If it weren’t for
the devastation both in human terms and the loss of possessions,
infrastructure, livestock and livelihood, there is something mesmerising about
the spectacle of a flood. Finally made it into Launceston today, at the end of an
extraordinary week of flooding across the State, but visited Cataract Gorge
anyway, as that is THE place to go to witness the sheer power of such an event.
Have visited the Gorge on several previous occasions following floods and have
been amazed to find the entire First Basin lawns, picnic area, playground and
swimming pool nowhere to be seen. 
This was just the
same, only more so, for barriers were restricting sightseers from venturing
anywhere near their usual vantage points to get great photos as the water had
risen to unprecedented levels. Walking tracks were closed, as was the
suspension bridge, and the café which overlooks the whole Basin had become
waterfront property at the height of the drama as floodwaters rose almost to
the windows.
Now that the
water level has dropped, debris brought down through the Gorge is everywhere,
but those with nerve and a few dollars gained the best view as they went back
and forth across the churning waters on the chair lift. Passed a group of young
guys where one said he’d pay for them all to go on if someone dared to jump midstream.
No one took him up on his offer.
Funnily enough, as
I wasn’t able to get some decent close-ups, the one thing I found most
interesting visually was further down the river. Where the waters from the
Gorge join the Tamar River and head past the Homeport and Seaport areas, huge
masses of scummy froth were floating past like ice floes in Antarctica. Maybe
it’s just me, but I reckon the patterns made in all that frothy mess by the
constantly swirling waters was nothing short of artistic genius. Think I’ll get some
enlarged, frame them, might make a nice tryptic.
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