Monday, October 5, 2015

Inskip Continued

Last week's post about Inskip did not seem complete so this is an extra to try to round off the story. Go and simply look at my photos if you don't want all these details!
The first rule is that you shouldn't believe everything you read! The first news reports labeled it as a "sinkhole". There were detailed diagrams and descriptions from "geotechnical engineers" about how and why a sinkhole occurs and what would be done to see if there was a possibility of another one occurring close by. It was another two days before another geotechnical engineer said that it may not have been a sinkhole but might instead have been a "near shore or peninsular landslide". It was not until the end of the week that the Gympie Times reported that there was a similar incident reported in a Brisbane paper in 1873. It was then speculated that it was the result of a "tidal scour" - erosion due to tidal movement.
I must say I wonder how carefully the various geotechnial experts were quoted!
I am not an engineer but I do wonder why more attention has not been paid to the fact that all the land at that point and for some way around is simply sand brought in by the tide over the years. Also wet sand is not stable around water. All the washouts that I have seen or heard of have been beside the channel that goes between Inskip Point and Fraser Island. Here are a couple of photos of that water.

I am told that the really deep water in that channel changes around every tide and boat skippers take very careful note of the readings on their depth sounders. This channel drains all the water from the Sandy Strait. The Strait stretches north to Harvey Bay and half of that northern portion drains out there. However, all of the southern part of the Strait drains through this channel.  This is the part that I know and kayak around. Here is part of a google earth image of this southern part. I used the google rule to do a rough measurement and it is more than 22kms in length.

On the more southerly parts where I usually kayak the tide pull is not strong but it certainly makes a difference if you are kayaking for a few kilometers. Most of the southerly part becomes sand flats at low tide - most of the water drains out! This photo is of about 6 kms of the more southerly part of the Strait.

This photo is of the more northerly part - Fraser Island is in the distance.

That is a lot of water draining in and out twice a day. I have occasionally seen some people kayaking over the channel - but I have not done so as I have no idea of when the really slack water happens on the tides around there.
I am still feeling very sorry for the owners of the caravan and 4 wheel drive vehicle that got swallowed up on the night of the washout. The recent reports I have heard said that it was impossible to get it out. I saw an interview with them on a news report and they were retirees that had sold up their house and were traveling around Australia in that van and vehicle. Poor people!

As well as all the shorebirds,  Inskip Point is a good place to watch the tern species that are around this area.   For most of the year I can see Caspian terns, Gull-billed terns, lots of Crested Terns and the occasional Little tern. Then in the summer months we have literally 1000's of migratory terns - Common terns, Little terns and the occasional White-winged Black terns. Here are photos I have taken at Inskip with the birds resting on the sand flats at low tide.

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday




20 comments:

  1. So glad you posted more pics, Mick!! Such a great place!! I love the reflections of the skies on the water!! Superb! Hope you have a great new week!!

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    1. Can't find the comment section so am using the reply option.

      I could really dig my toes into that awesome pure pale sand shown in the first photo. From a distance, the last photo could be North American seagulls on the beach having a bad hair day.

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    2. I had the same problem...I started responding in the comment box and then it suddenly disappeared and I couldn't get it back. I really wanted to comment so I am using a "Reply." Water systems are just so complex. The Chesapeake Bay here in America (in Virginia & Maryland) has ben studied extensively and there is much to learn and know about it. I imagine it is the same with this amazingly beautiful body of water! It has to be hard to understand why some things happen. I hate people were washed away! Your photos are just lovely, and I know how grateful you must be to have such a wonderful body of water close enough to explore.

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  2. We have had a few sink holes appearing recently in the middle of cities taking roads, cars etc with them. Not heard of any fatalities thankfully. The terns look quite comic in that last photo.

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  3. yes, poor folks, indeed! love the ripply water shot and those lovely shorebirds!

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  4. Very interesting post and beautiful photos to go with it.

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  5. Fascinating post and gorgeous photography ~ You do know that in the USA ~ the shorelines are eroding everywhere ~

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  6. Your opening paragraphs about the media reports were enlightening.

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  7. Wonderful images ... many thanks for sharing

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  8. I often think that so-called "experts" are not experts at all, just people who have studied book etc but have little or no experience on the ground. Much better in these situations to ask local people like long time fishermen or naturalists who often know a particular palce like the back of their hand.

    To have regular flocks of thousands of terns must be both spectacular and thrilling each year, especially stopping to think about the huge distances such pecies travel.

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  9. Thank you for the follow up, I'm really glad you wrote it. Had questions before, meant to google for more info, but laziness won out. I would have just been more confused if I had it sounds like. I sure hope those caravanners had good insurance at least.

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  10. you are right being careful about where to paddle. Love the sand beaches and shore birds :)

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  11. Intrsting post and lovely photographs of the birds.

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  12. It's a beautiful area and I love the terns. Poor folks loosing everything they had.

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  13. Terns are endangered here in NZ too, we have various places where they are cordoned off and the sites where they nest are protected, apparently there's no people, quads, bikes, cars, cats, dogs etc allowed near them.

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  14. Nice post. Sink-holes are a bit of a flavour of the week! There was a burst water main in Melbourne last week which caused a hole to form in a main road - and that was called a sink-hole too!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  15. That's a lot more excitement than I would like to have on a camping trip! I hope things return to "normal" in your area soon. Of course, Nature's definition of normal and ours is sometimes pretty different.
    Great photos! Love the Terns and panoramas of your area.

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