Before making a home "in the far North" (Nova Scotia, Ca) we never dreamed hurricanes might come this far up the coast! Dorian was our 3rd experience, and by far, it's been the biggest! Our neighbours warned, "Not IF, but WHEN we lose power..." so Ken cooked up bacon, thinking "BLTs" for dinner...IF...
1:55 the power went out. Still daylight, and still with WiFi, we sent some notes and settled by the window to read. I saved the energy in my tablet for night time, fully expecting to have power back by morning. We invited a neighbour, who lives alone, to come sit with us, but through the grapevine, word filtered...downed power lines...fallen trees...no one leave their houses!
By comparison to what we'd read about the devastating destruction in the Bahamas, we could hardly complain, but "it was interesting" to experience. I'd step out on our back breezeway as the wind whipped the trees, and the rain came like a fireman's hose lashing water across the yard! Personally, I've never seen anything like it!
Now, looking at this photo, a "still" really can't express it. I took snippets of video every couple hours trying to capture it all as it intensified, but I haven't looked at it all just yet. I'll post some additional photos of "the aftermath" the following day when the sun came out. Nothing much to do, otherwise, as the power didn't come back until just before we sat down to a bbq dinner!
We're the lucky ones. Now, 48 hours later, friends still don't have power, so they'll come for showers, laundry and dinner with us this Monday night (as I write)!
Fabulous picture and fabulous commentary. Thank you for the glimpse into Dorian in your area. I'm glad you're not experiencing the devastation you mentioned. Also, how kind of you to open your home to others throughout the ordeal.
@janetb Thank you for your thoughtful words, Janet. It's the way people here respond. Neighbours were all out in the street sharing their stories yesterday...such a beautiful sense of community!
What an experience Louise! I was so surprised when I saw the news about Dorian coming your way! Thank goodness the power of it had calmed just a bit once it left the Bahamas! Having seen the devastation there I was very worried for you! Your story is so interesting and tells us exactly what it was like to be there. Amazing isn’t it how reliant we are on electricity! Glad the neighbours can come over later today and get sorted! What good neighbours you are!
Glad everyone is safe and that power has returned to you. Nice if you to share with neighbors!! Living in Florida we have survived several over the years with some experiencing devastation and others all most no damage. I’ll feel heart broken for those in the Bahamas that lost their lives.
So glad you updated us and we know you are safe and comfortable again. The devastation Dorian caused is just heartbreaking. And of course, your photo is aesthetically excellent!
@danette ...I did leave you in the lurch as it looked as though it skirted by your neighborhood! We began to watch it heading toward us, and we were touched enough by it to have found it "an interesting experience" that heightens our awareness & understanding of what many more really suffer! We get underway Friday & leave the states on the 18th! See you in October!
@photographycrazy I don't envy those of you living in the early path of a hurricane! Conversely, living with the possibility of earthquakes, we prepare as best we can in advance, as do you! It's certainly a lesson in empathy for those who suffer the most! Thanks for your comment, Bill!
@seattlite Gloria, thank you! While, without electricity, we never saw any news, we heard from many people when we had wi-fi again, and all were wondering what we had to report from here. Thanks for your kind words. "Without electricity and computers" is a First World problem compared to the death and destruction down south in what should have been Paradise!
@pamknowler "The neighbours" are Zarah & Stephan whose property came through well, but their power only *just* came back on (48 hours!) Now they've asked us to come there, and we're bringing scallops we don't want to refreeze. "Funny" how people pick out "the best" food to cook when there's danger that it may have thawed! We'll eat well in the coming days...which is also quite a blessing!
@parisouailleurs Thank you Helene! Here and FB, at last something new to post, and I need to finish getting ready to leave...! Hope to continue to keep in touch along the way...Who knows...perhaps even more so! ♥
@annied Thanks, Annie! More coming soon...some already on FB... A "minor inconvenience", now passed, it was "interesting". When there's no electricity (and all the toys are turned off) there's time to read and reflect... Good lessons! ♥
the photo is beautiful, for sure. i feel for you, having grown up in the tropics and experiencing the wraths of typhoons and tsunami. when we were young children, my siblings and i would gather by the window and watch children playing in the flooded streets. when we grew a little older we learned to prep for the onslaught of typhoons, worried about the flood reaching the second floor, especially when you hear the fridge, dining table and television bumping against the underside of the floor. it was both fun and frightening. i feel sorry for those who are left without shelter as most of our neighbours were at the time. so reading your narratives in your posts, not only brings back memories of flooding and heavy rains, but also the sadness of the impact of devastation. take care, my friend.
The hurricanes you got often cross the North Atlanic and comes here as a big storm. If we are lucky the line is of North Norway and the strenght has increase. Great capture of the rain impression. Fav.
Oh Louise! I didn't know Dorian travelled up that north. So glad you are all OK! I cannot keep track of where you are...here or there. :) However, I was thinking of you when Dennis and I went back to Catalina...this time for 5 glorious days! We had lunch at Mt. Ada and I was ready to move in...what a beautiful home, view and dining experience! It was so worth it. Hugs to you!
I can relate. In the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo we were powerless for two weeks. Not fun. But you are so right, it's all small inconvenience in the face of the devastation in the Bahamas. So glad you and Ken were safe and able to offer aid and comfort to your neighbors.
A great image to help tell the story - thank you for sharing the experience