What made us think camping inland during summer was a good idea? I have no idea, but I am grateful that a powered site became available - it would have been unbearable not to have air-con.
It is usually very hot this time of year, but in Australia we have had extremely high temperatures in many, many places. TV weather men tell us that the cause of this heat wave is the lack of clouds in the centre of Australia. This lack of moisture causes the air to heat up more quickly. This air is then carried across Australia causing this heatwave. Australia often has localised heat waves, but this one is so widespread and temperatures are so very high. Today in Tamworth, it is suppose to get as high as 42 degrees - that's 107 in the old temperature, and it appears it will be lingering around for days to come.
For more information - Bureau of
Meteorology: Extreme January heat
So.... these high temperatures have caused many bush fires across the Eastern States.
On our way to Repton on Monday we saw smoke and flames in the distance from a grass fire near Grafton. On our second day in Repton there was a grass fire on Raleigh Island, just across the river from where we were. I could smell smoke over night, but in the morning the air and sky were clear.
I downloaded an app for my phone - Fires Near Me - which was great to check how safe we were in the places we were travelling. Other than the Raleigh fire, the closed we have come to bush fires has been 43 kilometres.
Here it is almost midday, and we are going to venture out in the heat. We haven't been to Tamworth for over 20 years, and even back then it was only for driving through on the way to get somewhere else.
Watch this space :)
Allison
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