6.30am
27.3 degrees, sun shining but lots of clouds around. Nice light cool breeze.
Steve
continued with his generator shed as after yesterday’s storm he realised he
needs some walls too. I got some blue metal from the pile and spread over the
wet area under the awning and made a little bun wall to stop it flowing in from
the shed nearby. We took a load of rubbish we had collected in the back of the old ute down to the ‘tip’ and retrieved some plastic lattice to put on top of the blue metal to protect our matting.
I
put the rubbish bin back beside the cottage but obviously too close to the
goanna hole and he couldn’t get back in. Steve spotted him so he pulled it back
so he could get in and out easily. Can’t upset the locals. Steve spotted a much
bigger one near the other quarters.
Had
a cuppa then tried out our ‘pool’. Lovely and cool and a perfect size for us
but we need a bigger piece of shadecloth to block the morning sun. The verandah
blocks the afternoon sun. Sent Rob an email of the bits and pieces we need to
put in the stove and fix the toilet and other things around the place. He is
grateful for our help.
Great
news from Joy, she got the job with SRA in Mackay so they are packing up and
heading to Queensland next week. So glad things are working out for them and
Kayla will benefit from going to a school. Doug and Carol are happy to be
caretaking for them which is great.
Kym
texted, they only got 0.6ml there. I checked yesterday evening’s drizzle and
that was 2.5ml.
Only
a light breeze now so it is heating up now. After lunch I worked on my blog
while Steve finished his generator shed and then we moved the fuel pod onto a
frame so he can top the generator up from the pod rather than having to use
jerry cans.
He
has set up a water tank to catch water off the shower block too.
Dark
clouds are building up to the north and the temperature is up to 39 degrees at
3pm so we had our cuppa in the pool.
4pm
the rumbles started. The storm headed west but another is coming behind it.
Dark clouds moved to the east so we are surrounded now.
5pm
big rumbles of thunder and a few flashes of lightning and lots of wind.
Prepared camp – closed up the van and cottage completely – not taking any
chances this time. Folded up the tarp we strung up over the pool as it was
getting a flap on. I turned off the internet in the cottage but we still have
the phone in the van which works off the aerial.
Sat
outside having our drinks watching the lightning show – hard to watch as it is
flashing all around us.
5.30pm
the rain started – blowing in from the south. Steve has cleaned out the rain
catcher so we can collect more rain water.
20
minutes later the storm was on top of us with very loud thunder and lots of
strong wind now coming from the south west. We stood under the awning for a
while till the wind swung around and blew straight in on us so we retreated to
the van. The rain got heavier – my little bun wall is working. The water
catcher isn’t coping though.
Watched
the fabulous light show through the window as the rain pelted down and the wind
howled around us which is now coming from the north. The awning and shadecloths
are hanging in there. The van isn’t rocking so we feel safe in here.
6.30pm
the storm has passed. Still gusty wind and light drizzle. Got a text from Kym –
they got the wind and it picked up the plane that was upside down on the
airstrip and threw it over the fence. Luckily it didn’t wreck the fence. She
will send me a photo.
Mickey
rang as she had just heard about the storm from Chris. He said they had very
strong winds and it ripped off the fence, his verandah etc at the mine camp in
Leonora and the power lines are down. She was checking if we were ok which was
lovely of her.
Rang
Mum and Dad to let them know we were ok. She said the rain had started there on
Friday and it was lovely. Everyone will be happy if it fills up the dams.
Our
buckets are full of water now and the pool is overflowing.
The
track is a lake again and there is a little creek flowing down by the chook
pen.
The
sky is clearing in the north.
Steve
checked the generator and it was good in its new shed.
I
checked the rain gauge and had to refill the cylinder 3 times which gave us a
total of 90.5 mls in a hour.
Back
to the van as some more pitter patter of rain started to fall again. Opened up
some windows but kept the roof vents closed. Erica rang, she and Terry just got
back from a caravan rally. Had a good time but now she has a sore throat.
8.30pm
the strong wind is back so had to close up the van again. Still seeing flashes
of lightning in the south.
Clear
sky overhead when Steve went to shut the generator off.
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