This is January

 Wet, humid, January - part one.

I previously mentioned the storm damage of Christmas night. Boxing day, prior to sunset, saw another storm front to the north of us, but it thankfully bipassed us. The damage this evening was minimal, but the heavy rain caused flash localised flooding.

Below are images from an amazing sunset that followed.

   

The week leading up to New Year's Eve was very hot and humid.  A storm came through about 9 pm on the eve, and the rain thundered down for a couple of hours. On waking there was over 2 inches / 61mls in the gauge, but the sky looked clear. We had friend's coming for lunch at 11 am.  Heavy rain began to fall at 10am and never let up. Pam decided not to come. Lyndell arrived and partook of the prawn, avocado and mango entree and then left, fearing the bridge near her home would go under. Sue only had to use the M1, so stayed.

118 mls fell in several hours..

1pm, 1 January.

The foreground is the rain falling and unable to get away, because the ponds have risen from the flooded  Albert River, on the opposite side of the golf course.

6pm, 1 January

The rain has stopped temporarily, but the ponds are beginning to flood around the 6th green in front of our home.

2nd January, 7am - a further 89 mls had fallen during the night.

We woke to more rain  and although the flood water hadn't risen dramactically overnight, they were still rising.

This is the drain gushing to the right of the 6th green. 65 mls fell in this deluge.

After our experience of the 2017 flooding from 16 inches falling in 24 hours in the hinterland, we were beginning to worry about these rising waters. Was it going to be another 2017? Has the hinterland had exceptional falls again?

2017 flood height. - just 10 cms from covering our pergola area and another 10 cms would have had it in our home. Unimaginable until this day!

8 am, 3 January

6.30 am, 4 January

Such a relief to see the levels falling. In fact, our worry was totally unnecessary. The flood level on this occasion was thankfully the lowest we have had. Blue skies and happy birds greeted us.

You can see the height on the trees.

Showers and humidity was still a problem in this, the second week of January. The Gaiter Girls had a bigger hike planned, but the forecast had us changing our minds.

So 8 am saw us entering the beautiful Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens as the gates opened. We walked approx 2 k's through the gardens to the back gate, which allowed us to join the Spotted Gum trail, to take us to the top of Mt Cootha.

It was cloudy but there wasn't any wind. The reflections on the lakes were just absolutely stunning.

The climb was a steep 2 1/2 km. The sweat was dripping from us constantly

The view is pretty special, even on this overcast day.

After a short rest we found a return trail and headed off. It wasn't long before we were cooled by the first light shower of the day.

Well earned refreshments  and happy hikers!

The following day the Hungry Hikers were meeting at 6 am at the Carbrook Wetlands Conservation Park, a 25 min drive from here. Halfway there, the heavens opened again and the rain looked set to stay. Phonecalls were quickly made [modern technology meant calls could be answered in the other 3 cars,] and we changed direction to the nearest cafe. 

After about 1 1/2 hours the skies had cleared. Just across the road from the cafe was our new hiking trail.

The 10 km walk.

Happy to be finally hiking.

Lovely Hiker Jayne had given us Hungry Hiker Earings as a gift at Christmas. Hikers and mountain peaks were painted on both sides. We received numerous comments as people passed us.

They blew in the breeze and clung to our skin because of the sweat.

We love a puddle.

Blink and the grass has grown another foot!

We unexpectedly discovered Sanctuary Street. A very quiet, shady street with beautiful homes on two to five acres. There were some very interesting mailboxes.

Yes, we are Queenslanders!

Nearly every front lawn had a wallaby or two grazing.

Huge Lilly Pilly Tree.

The umbrellas came in very handy, not for rain protection, but for shade.

In the early years of this blog, there was always a photo of us 'walking down under', our umbrellas.  More posing was done, before retiring to the air conditioned cafe for a cold drink.

Moody skies have stayed with us.

It is 9 pm Monday and regular scattered showers have been heard on the roof since 6pm. The Gaiter Girls are headed to the coast at 6am, for a beach walk. We expect to get wet, if not from rain, then from sweat!

5am Tuesday - 45 mm in the gauge. A wet night. 

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