The mess on Main Beach

I tried to go for a walk along Main Beach this afternoon but it was disgusting - the smell of rotting vegatation wasn't very nice and there was a slimy slick covering the sand so I gave it a miss. The debris seems much worse than just after the storm on the 22nd, especially down the other end - the floodwaters are obviously pushing a lot more downstream and most of it is seems to be landing on Main Beach and the water is very muddy, much more so than the flood last month. Pippi Beach is out of the question because the erosion has once again created sand cliffs and while you may be able to slide down them it would be impossible (for me anyway) to get back up. There were no birds to photograph either - even the gulls have disappeared since the storm. At least the road is open again and we can get out of town.