Should we reconstruct Noah's Ark?

After an incredibly dry 2019, Armidale has transformed into an emerald city after something like 250 mm (c. 10 inches) of rain in the first six weeks of 2020. And, last evening, I saw a lovely rainbow to the east of our house as the sun was setting.


This was the first time in many months that we had seen a rainbow. I thought about tracing the pot of gold where the end hot the ground, but Tuesday evening is my contract bridge evening and I hastened off to my game instead.







Two days earlier - last Sunday - I drove out to Wollomombi falls to see what I imagined would be a torrent of water cascading over the escarpment and crashing into the pool beneath, amidst clouds of spray. However, I arrived at the road leading to the falls just as a thunder-storm released torrents of rain. The road has to cross a narrow causeway over a little stream that's almost always dry. This time I joined a queue of stationary cars stationary awaiting the opportunity to cross, while another queue on the other side waited to escape. As you may know, I have an impatient streak. After a few minutes, I turned around as the torrent of water intensified and headed back to the Baker's Creek falls to the west. I'd passed the turn-off to those falls earlier when the weather was dry. Well, I was in luck. There was no rain despite looming dark clouds. But heavy rain over many days had caused a massive inflow of water to the falls. I was stunned by the thunder of torrential water and estimated that the water flow must have been ten times or more than I had ever witnessed previously.


The torrent is captured on the left and note the spray drifting over the landscape. Turning through 90 degrees one can see the gorge etched out by the creek over thousands of years on the right. Note the threatening colour of the sky.






I didn't linger long because I could see the rain coming and I just reached my car as the skies opened. And the downpour was, I think, the most intense I have ever had to negotiate. Usually I drive the Waterfall Way, as the coast road is named, at c. 100 kph, but I had to reduce speed to c. 40 kph to give my wipers a chance to clear the wind screen and avoid an accident.

By the way I have a 20 second video of the waterfall with the roar of water audible. I can copy it to you if you ask nicely! In addition consider this. If rainfall continues at this rate for the rest of 2020, we'll receive something like 2125 mm (85 inches) compared with the usual 750 mm (30 inches).

Hmmm. Ark construction might take off as people seek to secure their future homes. And the government might want to build arks to populate them with the remnants of many different species of plants an animals driven to the verge of extinction by drought and fire. Maybe that thinking is overboard in Armidale. We live at c. 1012 m (3320 feet), so we're not likely to go under-water any time soon. And, were that to occur, most of humanity would be drowned!

AS

Saumarez Farmer's Market

For many years, Armidale has had its markets in the mall on the last Sunday in each month. They're still going even today, but with a declining number of stalls. That outcome may reflect growing competition from farmer's markets which commenced maybe 10 years or so ago. The initial event was held on one Sunday each month different to the market in the mall - Armidale's main shopping street- until recently. Then, a little while back, the farmer's markets went to twice a month on the first and third Sundays, both held in a park alongside Dumaresq Creek - the main waterway through the centre of town. And, today, for the first time, a third farmer's market opened up on the second Sunday of the month. This event, unlike the others was hosted out at the Saumarez mansion, a National Trust property located to the south of our city.

It wasn't an auspicious day for the opening event! After months of drought, January saw a monumental rainfall of c. 180 mm (or over 7 inches). And this climate shift has moved into February with further impressive falls of c. 55 mm (over 2 inches) in the first eight days. I couldn't resist taking these two cloudscapes looking north from near Saumarez just arriving there. It wasn't raining at the time but, as you can imagine, rain was imminent at any moment.

Despite the impending weather, many people drove out there to, like me, survey the scene. Here' a mobile coffee wagon parked in from of the homestead.

And here was the first glimpse I got of the market stalls as I walked into the grassy area next to the homestead's restaurant. Normally, this area is a car-park for visitors

And this was the view of the remaining stalls as I swung left through 90 degrees. I was saddened by the overall small number of stalls compared with the established markets down-town. At a guess, the number would have been only c. 40% of the usual total. This outcome, however, may reflect both the advertised heavy rainfall and it being a first-time venue. Perhaps the sizeable number of people who turned up is harbinger of success into the future. It's certainly an attractive and historical location, and the Saumarez managers are trying hard to popularise the location.

As usual at these kinds of event, one of my favourite stalls was present: 'Fe Fi Fo'. This sells delicious French-style pastries and I couldn't miss the opportunity to buy Dot an almond croissant and me a little pastry with cherries embedded in it. I was alone as Dot preferred to stay at home this time.

Altogether, it was a pleasant experience. So, I shall return.

AS