Sunday, March 16, 2014

Cyclone Lusi

I love a good storm. I don't want it to hurt anyone or cause damage, but I love listening to the wind and rain, love the wildness of it all. So when we were told that Cyclone Lusi was heading our way I took all the usual precautions - went all round the place making sure nothing could blow away, moving various bits of outside and deck furniture. Stocking up on water in case of a power cut etc. Then waited... and waited... and waited!

I know! New Zealand is a tiny country, and where we live is very narrow so it's difficult for the forecasters to really be sure of exactly what will happen, but at our place all we had were some gusty winds and rain. Not even torrential rain.

But as you can see, it was expected to be huge! We are right near the top of the North Island at the bottom of the very narrow bit ( more or less!)


So, against all warnings, I went off in the jeep with my trusty camera and searched out anything I could find that was storm related! I drove over to the coast, to Paihia, and oh wow, poor old Paihia was getting the brunt of it all. It was high tide and the sea was going crazy.

This is the road along the front. Usually Paihia is lovely and calm, I swim here a lot. There is no sea wall or anything like that, cos there really hasn't been a need for one!
However it seems like half the beach was washed onto the road. It was worse further along.


The usual flat waters round the beach, the boat area and the beach cafe.


More beach on the road further along the front. There were numerous fire engines here pumping out water from various places.


This wee dinghy broke its mooring right in front of me. It started bobbing along in the sea.


Very difficult to show the scale of these waves, but take my word for it, they were huge!



As far as I know, this yacht survived! It was well tied on!

And today it's al over. Rain has stopped and the sun is trying to come out.

Usually Paihia looks like this..


5 comments:

  1. Great pics but scary. You're a bit of a storm chaser!

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    1. I don't think I'd chase a hurricane or something like that! :) But who knows!!!!! x

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  2. thanks for braving the storm to share with us. nice shots!

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    1. :) I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic!!

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  3. aw thank you! :) I'll go and have a read of yours :) xxx

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I love it when you leave me comments, it lets me know there are folk out there reading my ramblings! Thank you, I appreciate them loads and loads
Laura x