Howard's drive today...Kidman Way south of Griffith.
This is at the same spot as the picture above. Kidman Way at 3:30pm March 7. This is one way traffic. The truck in the picture is making sure people stay away from the edge where the water is washing away at the road.
Still dry, safe and happy here at Boongarra Farm. Here's today's (Wednesday) update on the surrounding flood situation.
Our friend, Cass, called last night and we were expecting directions on an alternate way to get into Griffith. Instead, she informed us that all roads from Leeton to Griffith have been closed....yep, we're right in the middle. The village of Wigelli was the area that we were worried about on Monday afternoon. The reports this morning were that the water is higher than the railroad line. Seems like good enough reason to close the highway! (I'm also worried for a student and family in my class who live and farm right at Wigelli. On Monday morning, he told me that some of his sheep were stranded on a bank. There has been A LOT of water since then!)
Griffith is now unaccessible from the east and south. And so...another unexpected stay home day! I am happy and relieved to spend another quiet day at home but am feeling bad that we aren't doing something to help. Howard is even worse.....he alternates between playing with the boys, mentioning that he could be helping fill sand bags, and going for drives around our area.
I don't know how unaccessible or closed the roads really are because there are still occasional semi fuel tankers passing by the farm as well as other vehicles. ***Howard just called. He and Cody are off on another drive (he really is anxious/bored/edgey) and they have made it into Griffith on the back roads that Cass told him about last night. He said they drove through some "pretty good water". I hope they get themselves home "pretty darn fast" because the water is travelling north to south and there's no telling how fast that might be!***
The city of Wagga (2 hours away) did not flood last night as expected and the water peaked at 10.56 m. A huge sigh of relief there. North Wagga was completely submerged a couple of days earlier.
Locally, Beelgangra and Yoogali (AGAIN) and parts of Griffith have been evacuated. (Jim is staying at Fiona's.) Wade High is unofficially closed. Some teachers on our staff are staying with friends and family in Griffith, other teachers are in evacation centers. Some teachers are hosting friends in their homes. As far as I know, our school is running the best that they can. I am told that the line ups at the petrol stations yesterday were down the block and the grocery stores are empty....no milk, bread, fruit or veggies anywhere! (Except at the Jackson farm where they drink 4-6 litres a day and the husband stocked up with 18L!)
The littlest Jackson is turning 5 on Friday. It's a waiting game to see if we'll get to town by then. Currently, we have no sugar and no cake mixes so will have to get creative to make a birthday cake (then again...who knows what Howard will do in town!) . Also...no presents yet...hmm. Don't tell Khye but there is also no mail (birthday parcels) and his party on Sunday is highly questionable at this point. But then.....let's put that all in perspective. We are happy, safe, dry and are in no danger.
We'll update more latere tonight when Cody and Howard bring their news and observations.
***Update: 4:45 pm. Howard and Cody are home. They travelled south of the farm, west on Wilga road and north on Kidman Way. They expect it will be closed very soon. They made it home safely and brought with them cake mixes and birthday presents! (and toilet paper?!?)! Yah...party on!***
Love, JJ
Our friend, Cass, called last night and we were expecting directions on an alternate way to get into Griffith. Instead, she informed us that all roads from Leeton to Griffith have been closed....yep, we're right in the middle. The village of Wigelli was the area that we were worried about on Monday afternoon. The reports this morning were that the water is higher than the railroad line. Seems like good enough reason to close the highway! (I'm also worried for a student and family in my class who live and farm right at Wigelli. On Monday morning, he told me that some of his sheep were stranded on a bank. There has been A LOT of water since then!)
Griffith is now unaccessible from the east and south. And so...another unexpected stay home day! I am happy and relieved to spend another quiet day at home but am feeling bad that we aren't doing something to help. Howard is even worse.....he alternates between playing with the boys, mentioning that he could be helping fill sand bags, and going for drives around our area.
I don't know how unaccessible or closed the roads really are because there are still occasional semi fuel tankers passing by the farm as well as other vehicles. ***Howard just called. He and Cody are off on another drive (he really is anxious/bored/edgey) and they have made it into Griffith on the back roads that Cass told him about last night. He said they drove through some "pretty good water". I hope they get themselves home "pretty darn fast" because the water is travelling north to south and there's no telling how fast that might be!***
The city of Wagga (2 hours away) did not flood last night as expected and the water peaked at 10.56 m. A huge sigh of relief there. North Wagga was completely submerged a couple of days earlier.
Locally, Beelgangra and Yoogali (AGAIN) and parts of Griffith have been evacuated. (Jim is staying at Fiona's.) Wade High is unofficially closed. Some teachers on our staff are staying with friends and family in Griffith, other teachers are in evacation centers. Some teachers are hosting friends in their homes. As far as I know, our school is running the best that they can. I am told that the line ups at the petrol stations yesterday were down the block and the grocery stores are empty....no milk, bread, fruit or veggies anywhere! (Except at the Jackson farm where they drink 4-6 litres a day and the husband stocked up with 18L!)
The littlest Jackson is turning 5 on Friday. It's a waiting game to see if we'll get to town by then. Currently, we have no sugar and no cake mixes so will have to get creative to make a birthday cake (then again...who knows what Howard will do in town!) . Also...no presents yet...hmm. Don't tell Khye but there is also no mail (birthday parcels) and his party on Sunday is highly questionable at this point. But then.....let's put that all in perspective. We are happy, safe, dry and are in no danger.
We'll update more latere tonight when Cody and Howard bring their news and observations.
***Update: 4:45 pm. Howard and Cody are home. They travelled south of the farm, west on Wilga road and north on Kidman Way. They expect it will be closed very soon. They made it home safely and brought with them cake mixes and birthday presents! (and toilet paper?!?)! Yah...party on!***
Love, JJ
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