Monsoon in Mackay
Trip Start
Dec 14, 2007
1
30
187
Trip End
Mar 16, 2009
Mackay,
Australia
Friday, February 15, 2008
After departing Hervey Bay we found the road flooded in several areas, but we were still able to cross. In one case, we got stuck (don't worry, I didn't stress-out the driver, I merely gave several quiet gasps and clung to my safety belt) but Ryan's clever manoeuvring got us through... needless to say, that section of the road was closed shortly after we crossed.
Travelling further North it was raining all the way and it was very stressful trying to dodge huge potholes around caravans and trucks spitting-up more water, while watching not to run-over a kangaroo or koala. When we reached Mackay, we decided that it was getting to dangerous to travel further plus it was getting dark. We struggled to find accommodation as many other travellers were caught unexpected in the rain. Finally, we found a motel, dodgy and a bit expensive, but a bed's a bed and a roof's a roof. We got the last room in the Motel of which all floors are on ground level. Just a note - Mackay is not the most "happening" place on the Whitsunday Coast, it's an industrial town.
Through-out the night the rain bucketed down and I was petrified our little limo (aka rental Hyundai Getz) will be drifted off by rivers of water. It was a bad night's sleep.
When it finally became light outside, we were able to see that the entire Motel entrance and main road is flooded with water rushing knee deep. It only got worse and by now (9am) emergency troops is called from as far as Brisbane to help flood victims in Mackay. School were cancelled and nobody is going to work today. You can't even step outside as you get completely soaked and with the thunder and lighting, it's just not worth it.
I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared. Honestly, I'm petrified of a flash flood, which is apparently very common in this weather. All our belongings is put on shelves above the floor and in case of an emergency, we have a bag packed and ready to grab with all the essentials (e.g. laptop, passports, cameras, medicine, notebook with booking details, etc.). Ryan thinks I'm being paranoid, but rather be prepared than sorry. We can always buy clothes and toiletries again.
The upside is that our room is the only room in the motel which is not completely flooded (yet). We also have enough food with us for breakfast and lunch. We still have electricity and might be able to get internet from the hotel.
Apparently it's high tide now and the locals expect the water to go down a bit once the tide goes out. I'm not expecting much though. I see our neighbours (wearing bright yellow and orange shirts, which mean they are government workers working on roads and facilities) are making the most of their day off by cracking their second beer for the morning at 8:30am. It might become a very interesting day... I feel sorry for the locals who's homes got flooded as I'm sure the damage is severe and very costly.
We had to cancel our upcoming accommodation on Magnetic Island (just off Townsville, about 385km's north from Mackay) and seems as though we'll also have to cancel our sailing and diving trip in Cairns (another 400km's north from Townsville) which was scheduled form Monday and Tuesday. Our aim now is to get safely to Cairns before 20 February, when we are due to fly to Auckland, New Zealand.
Video to follow soon.....
