Latest update 2100, 22/8/07.
Sunday 19th August 2007 - Occasional drizzle in the morning, moderate showers in the
afternoon, constant moderate, soaking rain overnight.
Monday 20/8/07 at 7am - Its still raining, but the river level hasn't changed much, there is still a
lot of sand showing in the river bed. Roof water tanks are overflowing and the author's site
shed leaks. Nearby overnight rainfall about 4 inches.
The rain continued heavy until about 11am, then a few showers and then we had a dry afternoon
until about 4pm. Then a few light showers. The Macdonald river level at the St Albans bridge
was 1.27 metres at 5pm. Thank you Kaye for showing me where the river level markers are
hidden. The river is flowing nicely but is expected to fall significantly before Shahzada
starts. Just remember to bring your gumboots and greasy heel treatment. There will definitely
be enough water around the course and it shouldn't be quite so hard underfoot as past years.
10am 21/8/07. The sun is shining and the clouds are dispersing. The lakes in some areas are
draining away. The temperature 15 degrees. Ideal conditions for the Shahzada.
11 am The clouds are back, its starting to rain, only light and didn't last very long.
The lagoon in the St Albans Common received a lot of water from further north and went into flood
this afternoon. It was OK about lunchtime 21/8/07, (Neil and Allan used the road). By about
4pm Joan Opbroek advised that there was a metre of water over the road in the Common. Neil and
Allan checked it a little after 5pm and found that it was down to about 0.7 metres. Chris
O'Grady (resident in the Common) is quoted as saying that the water peaked about 4 feet and
there was likely to be debris on the road.
Back in the St Albans village, the IRT tent is up, PA is nearly completed, the PA radio
transmitter is on air, the first arrivals from Victoria are already in camp. Final track
clearing and marking is occurring.
8.40am 22/8/07 - The St Albans Common is still in flood near the lagoon. The water level has
dropped to about 0.2 to 0.3 metres, which is off the bottom of the flood level indicator. The
course of the road is however not obvious as there are no side markers in this part.
The
water level at St Albans Bridge was 1.2 metres at 9am. The water lavel has dropped significantly
since lunch time 21/8/07. The overnight rain was 6mm.
2045 - 22/8/07 The flooding of Wollombi Road in St Albans Common has abated. Neil has advised
that he returned to St Albans Village via Wollombi Road without any problems at about 5pm.
The Wollombi Road is however still very slippery and not reccomended for floats and trailers.
The weather in St Albans today included some light rain and periods of very strong winds and
periods of complete calm. The river level continues to fall.
1940 23/8/07 - Another busy day setting up for Shahzada. The sky was cloudy all day but the
temperature this morning was quite pleasant. Very little rain today, only a couple of light
showers and it has cooled off to 12 degrees this evening (1940 23/8/07).
Tom Perkins
commented, (23/8/07) that the Wollombi Road is only suitable for 4WD if you are towing a caravan
or Float and not very suitable for 2WD vehicles, its still very slippery after the flood. Also
there is a large fallen tree partially blocking Wollombi Road about 2 km north of the Common.