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Published: February 12th 2008
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12th February 2008
Today the weather is just warm rain. It rained very heavily in the night so everywhere is steamy. We had a quick look round Maryborough but it got too wet for pictures so we set off for Bunderburg in case there was any serious flooding on the way and we couldn't get through.
We stopped at the information centre in Bunderburg and booked our turtle watching trip for Wednesday when the weather is forecast to have eased a little. We are in the wet season here and there is the tail end of a cyclone going through so not much hope of sunshine for a bit.
We drove to Turtle Sands caravan and camping park (recommended in the Lonely Planet Guide) and have a little cabin on the beach. It is very clean and very quiet as all the holiday makers have gone home now school holidays are over. A really delightful spot. There is a family of little birds living in the tree out side our window and they line up on the verrandah for the mother bird to feed them. I must find out what they are. The journey to the caravan park was 11 kms
out from the town through the sugar cane fields. The sugar is used in the rum distilleries and ginger beer and drinks brewing factory. We might visit them tomorrow if it is still raining! The fields are very flat and low lying and the flood waters are nearly level with the roads. Reminds us of England last summer!
We walked along the turtle beach to the visitors centre, which was deserted, and wandered round reading all the displays telling of the turtle's life cycle and how they are being protected. There was a large flock of huge black and red parrots shouting above our heads. Another question for the guide tomorrow. The insect repellant is essential as there are vicious biting insects in the grass and trees.
The beach looks wonderful in the storm, wild and deserted. I hope the rain eases enough to get some more pictures.
Since starting today's diary the storm has increased and rain and wind are lashing the beach,
it is now officiallya tropical monsoon and we have had 120mm of rain this afternoon and very high winds. All we have to do now is survive the night as it is forecast to move off
shore tomorrow morning. Then we should be back to showers.
The next problem we may have is that some of the roads in the area have been flooded so we may have to choose our route further North on Thursday rather carefully.
I am glad we are not trying to see turtles tonight as I think the Turtle Experience Tour will be cancelled!
As we are posting this the following morning, we are able to report that we did survive the night, although a couple of the tents nearby had to evacuate and seek shelter in the bigger tent. It was quite fun listenening to the wind and rain raging and the surf pounding the beach. We were very cosy in our little cabin with the telly to monitor the storm’s progress.
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Neal
non-member comment
Rain
I can't believe you have gotten all the way to Australia and it looks a bit like England and is raining to boot! I bet the temperature is not below freezing like it is for those of us stuck in the northern hemisphere though so that at least is some consolation. Sounds like you are making the most of it and I am glad you were not camping in the storm. More great pictures as ever.