What`s Happening???

[farri]

 At the end of one of the driest periods in many years, we`d been getting extremely heavy rain for a couple of days but no major flooding expected...After a very pleasant boxing day spent at Mission Beach, with some of our family and friends, Frances and I got back to Deeral at about 6 pm to find Ross road, the road to our property, flooded at the boat ramp( nothing new)! fortunately, there was a local guy who had just come across with his tinny so I got home with him and Frances went back to a friends place, just up the road, for the night.   

 

Down at the Drifter shed, the Drifter was sitting in water up to the belly tank, my Grand-son`s Jet-Ski, was on it`s trailer in the shed beside and it was about to float and the water was still rising! by the time I did what I had to do to get them out, it was dark, there was no one else here at home and I had to get both up to higher ground here at the house, in the dark and rain! I did have light from the Hilux ute and a very good torch, though... I`ve gone through moving the Drifter from flood water numerous times over the years but never in the dark, on my own and at 71 years of age (on new years day)...LOL...It`s amazing what you can do when you have to!!!

 

Before the rain. I`d just finished mowing and went for a quick fly... Day after I shifted the Drifter.                    Same day.

 

/monthly_2018_12/49571212_home1.thumb.jpg.74c2020c5ca1c0f5693884822e34ea9a.jpg                                                                               

 

Franco,

 

Ps, We can get flooded in with next to no rain here at Deeral! It`s the amount of rain in the Mulgrave and Russell river catchment area and the Atherton Tablelands that determines the height of both rivers! at the moment our next threat is a low pressure system to the north of us that could develop into a cyclone! all we can do is to be prepared and wait and see!...Frances and Me wouldn`t live anywhere else! we plan to live out our life here.

 

http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/4day_col.shtml

 

 

 

 

[nomadpete]

Good luck Frank. Glad you got there in time to save the drifter!

 

Watch out for crocs wandering around.

 

 

[Thruster88]

Always  enjoy your stories Frank, wish I lived just down the road, good luck with the cyclone. 

 

 

[farri]

Always  enjoy your stories Frank, wish I lived just down the road, good luck with the cyclone. 

You could be part of some of my stories if you really wish to! There`s a very nice house for sale, just 750 mts up the road, on two blocks of land, with Mulgrave river views! owners are friends of ours and it`s their home away from home, at Alvina Bay, NSW. 

 

 

Cyclone? I went through my first Cyclone at nine years of age with my parents when we were living at Tully NTH QLD! Forgotten how many we`ve been through on our property here at Deeral but we`ve never sustained any really serious property damage and hopefully never will, however, we have lost many $$$ due to crop damage but we`re not farming anymore! it has been absolutely nothing like the losses so many people have had to bear due to bush fires...No chance of any fires here the way it`s raining right now.

 

Frank, Franco!

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Good to see the Aussie spirit of carrying on is alive and well, Frank. I've had some experience of that sort of floodwater and the worst part is the critters it brings. Flooding seems to be the major drawback of your awesome location; have you considered a mooring line for your drifter and JetSki?

 

 

[Butch]

71 years of age (on new years day)...

Happy Birthday for Tuesday Frank! 

 

North QLD is gods own country

 

Being a Mexican from down South I only get to visit once or twice a year!

 

Hope the floods don't give you too much grief.

 

I've just got home from a fire on our farm ( small not much damage )

 

That's what you love about OZ , floods one day fires the next,

 

Happy New Year!      

 

 

[eightyknots]

Good to see the Aussie spirit of carrying on is alive and well, Frank. I've had some experience of that sort of floodwater and the worst part is the critters it brings. Flooding seems to be the major drawback of your awesome location; have you considered a mooring line for your drifter and JetSki?

A good idea: a mooring line would stop your Drifter from drifting!

 

 

[tailspin]

You could be part of some of my stories if you really wish to! There`s a very nice house for sale, just 750 mts up the road, on two blocks of land, with Mulgrave river views! owners are friends of ours and it`s their home away from home, at Alvina Bay, NSW. 

[ATTACH]38216[/ATTACH]

 

Cyclone? I went through my first Cyclone at nine years of age with my parents when we were living at Tully NTH QLD! Forgotten how many we`ve been through on our property here at Deeral but we`ve never sustained any really serious property damage and hopefully never will, however, we have lost many $$$ due to crop damage but we`re not farming anymore! it has been absolutely nothing like the losses so many people have had to bear due to bush fires...No chance of any fires here the way it`s raining right now.

 

Frank, Franco!

Hi Franco happy birthday have a wonderful day safe flying you and the Drifter kindest regards Ron tailspin 

 

 

[farri]

Over the years I`ve considered building a shed for the Drifter up here on high ground that doesn`t go under water, considered it again with the bit of flooding we`re just getting, and then I`m reminded of the song, Manana Manana.  

 

Peggy Lee    November 25, 1947. 

 

" The window it is busted and the rain is coming in

 

If someone doesn't fix it I'll be soaking to my skin

 

But if we wait a day or two the rain will go away

 

And we don't need a window on such a lovely day "    

 

Getting everyone home the day after I moved the Drifter! Sam holding the Tinny so I could take the photo... Sam`s father, Bernard, lives in New Zealand and came over here to spend Christmas with Sam and the rest of us! New experience for Bernard! I reckon he`ll remember it.

 

 

The Mulgrave river rose again over night and flooded Ross road again so this morning I had to take our Grand-Daughter Alison to the other side so she could go to work! No need for the Tinny and really! no big deal!!!

 

Going Across!   

 

Franco,

 

Ps, I`ve had a life time of experience on the water and under it! Don`t try to cross flood water if you are not absolute sure you know what you are doing.

 

I havn`t yet found the problem but when I submit a post, it comes up different than I wrote it! Hopefully I`ll get it worked out or is it the new system that`s got bugs in it...I`ve had to edit 3 times 

 

                      

 

 

 

 

 

[farri]

After almost a week of of strong wind that would blow a drovers dog off a chain, not to mention the heavy rain, today was sunny, with the wind back around 15 kts so Frances and Me had a hard days work at our eldest Daughter and her Husband`s big property at Mundoo , Me mowing and Fran taking care of the garden! got it all done and back home with enough time to go for a fly, so I did and what a fly it was! First solo flight for 2019.

 

High above the valley!                                                  Sun just going down over Mt Bellenden Ker.

 

 

Franco,

 

Ps, No matter how much flying I do taking others flying with me, I have the need to get up there on my own and just enjoy the magic of it all.

 

 

 

[farri]

Old Drifter pilots have more fun!!! .......Sisters, Natashia and Deliah having their first Ultralight flight in the Drifter, with me, yesterday afternoon!

 

                      

 

Franco.

 

Ps, After the flight? Two very excited, happy ladies!

 

Pps, Photos posted with their permission!                                                  

 

 

 

[biggles]

     Hey Frank , what about saving some of these chicks for when I get there  ..... Bob

 

  

 

 

[farri]

Hey Bob! You want the Chicks, you`ll have to fly a Drifter!!!!...Frank. 

 

 

[facthunter]

 I know they sometimes attract eagles. Dunno about chicks. It's probably Franco's approach, there. . Nev

 

 

[farri]

Yesterday morning, big Jimmy,(previous flight) /monthly_2018_12/1277896720_Jimmy.(Large).thumb.jpg.b0a9aae67acd062cc2530e3405f13f1d.jpg turned up with his friend Ron! Jimmy had told Ron about the two flights he`d had with me and Ron was keen to see what it was all about. Ron is the first passenger I`ve had who chose to wear his Motorcycle helmet, that was fine with me but I did explain that in the event of a heavy landing the helmet could cause severe neck injuries.

 

 

 

Back on the ground, usual question from Me, " First impression! what did you think of the flight?" Ron, "Great but I forgot to press the record button, for the Video". Ah well! you win some you lose some! Ron reckons he`ll be back so hopefully next time he`ll remember to press the record button.

 

Franco,

 

Ps, Before anyone jumps up and down about the Camera, I`ll make it clear that I allow anyone to take a Camera, provided it is secured in a manner that is safe.

 

Pps, Big Jimmy is determined to lower his MTOW!

 

 

[bunyips]

Floats Franco ?

 

 

[farri]

Floats Franco ?

Hey Todd (bunyips)! good to know you`re still around!!! Been doing any flying?

 

Floats?????

 

 

[bunyips]

Floats for the Drifter mate :) !!! 

 

     I haven't been up for a while Franco... Busy with other interests... I will give you a ring next time I go up to Cairns and drop in for a Coffee...

 

 

[Methusala]

Hey Frank, how is it up there? Growing fins yet? Cheers Don

 

 

[spacesailor]

Farri.

 

I hope this Big wet doesn't do anything bad at your place.

 

Can you send some of the excess water over the range, & down to the Darling river ?.

 

We will try & send some warmth up from Tasmania, They are all hot under the collar down there.

 

NSW doesn't know what the weather should be 35c one day, 25c the next day, can't send that sheet !.

 

spacesailor

 

 

[mnewbery]

We will try & send some warmth up from Tasmania

I was in Tasmania over the Christmas break. Unfortunately no flying for me, then.

 

Apart from the mild conditions I was very grateful to be under the flight path between Devonport YDPO and George Town YGTO. I saw a greet variety of planes every day. Someone appeared to be giving rides in a Chipmunk. I didn't see any drifters (doesn't mean there aren't any).

 

I can now understand the attraction of the North East of Tasmania. Anyone who moans about the winters being cold hasn't compared them with Canberra Winters. The summer isn't being very kind to either place this time. I saw the smoke from the Bruny Island bushfire plus the smoke over Hobart (fortunately the latter on TV).

 

 

[nomadpete]

Of course Tasmania is warm. Its got central heating from all those fires. We had to burn 150,000 hectares of firewood to get our temps up above 30. We try to do this every summer to keep the mainland tourists warm.

 

It'll all have to end 'cos we are running out of forest.

 

 

[M61A1]

It'll all have to end 'cos we are running out of forest

Start burning hippies...win/win.

 

 

[adshedsyd]

Hello 

 

Just asking if there are any members that own a piperstrel motor glider. I am trying to find a rebuild manual for the vario prop but the company won't answer my emails . 

 

 

[Allen Tromp]

Hi. You might try Colin Alexander, owner of Solo Wings ( also known as Mr. ROTAX) in Tauranga, New Zealand. He currently has a Pipistrel for sale, and has also rebuilt a wrecked Sinus.

 

I'm not sure if Micheal Coates still has anything to do with Pipistrel in Australia. Otherwise talk to the Pipistrel "Boss Man" himself, Ivo Boscarol in Slovenia.