So the rains came down thanks to storm Francis and once again the river level went shooting up.
This morning the guy from Network Rail was there photographing the bridge and checking facts and figures against some documents in his hand. A bridge has to be safe when it carries the main line from Preston, with goods and passenger trains passing every few minutes.
It's funny but living here it doesn't take very long for you to completely zone out the sound of the trains, I had to purposely stop and listen to see if any trains were actually using the line ... they are.
Yesterday the field opposite was also under water, but now the river is back inside the riverbank, even if it is pretty near the top and flowing very fast.
The area where there is usually a good sized pebble 'beach' is completely submerged, and Suky was quite dismayed to see the path stopped so abruptly.
Further along the adult ducks were all mooching about in one of the little fishing areas near the waters edge.
The Mummy duck with her two week-old babies was nowhere to be seen, but I know she was safe last night as I saw her settling her babies into the bushes away from the edge of the river. Their little legs could just not cope with the fast moving water at the moment, but they are good for carrying them along the grass looking for titbits.
While I photographed ducks, Suky had a good sniff around, everything must smell so fresh to her after all that rain.
'Are we going now Mum?'
We had a nice walk along the river and then it was home to get the soaking washing out of the sink and hung on the outdoor airer. Fingers crossed the rain stays away today, it's looking hopeful.
Sue xx
I love to hear the sound of running water but it gets quite scary when the river levels rise so quickly. Francis brought us very high winds but no damage, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteStay safe x
Yes, I love the sound of the water too, and we are very lucky on this side of the river as the other side has been purposefully left with a slightly lower bank so that all the water goes that way and into the flood plain fields.
DeleteIt looks lovely there. Will you keep the van on when you move to your new place? It would be hard to leave such a lovely area. x
ReplyDeleteI may keep it on for most of the final season as the charges are paid yearly. I could let family have holidays in it for a while and perhaps use it if we decide to come to the club for the Saturday night, but as I will be living only 10 minutes up the road and near to the same river I don't think it's worth keeping it on permanently. I would do better to sell and add the cash to my currently non-existent pension pot.
DeleteThe river that I live next to is just a bit bigger than yours and a bridge for cars and another for subway trains run over it. It is amazing how quickly it can change from a beautiful, scenic river to quite a raging one after just a few days of rain. A couple of weeks ago two kayakers had to be rescued as they clung to the top of a weir after capsizing - the water that day was running fast & deep and they never should have been out there.
ReplyDeleteI love living by the river - it is so calming. I know that I am home as my train emerges from the tunnel to run over the bridge at my station - when the water is low enough a sandbank emerges and the fly fishermen love that spot - it is so picturesque.
It sounds lovely. There is a bridge for cars and pedestrians that you can just about see on the top photo through the arch on the right, but it is nowhere near as picturesque as the train bridge, with it's six arches. And yes we too have a lot of fly fishermen on and in the river at this time of year, I'm always worried I'm going to get hooked if they don't look round before casting!!
DeleteThe river is high here too. Lily is disappointed we can't go fishing for minnows. X
ReplyDeleteToo much rain can be devastating and ruinous. The southern portions of our United States were hit by Hurricane Laura last night and the water surge was reported to be 20 feet in some places. They're saying some places will never be the same again. Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou live in a beautiful area - I do have fear of rising water and fire. I hope you are safe.
ReplyDeleteHope that water has gone down - we have had sever al downpours here.
ReplyDeleteLooks such a restful place
ReplyDeleteThat's worryingly high, isn't it?
ReplyDeletexx
Awww, look at Suky having a good sniff! Loving the duck photos.
ReplyDeleteHope the water level sorts itself out, it must be a worry. x
I know what you mean about zoning out trains, we live about a mile from Gatwick airport and rarely used to notice or comment on the sound of aircraft, now we have this post lockdown and so few flights are going, we find ourselves saying 'what's that, a plane?' as they are so few!
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