Aftermath

Today (Saturday) Ken, Emily and I finally gave in to temptation and took a drive to have a "stickybeak" at the Brisbane River. I had been fighting the urge to go and have a look, as people have been asked to stay away from the city unless it was absolutely necessary. I wanted to see the river in all it's muddy madness, so we decided to take a drive but avoid the City and the worst-affected areas where the cleanup was in full swing.

We drove along Kingsford Smith Drive which follows the river, past the Brett's Wharf CityCat terminal and along Breakfast Creek (Mom and Dad will know the area). This is downriver from the City, where the river broadens and gets ready to empty into Moreton Bay. Under normal conditions, the river here is wide and lazy, with CityCat ferries (catamarans) and private vessels cruising on a regular basis. No such activity was apparent today - all ferries have been cancelled due to dangerous conditions, and most of their pontoon docks have been destroyed. The river was running fast and was brown, smelly and full of debris. This photo shows the City in the background to give you an idea how far we were from the worst-affected areas, and Mom and Dad will appreciate the difference in the water's appearance!

The amount of debris on the riverbank was amazing, as this photo shows. The irony of a watertank as flood detritus...!

The image that sticks with me is this one: a child's toy stuck in a Mangrove on the river's edge. It speaks of the loss that so many people have suffered.

We drove home along Breakfast Creek, where there were cleanup crews, sandbags, ruined belongings and office furniture in abundance. Home - to our clean, dry and undamaged house. How lucky we all are.

Count your blessings every day. Love to each of you, Elli