When the River Rises & Life Doesn’t Slow Down

 

Last time I checked in, I thought I might be starting to nest… but couldn’t quite get there.

Well. Since then, life has well and truly decided nesting can wait.

Australia Day – 110mm and Rising

On Australia Day we had 110mm overnight. Upstream got 150mm… and we still don’t know what fell in the headwaters.

We walked down to the river around 5:30pm to check it. Slight rise. Nothing major. We came back to the house, and I thought I’d check the upstream camera — and that was the moment the stomach dropped.

It was massive.

We had about an hour before dark. So, we did what you do — moved what we could. Dogs, plants, lawn mower. Anything outside that had legs or wheels.

Then we started inside. Word came through from next door that it was tracking to roughly just above the 2019 flood height — though no one was sure if it was still rising or had peaked.

By 10pm the river was out of its banks and nearly in the house yard.
By midnight it was roaring through downstairs.

And when I say roaring — I mean loud. That kind of deep, constant sound that sits in your chest.

We made another run downstairs as the water kept climbing. The fence was starting to wash out. We let eskies and bins float to the fence to catch them before the west side gave way.

By 2:30am it peaked.
By 4am Frank was asleep.
By 5am I finally crashed — after roughly 40 hours awake with maybe an hour’s sleep.

At 6am the neighbour downstream rang to check on us.

The water sat in the yard most of the next day, even pushed back under the house again around 3pm before finally retreating out of the yard by 11pm. By the next morning, it was back in the banks.

Eight inches higher than the 2019 flood.

Needless to say, one very stressed pregnant woman was absolutely busted by the end of it. Somewhere in the chaos I also managed to fall into a hole and slice up my leg and toe — which resulted in Frank banning me to the couch to rest.

That’s how January wrapped up.

Sales, Flights & a New Chevy

In the middle of all that, I sold my gooseneck and the Hilux — sad to see them go — but I also picked up our new Chevy. A win amongst the washouts.

February has been helicopters, planes and timing rain bands.

We were still flooded in, with no vehicles on the right side of the river, so I flew off the place and into Townsville for appointments and supplies — though I couldn’t bring anything home. From there I flew to Rocky to collect the new car, caught up with a few people, and then made tracks north again before more rain hit.

Nearly got caught 140km south of Charter Towers. Slipped through.
Then the road nearly shut for the last 100km to Richmond with creeks rising between Hughenden and Richmond.

I stayed the night in town and organised a helicopter home the next morning.

After a week and a half away, I was so glad to land back on the place.

A Surprise Named Chopper

While I was away, I managed to surprise Frank with his birthday present — a new puppy flown in. Little Chopper.

She is the sweetest little thing.

I finally got to spend some proper time with her… and then she went downhill.

So back on the helicopter we went — me and her — over to Hughenden for two nights while she received treatment at the vet.

All I can say is she is one tough puppy.

We caught a flight home yesterday and she is now bright, playful, her colour is back and her appetite is back. Watching her bounce around again has been the best feeling.

30 Weeks, Rising Rivers & A Long Wet Season Ahead

Both rivers are still up. It’s been raining most days. More forecast to come.

It’s shaping up to be a long-wet season.

We still have no gear here to set up the baby’s room. I’m currently 30 weeks and 2 days, and while I keep joking with Frank that I hope we don’t have to fly Peanut back into the property after birth… there’s a tiny part of me that’s only half joking.

If I’m honest — the emotions are high at the moment.

I’m anxious. Stressed. Crying over things that normally wouldn’t faze me. I feel like I can’t switch my brain off. I wish I could just blank out for a couple of hours and stop the constant hum of “what ifs.”

I know part of it is exhaustion. Part of it is hormones. Part of it is living at the mercy of weather and water when you’re trying to prepare for something as big as becoming a mum.

Right now I’ve got a couple of days on the place before — yes — another helicopter ride out for appointments. Whether I drive or fly again depends entirely on what the weather decides to do.

I’m hoping March is calmer.

That the rivers fall.
That the roads open.
That we can finally get the baby gear in and set up Peanut’s room properly.

And maybe — just maybe — I’ll get to nest after all.

Until then, we ride the river.