Overflowing with life
Each summer the moon draws the tides high onto the land. Our creek fills to the brim and overflows. If there is heavy rain falling and big seas surging when these tides appear, the creek water turns milk chocolate brown and rushes to meet the sea water. Together they flood the low land with their wildness.
I know these tides as King Tides and every summer, typically around late December or early January, they bring salt water high onto the beaches and up the creeks and rivers. These highest of high tides happen twice a year – once in summer and once in winter – driven by the alignment of the earth, moon and sun. In summer, they happen when the sun is closest to the earth. In winter, the King Tides occur when the moon comes closest to the earth. The winter King Tides, however, are less obvious because they peak during the night.
In the first week of January, our annual King Tides came without the fuss of flood waters. Instead, the sea water rose quietly onto the beach, flowed up the creek and gently spilled over its edges. Pathways wore puddles. Signs submerged. Pontoons pitched higher than the land. Stand-up paddle boarders had to kneel to pass under some bridges. People swam and fished and paddled and floated. Kids rode their bicycles through the pathway puddles and wore big smiles. We did too.
The calm, clear waters were inviting. They were overflowing with life.
Pathway outside Currumbin RSL covered with water.
Boating speed sign submerged
Rotary Club pontoon pitched higher than the land.
Stand-up Paddle board kneeling to pass under Thrower Bridge.
Creekside grass at Winders Park was underwater. The high tide mark is the line of leaf debris near the bikes.
Kids riding through the water.
a bike for all seasons 
Lovely photos as word pictures. Sounds like a wonderful riding experience. Life’s better from the seat of a bike.
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Thanks Helen. It was a lot of fun riding along and negotiating the creek’s spillover.
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What summer fun… an interesting write, Gail. All very inviting! 😃
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The setting was quite beautiful Iris. And yes, fun! 🙂
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It’s an interesting concept Gail – in calm weather, the water silently taking over the land. I can almost hear those tiny little ripples as the tide came in.
Jen
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True. The gentle spilling over, and with such clear water, carried a beautiful energy with it. I had my fair share of swims that morning Jen 🙂
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Wonderful!
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lovely to see but sea water can play havoc if it gets into your peddles – ask me how I know?
glad you are enjoying your summer
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That’s true Brenda – I rode my mountain bike – because it’s a little less precious – but still hosed it off afterwards and re-lubricated everything. The day before, I was riding my folding bike and didn’t dare take it through the water with the internal hub it has.
What happened with your pedals?
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We were on a long cycle camping trip in the west of the country. We had to go along a beach to get around an obstacle. I walked but DH rode through the water. I had my shoes off. Within a short time his bottom bracket ceased up. We had to go to a bike shop and get it replaced
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That’s an incentive not to ride in sea water. Good thing you were cautious and walked.
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Hi Gail, This is a lovely post about simple pleasures brought about by a seasonal natural event. The pelican was enjoying the experience also.
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Thanks Margaret. The simplest of pleasures are the best… 🙂
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I love the king tides.
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Me too. And this year they were especially beautiful. 🙂
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