Cyclone Gabrielle......

.....we knew she was coming, we knew she would be wild, but we weren't prepared for her fury as she sabotaged the North Island. 

Gale forced wind howled in all directions, sheets of rain fell from the sky, power was cut, cell phone towers were out lunging the island into darkness. Rivers swelled and broke their banks, people scurried for shelter wherever they could while water rose. Cities, towns, small settlements and rural communities were completely cut off as roads disintegrated, bridges caved in under the power of rising rivers, huge slips rumbled down upon housing bringing down trees, while water continued to rise. 

It was frightening to see Gabrielle unwind through news coverage, vehicles upturned and submerged under muddy water, people being rescued from rooves and trees, hanging on for their lives. Pumpkins, apples, onions floating by from neighbouring orchards or left in the eaves of rooves as waters subsided. 

Many, many people have lost their homes, their treasures, their jobs, their businesses....and loved ones, as sadly there's been casualties. 

The food basket of New Zealand has all but gone, iceberg lettuces from Gisborne, gone, apples and other fruits, wineries and vegetables from Hawkes Bay, gone, kumera from Northland, gone, also the market gardens of Pukekohe just below Auckland, gone. We have wineries in the South Island, along with orchards in Central Otago and some fruit and vege area's but they're not large. It was sad to see farmers having to empty vats of milk as tankers are unable to collect milk due to the state of the roads, they couldn't get through, it's all just devastating.

As realization flowed through me, I was choked with tears, I wanted to reach out and give North Islander's a long hug. How does one continue on from so much devastation? It warms me to see communities of young and old, all cultures coming together with love and support. It's going to be a long haul, years I think, with many challenges ahead.

Gabrielle left our shores with a smirk, she flicked her tail upon Canterbury. We had a little rain and some wind, huge swells in the ocean, swollen rivers turning dirty, the estuary above is usually blue but not today. As you can see there's still plenty happening in the sky, those clouds were rolling through having a battle of their own.

We won't forget Gabrielle in a hurry that's for sure!

Kia kaha - Stay strong.