Mangrove Jack...

The Tale Of The Appearing Man, The Disappearing Beach, and a Town That Didn't Exist....

The Sign said Queensferry 3klm
The road in was under a couple of feet of water due to heavy rains...
When I arrived I was faced with 2 options:
Left: Private Property trespassers will be shot
Right: An underwater car park for 2.
I chose the latter

I stood bemused, as the Hand-painted sign on the beach, said Queensferry 20 metres.
It pointed directly out sea.
The hand painted signs were everywhere.
"Mad Dog Creek"
"Little Dog Creek"
"No Fishing Here"
"Fish Here"

I saw a man in a paddock with a shovel 100 metres away.
10 seconds later he was on my right shoulder.
30 something, gum boots and a beanie, grey eyes that looked right through you...

"What yer doin' ere"
Having some lunch was my reply.
He surveyed my empty hands
"What yer really doin' ere...?"
" Taking some photos
"What of?"
The beach
"What beach?"
He was of course correct, hundreds and hundreds of meters of tidal flats.

He was a mangrove planter, had planted 450 in the last month.
Each had its own stake in the mud.
I love your passion I said to him.
"What yer talikn' about, it's not passion, it's necessity"
He may have been right.

A twin cab pulled up on the trespassers be shot property.
"Yer comin'?" Yelled a short stout woman.
"Where to?" He replied with indifference
"The Tip, takin' a load"...
His eyes lit up
"Right oh"
With that he was gone, no goodbyes, just gone. He produced an electric scooter from behind some scrub, and followed her down the flooded road.

...... "How was your day Supertramp?"

Nothin' special I replied.......