Yeah well, I am going to look like a dipwad tonight...

All that rain we got Saturday night and Sunday, over 6 inches at our place, up to 20 in surrounding areas, caused some MEGA flooding at our favorite park. The kids and I went to turn the snake loose(see previous entry) today and discovered a mess. I had barely stepped out of the car when a news crew approached to ask me what I thought about the damage. Since I hadn't had time to look around and didn't see much from the parking area, I told the reporter it didn't look all that bad. I could not have been more wrong! It was awful!!!! I did email her to amend my position, hopefully that will make it on there too. Sheesh!!


(same net, different snake, obviously this one drowned in the flooding)


(the bridge railing over part of their "drainage system")


(the wood chips that are usually IN the play area were washed out to the middle of the park, this is about halfway out)


(lots of leaves and sticks were stuck to every structure in the park, picnic tables, play equipment, and trees)


(along with whole and/or big parts of trees)


(they had chain saw crews working on some of this as we left the park)

We walked down the trail(toward Highway 80 for those local) and saw much more damage, including a huge tree that had fallen across the trail. Parts of the trail were under water but it was mostly clear except for washes of mud. The coolest thing was that when we came to the dead snake there was a baby beaver on the creek bank. I thought it was a nutria at first and didn't snap its picture. It slid in the water and began swimming slowly downstream, slapping its tail and diving up and down. That makes skunks, mice, wild hogs, deer, coyotes, hawks, turtles, snakes, and possums that we KNOW live at this park. Oh yeah, Ryan saw a coyote on the way home, not too far from the park. I think a lot of animals got displaced because of the flooding.