Last night I experienced the wildest storm of my life. This blew Hurriane Fran and all those that followed in NC and VA out of the water. I think that it was so extreme in comparison because I have never endured a storm while living on a big rock in the middle of the ocean. I guess the storms are just somehow qualitatively different out in the middle of the South Pacific? Anyhow, it was quite intense. We awoke to the sounds of sirens at 1am, and ran around the house closing all of the windows and doors (which we leave open while sleeping for the breeze) because the 60mph winds were whipping things all around the house. Maggie put on the headlamp and stared out the window while she watched her precious garden be attacked by debris and flying lawn chairs. We sat and listened to the thuds of the 80 pomelos hitting our house as they were launched from the limbs of the tree while it was lashed about by the winds. We also watched as our beloved banana leaf, last described in a blog just yesterday, was shredded completely. We lost most of the banana patch, including all the bananas. The new car narrowly avoided being hit by several large banana trees that were snapped in half. Maggie finally ran outside in a desperate attempt to save the plants she had yet to put into the ground. It was a successful rescue for several, which are now safely secured behind barriers on the lanai.
This morning we emerged to find a yard full of pomelos, which we collected into several large plastic containers to give to people in the community. Maggie salvaged what she could of the garden, propping up the poor little plants with bamboo and clearing debris. The roof of the house we live in was damaged--the shingles were ripped off and were flying all around. The gutter was also ripped off in several areas and during the night proceeded to bang around the yard like giant aluminum centipede from hell. The fence around the side of the house was ripped down. Its all quite crazy!
Maggie stayed home from work as one of the major routes to town was closed completely due to downed power lines and trees. Our electricity and internet have been sporadically out throughout the day, while cable TV and phone are out completely. True Island Adventure!
The tubs of pomelos.
Mess under the lychee tree.
Garden :(
Bye-Bye Bananas.
The house with damaged gutter and ominous clouds.
3 comments:
oh no! your poor garden! i'm glad you are safe :P
Storm or no storm... it snowed here today, nothing is going to keep us from getting out to Hawai'i for some tropical crazy weather.
dood, that is the worst. I hope your remaining plants can recover and the backyard clean up was not too bad. Please take care in that crazy weather.
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