Sunday 23 January 2011

arrives...

have landed in new home...
creating and spreading new wings
yay.

A writer/journo called Nicolas Rothwell liked my mailbags last year and wrote a little story about them
here's a link if you interested....
was in Tuesday's Australian...(anyone keep a copy???)

Been too busy to scratch or have a read
Swimming everyday in waterfalls and rivers is hard work!!
Love me new nest...

Tuesday 11 January 2011

sTuck - part III

greetings from Gayndah....
I am here by the Burnett river, sweeping away...
looks like I might be here a while....
am aghast, lost and feel helpless about rain flooding and water...
there is almost no words left...
just survival.
11.1.11

trying to keep spirits up after 11 days being either on the road, stuck, or trying to break through.
5000kms of road and looks like I aint going nowhere.
Luckily the town here is high and DRY.
Yet, am feeling philosophical, if the river rose it wouldn't be surprising.

Unimaginable...
driving through flood affected areas
has been incredibly affecting...
am feeling the humanity of this crisis, for everyone...
it hits me in the core...
the smell of flood is like nothing else...
when i crossed over areas of brown wasteland...seemed like the soul had been sucked and driven downstream...debris littered, remains of this serpentine mud mass....

here's some pics from me journal of the day
not sure it is interesting
just feel low, tired of it, no end in sight
can't quite explain what it is to be trapped in all directions

at least in this I am safe mu kids are on the other side
i have food and can still drink tea...
am lucky so lucky.
heart goes out to it all...




to be continued.....

Sunday 9 January 2011

sTuck - part II

greetings from Black Water
coal country, central queensland.

some adventures to date include:
jet skiing around the whitsundays
dolphins so close it makes you want to smile
storm cloud surfing
tent sleeping
waterfall swimming @ Eungalla
weeding for camping
eating slaty beef with Wazza and Dog
washing clothes in the creek
driving like a crazy woman to hopefully get somewhere else
a speeding fine (never had one in 12 years of NT)
drinking XXXX at the local pub
seeing coal mines close up
Ulysses butterflies
tree goannas
rainbows
black cockatoos
driving through post-flood town Emerald
inhaling the smell of flood (indescribable....like gristle, mud, mould & grass)

it has been a crazy adventure. wish my camera was working.
my regret to not stop at Comet to see the Leichardt Tree, which the explorer Ludwig carved back in the 1800's  irks me. Wish i had stopped.

i learn: patience, patience and i think patience.
might sink some clothes in flood waters; pre-mordant for better days...

the road sinks its swirling self into me.
It is an interesting place to be.
not sure what is around the next corner!

to be continued.....

Tuesday 4 January 2011

sTuck...

as y'all might know...we are having big rains and disastrous flooding...
I am sitting here on the coast of Queensland
with some cane toads...

WAITING....

can't go up can't go round can't get through...
too much water everywhere...
the floods are hugeamungus.
after driving 3000km in perfect conditions
seems now have to sit by the big creek
for about a week or two
till the road opens.

so am in airlie beach, hanging, hoping watching...
i sit int he night light with bugs attracted to the light
a cane toad waits patiently an arm length away
ready to snap up some tasty winged thing.
never knew the sound they made when they snap up something, is cool.

it has been a beautiful drive nonetheless
spent the day in downtown bowen, with some black cockatoos
first touchdown on eastern ocean,
and the whitsundays are breathtakingly lovely.

but my mind races, like a torrent of water
flooding the highways
just want to drive through...get to the other side...
start new life...
patience is my great teacher these days...
or rather...no matter the path,
keep the head up
fight the good fight
and stay strong.

anyway, is a good opportunity to start a new blanket
for my daughter.
Maybe when i get to rockhampton, i can help shovel sandbags
at least i have a home on the other side
and hopefully all my worldly possessions
in boxes somewhere.
i am lucky.
heart goes out to all the people who have totally lost everything
in these murky, soily waters....

keep on keep on y'all, much lovin.