the cars. Dave's got his DryAZaBone out along with his big Akubra hat! Not often we have to break out the rain gear.

The dive shop is once again totally flooded and so is the street in front of us. This shot is actually when the water was low - you can see it creeping up under the wheels of the trailer and farthest bus. Such a joy...

We're still open, though we canceled our tours for the day. The phones still ring and you'd be surprised at how many people will brave the rain and the flooded streets to come in. The Open Water Course is at the pool coz they're gonna get wet anyway!

This is the park across from the pool and just half a block up from the dive centre

We weren't the only ones out driving around checking things out - this is all on the main road

Main road without cars driving through. The sidewalk is above that first tree on the left - there's a lot of water and not so much drainage!

One of the "retaining" walls next to the sidewalk

Some people aren't making great driving decisions in their small cars - this is out at the new marina development. I'm sure they'll fix this problem before more houses go in...


This is a little 10 foot deep gully in town - it's usually dry. That swirling water is where the road starts.


And here's the road on the high side of town, right by the shopping complex - got a little white water rapids action going for us today

Happily, I had an office day planned after a good weekend of diving and enjoying the outdoors! I will try to get some non-rain news and images up later this afternoon or tomorrow.