Arriving in Coutts Crossing enabled us to eat and catch up with fire stories as locals dribbled in. It was quite intense as people shared their experiences, and started to consider the implications of the fire on their futures.
Some people had no insurance, some lost the tools required to make their living, others had animals and stock that they knew were going to die a horrible death. Some had sheltered in sheds, dams and makeshift shelters and feared for their lives. Others stayed to defend their homes, but were eventually driven out by the intensity of the heat. And others were still out there. Many of us did not know the fate of our houses, and occasionally found this out from other locals arriving. It was a harrowing, yet bonding experience.
Eventually, we went to the room at the pub. We talked a little, and we turned out the light. About 2 minutes after our heads hit the pillow I received a text- followed by a knock at the door in case we didn’t get it .
NSWRFS EMERGENCY BUSH FIRE WARNING - Obx Creek, Chambigne, Coutts Crossing - Safest option to leave now if path clear to Grafton. www.rfs.nsw.gov.au 1800679737
Needless to say, we got up, got dressed and jumped in the car. Two evacuations in 1 day was a bit much, but we went with it. We made a decision to head to Maclean – about 45 minutes away where Bruce’s aunty lives. We thought we could just camp on her front lawn or something. We stopped for an icecream at the roadhouse to lift our spirits. It did.
Of course, when we got to Maclean, and realized it was 11:30 pm, we decided a 90 year old woman did not need to wake in the morning to find us on her lawn in a state of disarray. We finished up driving out to the Yuraygir National Park. We had no booking, so chose a discreet spot behind a small electrical substation. We rolled out our sags and jumped into bed. As soon as our heads hit the pillow, the mosquitos descended. Heaven knows where they were breeding; the place was dry as dry, but there they were. Out of bed one more time to put up out tent in the dark. Luckily we are good at this.
We dragged our swags in and finally got settled in bed. I’m sure we must have at least a half hour of sleep before a gale, known locally as a southerly buster, sprang up. Had it not been for Bruce’s weight on the tent floor, it would have blow completely away. As it was, Bruce was being slightly suffocated by the top of the tent pressing down on him as the gale blew and blew.
Bruce had had it by now, but I managed to get up and tie the windward side of the tent down to various heavy objects. Bruce assisted as ballast.
And then, sleep at last.
Well… at least until 7:00 when the rangers turned up having spotted our dodgy camp. They pulled up and wound down the window. Bruce’s words, stuck in my head. “Our house burnt down last night and then we had to evacuate Coutts Crossing. We got here at midnight and camped here.”
Fortunately , like almost everyone who finds out about our situation, they immediately told us not to worry, offered us a campsite and then one of them offered us room at their house.
And that was our Friday.
Some people had no insurance, some lost the tools required to make their living, others had animals and stock that they knew were going to die a horrible death. Some had sheltered in sheds, dams and makeshift shelters and feared for their lives. Others stayed to defend their homes, but were eventually driven out by the intensity of the heat. And others were still out there. Many of us did not know the fate of our houses, and occasionally found this out from other locals arriving. It was a harrowing, yet bonding experience.
Eventually, we went to the room at the pub. We talked a little, and we turned out the light. About 2 minutes after our heads hit the pillow I received a text- followed by a knock at the door in case we didn’t get it .
NSWRFS EMERGENCY BUSH FIRE WARNING - Obx Creek, Chambigne, Coutts Crossing - Safest option to leave now if path clear to Grafton. www.rfs.nsw.gov.au 1800679737
Needless to say, we got up, got dressed and jumped in the car. Two evacuations in 1 day was a bit much, but we went with it. We made a decision to head to Maclean – about 45 minutes away where Bruce’s aunty lives. We thought we could just camp on her front lawn or something. We stopped for an icecream at the roadhouse to lift our spirits. It did.
Of course, when we got to Maclean, and realized it was 11:30 pm, we decided a 90 year old woman did not need to wake in the morning to find us on her lawn in a state of disarray. We finished up driving out to the Yuraygir National Park. We had no booking, so chose a discreet spot behind a small electrical substation. We rolled out our sags and jumped into bed. As soon as our heads hit the pillow, the mosquitos descended. Heaven knows where they were breeding; the place was dry as dry, but there they were. Out of bed one more time to put up out tent in the dark. Luckily we are good at this.
We dragged our swags in and finally got settled in bed. I’m sure we must have at least a half hour of sleep before a gale, known locally as a southerly buster, sprang up. Had it not been for Bruce’s weight on the tent floor, it would have blow completely away. As it was, Bruce was being slightly suffocated by the top of the tent pressing down on him as the gale blew and blew.
Bruce had had it by now, but I managed to get up and tie the windward side of the tent down to various heavy objects. Bruce assisted as ballast.
And then, sleep at last.
Well… at least until 7:00 when the rangers turned up having spotted our dodgy camp. They pulled up and wound down the window. Bruce’s words, stuck in my head. “Our house burnt down last night and then we had to evacuate Coutts Crossing. We got here at midnight and camped here.”
Fortunately , like almost everyone who finds out about our situation, they immediately told us not to worry, offered us a campsite and then one of them offered us room at their house.
And that was our Friday.
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