Picnic in a thunderstorm.

Yesterday we had a family picnic. It was our youngest son’s wedding anniversary, so a little celebration was arranged. They decided to have a picnic, there are quite a few of us, and quite a few children, so Cleveland Point was chosen, right on the beach, safe for the children and plenty of free barbeques to use.

All spread out ready for a good picnic lunch.



Dads playing with the kids. The storm is looking worse.



What will we do if it rains?

As you will know if you have been reading this blog, we have had storms on and off for the past couple of weeks, some of them rather severe, as is the norm for this neck of the woods in spring. The forecast was for possible storms so we hoped for the best, packed up our goodies and headed off.

Cleveland Point is a lovely park area, not very big, but with great facilities and used by thousands of people over the summers. Today was no exception, the car park was full, and there were people everywhere. We got a car park and lugged our stuff over to the barbeque area, sheltered, with good seats tables and barbeques to cook on. Our family spread itself all around, on blankets, camp chairs, kids and dads playing ball and us ‘older’ girls chatting.

There was an ominous cloud approaching and we were keeping tabs on it on the BOM site. It got blacker. It got closer. The wind picked up, coming off the sea towards the land, and the clouds were coming off the land towards the see…..a recipe for a storm.



The storm is moving in fast.

With barely a minute to spare we moved blankets food bodies and chairs under the shelter before the thunder started and the rain came in buckets. It just poured down. Everybody was running for shelter, even a bridal group trying to get some wedding pics had to run for their car before they got drenched.

Kids huddled up in a blanket to keep dry and warm.



If you didn't hold down the bread and plates, they went everywhere.

Water seeped in everywhere.

It poured down, it lightninged and it thundered, and the wind got stronger and blew the rain sideways under the shelter, the seats and tables all got wet, but the intrepid men of the family continued cooking the sausages regardless. The kids huddled together in a blanket and moved bags from A to B to stop them getting wet.

Sausages and meat patties being cooked.

Then it passed and the sun came out. We got a couple of towels, dried off all the seats, moved bags back out, got the chairs out again, and as the wind died down started eating some rather yummy sausages and salads. The storm passed out to sea, but there were some very impressive bolts of forked lightning all around, as the thunder slowly rumbled off into the distance. Eventually a ragged rainbow appeared over Moreton Island.

 

 

The BOM site now showed a second storm coming our way, and it was moving fast. We decided to pack up and head home before it arrived, but it was so fast I was amazed to see the rain coming in a massive curtain across the bay. You could see it hitting the sea and stirring it up. Once again, under the shelter, which by now we knew was rather inadequate for such a downpour, we packed up and kept as dry as we could. Finally, as the second storm headed out to sea we headed for the car and a dry house.



Storm is moving out to sea.

A ragged rainbow appeared over Moreton Island.

 

We did have a nice afternoon. Family times are always good. I couldn’t help giggling as I sat in the middle of the shelter, with kids cramming in trying to get dry, everyone holding down the paper plates and cups as the wind blew them everywhere, my glasses covered in rain spray, and everyone a bit damp. In our hot climate everything dries out fast and we don’t get colds etc. But we will all remember our picnic in the thunderstorm for a while.

You can see the sheltered picnic areas in the park.
Each has several large free barbeque plates for the public to use.
The second storm is coming. Time to head home.