This is a special advance edition of next week’s progress report on the replacement swing bridge at the end of Koura Street.  The weather has been so beautiful, so while there was no wind since the storm last weekend, the helicopter was needed to ferry the wet cement for the foundations.

Juno appointed herself as safety and security officer to stop tourists crossing the bridge.

The original plan to drive across the Department of Justice farm on the eastern side of the river was abandoned after the rain as the paddocks were still too mushy. 

The interested spectators (waiting for a chopper ride?) included Dave, the chief from DOC, and Carol Harwood on right, representing the local residents’ committee.

Following up on questions from viewers, Dave advised the total cost is estimated as around $800,000’ish.  It has to be flexible-ish to allow for weather-event contingencies, such as bringing in the helicopter when the paddocks were too swampy to drive over.  This includes the costs of demolishing the old bridge.

Above photo – DOC were still busy repairing storm damage from last weekend’s fierce  winds.  They were fortunate the fallen tree did not wipe out the boundary fence as well.

FISHING REPORT

We are aware and apologise for the lack of intelligent, informative trout fishing reports lately, but helicopters are much more exciting.  This was partly due to the weather conditions and the belligerent attitude of trout hiding during their spawning runs.  The evidence from TRM anglers was either “hot” or “cold” with nothing in between.  For inscrutable “evidence” SWMBO can usually rely on the fish cleaning results i.e. requests for fish bags, or the smokehouse or the shared chest freezer.  One unidentified fishy inmate sneaked away this morning with 21 in his chilly bin.  On one trip he landed 12 but only 3 were up to TRM’s standard as keepers, so you have been warned… 

As they would not answer TRM’s questions on where, how, and which flies, etc., we went on our own “spotting survey” down the river.  For the photo above, you may need to lean forward with polaroids to identify between 6 and 8 BIG trout quietly sneaking up towards the Major Jones Pool this morning. By now, if they have read the book, they should be waiting for you in Hydro Pool.  OK?