Rain, Rain And More Rain = Flood

It seems not that long ago that the attention was on the terrible drought that Australia was in yet this week we have witness what is definitely a break in any drought. We have waded our way through more water than I have seen in a very long time. We have sat and watched dark black cloud after dark black cloud roll in and burst.

Our week spent in Dubbo was eagerly anticipated as we had arranged a visit and interview with the keeper of the Black Rhino breeding program at the zoo, along with an interview with artist Bill O'Shea. Although it was not that long ago that we were in Dubbo we hoped to do a lot of sight seeing and pick up positive stories along the way. Instead we have soaked up water and dodged rain drops.

On Thursday evening we noticed that the caravan park we were staying in, which is luckily 5kms out of town, was filling up quickly. On Friday morning a permanent resident of the park approached me and asked if I was considering going into town. He stated that they had closed most of the street and that I may wish to leave early as traffic was chaotic. I had planned the day at the van in order to do a phone interview and organise articles so was not too concerned. What did concern me was the fact that the next day was the zoo visit...would we get through.

Forgetting about the warning of traffic we headed off for our zoo interview on Friday morning allowing ourselves the 15 minutes it would take. As I turned out of the caravan park I soon realised it was going to take a little longer as the traffic came to a roaring halt. Patiently we waited and 45 minutes later made it to our destination. With the sun trying to greet us with its presence, but black clouds lingering, we did manage to meet with the Black Rhino zoo keeper and have a wonderful interview ( The full story will be published in January Good Gabble).We enjoyed the zoo, bog and all, for a couple of hours before the lingering cloud burst, in a big way, and washed us out.

Saturday afternoon I received a call from a family member asking me if we were ok as they had heard a caravan park in Dubbo had been evacuated and was under water. I quickly looked it up on the internet to find that it was the park we usually stayed at and at the last minute I had changed my mind as it was $2 a night more expensive. At the time I wondered if I was being a penny pincher but am now glad I went with my gut feeling. 

A drive into town this afternoon showed just how bad things were. All roads leading into town are closed. We parked our car, along with all the other sightseer's, and walked along the bridge that goes over the Macquarie river. It is hard to believe that everything can just disappear under meters of water so quickly. The carpark, where Sam parked and I left her to sit with the others whilst I grabbed a few groceries just the day before, has been replaced by a river, right to the door of Coles. The cabins in the caravan park are nowhere to be seen, completely submerged along with the office where the owners of the park reside. Houses in the surrounding area have been evacuated, outside chairs and items placed on tables to get them up higher.

What amazes me is the risk that people put themselves at during this time when the SES are already stressed to the max. Teenagers, in particular, choose to swim in the flowing flood waters fully aware, due to media anouncements, that brown snakes are in the water and are deadly. Emergency crews can be seen everywhere. Police patrol every street, the fire brigade whizz past with sirens blaring, RTA monitors stand on the corner of the streets and SES trucks, with lights flashing, dodge the traffic. It may be acknowledged as a natural disaster but there is nothing natural about the feel and mood in the air. If it was not for the tireless work of these volunteers and paid men and women this situation would not be as under control as it is, yet individuals continue to play with their lives and risk the lives of others for a thrill and fun.

With further storms and a lot more rain expected over the next two days Dubbo is preparing themselves for further flooding due to the release of overflow from a dam upstream. Surrounding suburbs of Gilgandra, Coonamble and Dunedoo are also experiencing the worst flooding in a long time. We are meant to leave here on Tuesday and travel through Gilgandra but at this current time the highway is closed going in both directions so this may not be possible.

So how are we coping in all this rain and flood. As I write this on the Saturday we are to the point where we feel as though we may be going mad. The van has leaked in a few places due to the amount of rain and is starting to get the musty smell about it. The tent leaks at the front and back door and the mattresses need drying with the heater each day as the water seeps through the floor. I have run out of dry clean towels to soak up the water and the mud in the van. To wash clothes is impossible as to get a dryer to put them in is the challenge and at $3 a go, which does not dry the clothes so you need at least $6, who can afford it. Add the $3 a load to wash on top of that and it makes for very expensive clean clothes. The washing is what is annoying me the most as sheets, towels, you name it, become wet and soggy. With four people, a dog and a kitten in a 12 foot van you can imagine how we feel.

I no longer wear shoes as I walk around outside as they just become bogged with water as the ground squelches under your feet and you sink in ankle deep. The weather is very humid and to add to the feeling of being sticky we are never dry as a trip to the bathroom leads to a soaked body.

But above all who is complaining. We have not lost our home or items. We have not been evacuated and our lives uprooted. We are safe, mostly dry and we have plenty of food. A little inconvenienced yes, but nothing compared to what some are going through. Above all we are just embracing the experience knowing that it will eventually end for us, we will move onto another town and will take our story with us.

The affects of this flood are devastating, with the loss of money, livelihood and belongings evident. My heart goes out to the farmers who have already suffered enough yet now loose their crops. The NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally, has been reported as estimating that up to $500 million has been wiped off the value of crops already*. Luckily, so far, there have been no reports of loss of life. 

It will take the people of Dubbo months to repair the damage once the flood waters have gone down, right on top of the festive season, but with a motto of 'time to smile' I am sure they will unite, get behind each other and put it in their past.

I wish to take this moment to thank the SES, emergency services and volunteers who have worked around the clock making sure that everyone else is safe. They are all worth their weight in gold.

Take a pictorial journey of the flood at: http://samlophotography.blogspot.com

*SMH December 5, 2010

When Even The Frogs Want To Come Inside

Even the frogs want to come inside

The rain keeps pouring, wetting my hide

Puddles hug ankles, mud in the toes

Drains they run free, to China who knows?

The rain keeps on pouring, wetting my hide

The soil holds no more, my van my abode

Move on the lay man, frogs just ignore

Puddles hug ankles, hey that is all

The soil holds no more, my van my abode

Squelch can be heard as feet hit the ground

Puddles hug ankles, hey that is all

Where are the ants? I suppose they drowned

Squelch can be heard as feet hit the ground

The dog won't pee, the ground makes a sound

Where are the ants? I suppose they drowned

The washing piles up, nudity grand

The dog won't pee, the ground makes a sound

Stuck in the van with no where to go

The washing piles up, nudity grand

Send out the dove to search for dry land

Stuck in the van with nowhere to go

Coffee the plan so I don't go mad

Send out the dove to search for dry land

With floods all around, nowhere to go

Coffee the plan, so I don't go mad

The river has risen, move your van

with floods all around, nowhere to go

think I'm stuck in Dubbo, not my plan

© Jennifer Deaves

Inspired by and dedicated to my green froggy friend who I enjoyed a morning shower with during the floods in Dubb, December 2010.

view more frog photo's at http://samlophotography.blogspot.com

The Free Camping Experience

   As I've travelled over the years I have watched overseas backpackers travelling on next to no income and wondered how they did it. I  listened to their experiences with awe, wondering if I would ever be game enough to give it a go. As the years have gone on I have also noticed that 'free camping' has taken off with more and more travellers becoming self sufficient, choosing to keep their money in their own pocket.Well for five days we did just that - kept our money in our pockets and become an overseas backpacker for the week.

  For five days we went without paying for a camp site and without paying for power. We have kept our cost to the minimum, saving every cent possible. What an experience it was. It was uplifting and character building.......Do we really need to use power every day? Have we become to reliant on our mobile phone and creature comforts?

   As the years of travelling have passed I have seen backpackers pull into unpowered sites. which can save them more than $5 per night, and still take advantage of power to charge their electrical items. Visit any ammenities block in any caravan park and you are sure to find the mobile phones, ipods and lap tops of overseas tourists plugged into the power points, charging whilst they shower and attend to their needs. Have a meal at the camp kitchen and you are sure to find the same thing.

  There are many options for lighting, from that of gas lighting to taking advantage of the lights in the camp kitchen, around the park and at the barbeque area. Want to save even more money, wash by hand. Even better help the environment and save water by washing your clothes by hand whilst in the shower.

  Save even more money, stay away from caravan parks altogether, and take advantage of the many rest area's around Australia. Many times we have stopped in rest area's and had wonderful chats with overseas tourists as they light up the gas to boil the billy or cook up the 2 minute noodles. Grey Nomad's have now joined the party.

  So our goal for the five days.....do as others do......free camp all the way.

  We spent five days travelling from Mt Duneen Victoria to Dubbo NSW without spending any money on accomodation, showers, water, power or washing of clothes.

  Here is how we did it.

  Day one - Grass Tree Rest Area.

  The first night we were very lucky and fell upon a gold mine of a rest area on the highway outside Seymour which had two power points......and flushing clean toilets. We pulled in at lunch time with the plan for a break to eat and ended up staying the night.

  Whilst eating our lunch Alex pointed out that the man under the other barbeque shelter was using his lap top plugged into power. POWER! was my reply and the search for power under the shelter we were at began. With no luck I soon set of to have a chat with this lovely gentleman. There were two power points, which we later discovered were there to service the holiday stop revive survive lions club cuppa vans. The gentleman had his van plugged into one and his lap top into the other but was more than happy to give up a power point for us to use. His wife and himself had stayed the previous night and were enjoying the rest so had decided to stay another.

   I quickly moved the van so our power lead would reach, plugged in and then, using the external power socket on the outside of my van, ran another lead and power board into the sheltered area. We shared our power board with our new gentleman friend and we all had a wonder afternoon of computers. That evening we sat and talked of our travel experiences.

  With our van carrying enough water to last us a week and power to boil the kettle we had a comfortable night and  a good rest.  Free electric barbeques were provided at this rest area so it was a barbie for dinner. That evening we sat and talked of our travel experiences. The next morning as we said goodbye to our new friends, who had only just began their journeys having only been travelling 3 months, we were sure we would meet them somewhere down the road again.

    Free power and new friends.....what more could one ask for.



 Night two - No free power but plenty of light and a flushing toilet 20 km outside of Junee NSW. This is the second time we have stopped the night at this rest area. The ammenities are clean and well looked after and their is plenty of lighting to be taken advantage of and for security.

   We spent the afternoon laughing, sharing, drawing and cooking pasta on our gas cooker. We took photo's and shared memories of times past. With no power when it got dark we went to sleep. When the sun rose we awoke and pulled out the gas cooker again. For breakfast we served Semolina, hot chocolates and coffee, toast made on the frypan and fried eggs......a feast fit for a king.

    It is possible to stay clean without a shower. Each morning and each night during free camping we would boil the kettle on the gas cooker and fill the plastic wash basin. A good sponge down does just as well as a shower. Brush the teeth and you are feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world.

  Day three and four -  The beginning of day three saw us drive to West Wyalong where we were lucky enough to get a free shower at the local road house. I was expecting to have to pay a few dollars, as most roadhouses charge around $2 a shower but when I enquired I found they were free. Like the overseas travellers we grabbed a power board and all of our rechargable items and made use of the power in the ammenities.

Later that afternoon we again fell upon a wonderful free short term stay spot along the river at Forbes NSW. This spot is a large grass area provided by the council. There is no power or ammenties as it is sign posted that all caravans and motorhomes must be self sufficient, but they do provide water and bins. We do not have ammenities within our van but did not find this an issue as it was only a short walk to the ammenities at the local lions club park.....forward planning was all that was required and exercise was an added reward......and when you leave it a little late Penelope Pee Bucket to the rescue.

   










  We loved this spot and the serenity it offered that we decided to stay two nights. We left the car and van at the free camp on the second day and took a walk across the other side of the river into town. We actually ended up doing this twice as we forgot an item the first time. Besides this we again took photo's, explored, wrote and did a lot of chatting. On the last afternoon we had a wonderful couple of hours decorating our car and van with the spirit of Christmas and laughing at the looks on the faces of passers by. Our car is now Rudolph with our van a sleigh full of positive cheer. We have since driven to Dubbo with our decorations and will continue to spread our Christmas cheer right up to Christmas day.

 Day five - A rest area 14 kilometres outside of Dubbo. By this time we had exhausted our battery life on our note books and our mobiles. The day was one of the wettest I have seen in a long time so we pulled over just after lunch.  What to do when 4 humans of various ages, a dog and a cat are stuck in a small 12 foot van for hours on end.......more laughter, chatting, sharing and fun. I completed a find a word, the first in many years and we all read books. I read to Celeste and we played match box cars. We played with the kitten and cuddled the dog. We cooked, ate and took the dog, and Celeste, for a run in between showers. Time soon went by and it was dark...no lights....goodnight.


   You may wonder how we coped without a fridge since we didn't have power. No problem. Milk comes in a powdered form that only need be made up in the amount required at the time. If you want to eat it then it probably can be found in a tin. Think about how hungry you are before you cook....cook only what you are going to eat......or  feed left overs to the dog. Only buy your fresh food as you are going to use it. We found that the only thing we missed having was a really cold drink as a couple of our free camp days were really hot but this was easy to overcome by a trip to the closest shop. Need be the old esky and ice will always do the trick.

  To me the most rewarding and fun part of our free camping were the ones where we did not have the power. No power really takes you back to basics. Without computers we definitely had to amuse ourselves and pull out all 'the old tricks' We spent heaps more quality time together and definitely laughed more, if that is possible in this family. Don't get me wrong, without my computer, technology and power this message I send to you would not be possible. Free camping helped me be more thankful for what I have and also made me realise that it can rule our lives and stand between us and our family and friends. Time away from it does not do us harm but enriches our lives.

Could I live without my computer? yes, I did not miss it one bit but of course would get not be able to complete Good Gabble without it. For me personally technology adds extra stress and takes me away from time I would like to spend with my kids....that is if they didn't have their heads in their technical world.

Could I live without power? Definitely. After a day or two you really just get into the swing of a different way of life and don't really notice it. You start to listen to your body and nature. We do not wear watches but rely on our mobiles and computers for the time. Without them we had no idea what the time was. Without power we had no lighting.....except the torch or candle.......so retired with nature and rose when she called.



  We had a great five days and hope to use free camping a lot more in our future travels. We helped do a little for the environment by using less power and resources and made some new friends. We experienced a new way of living.....one that was done long ago but has since been forgotten.

   If you ever get the chance leave the power and shower behind and get out there and be at one with nature....you will be suprised at the difference it makes to how you feel at the end of the day.