Considering the amount of water we had received overnight the ground had returned to its normal state and soaked up most of it.
We went to check the nets again and found a lone red claw in the net which had garnered the most the day before. The other one was brimming with another twenty or more so before pulling out we cooked them up for later that day.
Then it was in to Clermont as we chased a fridge magnet for our souvenir collection. A quick look-see of some of their local sites and then we began heading out of town. As we drew closer to the bridge that linked the town to the various highways we noticed flashing lights and hundreds of cars lining the side of the road in both directions.
Our first thoughts were that a major accident had happened so, rather than stop around and look, we ran the gauntlet of vehicles only to find that as the bridge came into view water was streaming across the top of it. We pulled into a side road and then joined the crowd to find out what our options were. Apparently, this wasn’t the only creek that was swelling and roads had been cut in front of us and behind.
How long would this last for? We were advised that if we had further rain that night we might be holed up for a few days. And with stuck miners, couriers and other assorted travellers securing lodging in town might be an impossible mission.
We decided we would wait in town for a few hours and enjoy some lunch and use the time to do our washing before checking the water levels again. We were hoping that with a few extra hours before the forecast rains the water levels may have dropped and we could manage a crossing later in the afternoon.
While this seemed a sensible plan when we went back to check the road it had been closed entirely and the little street that we had turned onto before was now underwater. The creek was still rising.
We assumed the best place for us was probably back at Theresa Creek Dam so headed back there, having to cross a few little swollen creeks on the way.
It was interesting how the dam seemed like the most perfect place to stay, yesterday, but now that we had no choice but to stay it took on a whole new atmosphere. Our freedom had been taken away from us and we were now semi-captive to this little piece of high-ground.
Furthermore, the dark clouds, thunder and lightning that we could see in the distance weren’t offering us any hope. Yet, with all it’s gusto it only managed a trickle. Possibly, we might make it out tomorrow!!
