A Western Australian saga.

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drron

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As some know we are currently in WA.It has been a tale of problems.The first plan was for August 2020 which was for the Silo Art trail,some northern wildflower viewing and possibly Margaret river.It wasn't long before those plans fell over.We then read a TR from @JohnM and were sold.An Abrolhos cruise it was going to be.

So plans were put in place for March this year.The Silo Art trail,Back to Perth via Margaret River,Leisurely drive to Exmouth and a whale shark swim and back to Geraldton for the cruise.Then flying straight back to BNE.The easiest part of the planning has been the flights.They have all been AA awards in J.They have been changed several times with points and taxes refunded virtually immediately when cancelled.Booking even at short notice not a major problem - the flight over on 8/4 was booked through AA 6 days before weleft.Yes 2 J awards on QF costing 20000 points and $19.30 each.We had tried to cover all possibilities.We wanted to spend a week in Sydney before the trip but didn't trust the WA Premier so had flights booked from BNE on 2 separate days a well just in case.

It certainly became apparent that megalomaniac Mark was a serious risk to our plans.However when he decided to have an election on 13th March we decided to put back our trip to 28/3 hoping a big win might result in more sensible border policies.That diidn't pan out well.The first problem was when the Perth hotel we had booked for our first 3 nights cancelled our reservations.Simple.We just forgot Perth and booked to fly on 1/4.

So it came to @%/3 and we flew to Sydney.Everything was looking good until the Premier who kept QLD safe from Covid didn't and Premier Mark proved he had not changed his spots.So we were faced with the prospect of cancelling totally and fly back to MCY or try and salvage something of the trip.First confirmed that if we had been in NSW for 4 days we would be let into WA without Quarantine.Got our G2G pass and rebooked on our 15th day in NSW - 8/4 to fly to PER.

That would allow us to do the whale shark swim and the cruise.It did mean the silo art trail,Margaret River and Perth had to go.Mrsdrron takes care of those reservations.Although stressful the individual tourist businesses were fantastic with full refunds every time.

So once here we felt our problems were over except for a niggling worry NSW might come up with community transmissions and we would get a call from WA Health.But on our first night here came the news of the Cyclones in the India Ocean.Hoped they might change direction but no luck.So we now find ourselves in involuntary hotel isolation with the trip to Exmouth cancelled because for the first time in 65 years a cyclone is due to make landfall near Geraldton.

So next the TR proper will begin.
 
In WA Emperor Mark did extraordinarily well in the March election so he has almost 4 years to run.
The southwest of Western Australia has fairly reliable weather with just remnants of cyclones reaching below Geraldton. Where you live drron you can often get a rain event that stun us and would keep us glued to the weather reports.
Hopefully these latest cyclones cross the coast and fizzle into a bit of a rain event and weaken quickly.
Just don’t try driving thru floodwater and stay safe off the roads by waiting.
 
Found out that none of the evacuation centres in Geraldton are cyclone rated.

I heard the news conference from the WA Police Commissioner yesterday - he said (and re-iterated) that NO buildings in Geraldton are cyclone rated!
 
Don't forget they are Crays and not Lobsters :D

If you manage to make the cruise
 
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Mrscove is thinking your trip to Western Australia could be a little bit jinxed.
One of my business partners is camping out at Cape Range with his children and pretty much out of phone range. It is school holiday time here in WA.
Last time i was in Geraldton there were quite a lot of vehicles with E signs so be careful on the roads around there.
 
It is unusual for a TC to cross the WA coast so far S, at least while classified as a TC and not a rain-bearing depression remnant.

TC Alby, the worst one recorded in the SW, did not cross the coast but roared along it. It was bad.

 
Well here in Geraldton a lot of people out and about still.Shops etc closed right on 1400 as directed.

And @JohnM a group of miners in their typical vehicles had just arrived when we got back at ~ 1400.They had already set up the barbie and had 2 very large bins of beer on ice.Thinking of trying to join them in a few minutes.

Funny scenes driving around this morning.Some places have sandbags deployed.A couple with windows barricaded or taped up but most have done nothing.

A few locals were out at the beaches filling sand bags.I guess not legally..
Still not windy but more clouds.Temp 35C.
 
Is it still scooting along pretty quick? Yesterday they said that severe weather would only last for about 3 hours until it passed through.
 
Seems to be coming south at about 45 km/hr so the cyclone might go past within about 6 hours. The power supply is likely to fail so get familiar with your surroundings. A flashlight would be handy tonight.
 
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Well here in Geraldton a lot of people out and about still.Shops etc closed right on 1400 as directed.

And @JohnM a group of miners in their typical vehicles had just arrived when we got back at ~ 1400.They had already set up the barbie and had 2 very large bins of beer on ice.Thinking of trying to join them in a few minutes.

Funny scenes driving around this morning.Some places have sandbags deployed.A couple with windows barricaded or taped up but most have done nothing.

A few locals were out at the beaches filling sand bags.I guess not legally..
Still not windy but more clouds.Temp 35C.
When I was working in Port Hedland and Broome a lot of years ago, when the cyclones came in we would go around to the safest house and bunk down there, while holding a Cyclone Party - so get where the lads with the barbie and eskies are coming from. However, our behaviour certainly wouldn't be described as 'safe' e.g. standing outside holding onto the verandah poles while being blown almost horizontal in the wind. I wouldn't recommend that.
 
This morning all roads out of Geraldton are closed. No rain or wind. People still out and about. Found out that none of the evacuation centres in Geraldton are cyclone rated. From 1400 mandatory isolation indoors.
Ah, WA.
A short period of heavy rain an hour ago but calm and no rain now. Police and firies out stopping cars.
Internet gone so good to have a phone.
Gas turned off so no hot water.
Wine has been served so just waiting.
What more do you need. Other than something cyclone rated.
 
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