I have
never seen it so rough. The winds were howling through the rigging. Screaming
would be a better adjective. That metallic tinkling sound as lines rattle
against metal masts.
Even in Queen
Annes Battery marina, boats tossed slightly as the currents found their way
through the normally impenetrable outer wall. And what waves! I cannot ever
recall seeing waves being driven down that narrow area of the barbican before.
Angry, foaming, grey waves with bright white foam tops......white horses on a
mega scale! They piled up against the lock gate of the Sutton harbour entrance.
No one in their right mind would have
attempted an exit or entry through those narrow lock gates.
At the
harbour masters pontoon, the harbour launches rose and fell great heights, secured
fore and aft. Even the pontoon was rising up and down on its steel pilings.
And this
was the sheltered area! We drove around onto the hoe. No one was trying to walk
along the hoe foreshore road. You'd have needed to be insane.
The breakwater
was hidden under a maelstrom of malevolent breakers, spume rising high in the air and being
whisked shoreward. The sound was a boiling mass of white caps. Waves crashed
against the base of the hoe, white water breaking high over the restaurants at
the waters edge. It was genuinely quite impressive and awe inspiring. Nature's
fury at its best.
And we
have more to come. Christmas travel plans disrupted, many homes without
power......flood warnings out everywhere. Railway travel severely restricted.
I'm glad we live on a north facing hillside!!!
My
thoughts and prayers and best wishes go to all those travelling, to those
affected by the weather......take care in your Christmas journeys. And thank
you to all our emergency services, from the fire brigade to the RNLI, from
Police to the AA and RAC, from council workers, to environment agency and
electricity board workers.....and those struggling to get our railways moving
again. Thank you all for keeping us safe this Christmas
Steve
1 comment:
I don't remember a night so bad for many a year. My daughter is one of those caught up in the rail chaos down your way. have a good christmas Max
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