We had a flood a week or two ago. Tree trunks and large logs roared down the racing Tuross River, and out to sea. They arrived riding the surf onto Potato Point beach, defacing its pure sand. But where I saw ugliness, holiday makers saw possibilities. Soon the beach was busy with engineers and architects and labourers, and the supply of timber was raised from horizontal to a variety of verticals. Architectural style varied: shack, minimalist structure also serving as hanging space, bungalow, tepee, miniature Shinto shrine. The architecture wasn't brutalist: seaweed, pebbles, logs, beach grass, shadow and view became decorative elements.
We tend to associate the beach with thoughts of sunshine, blue sky, fun and relaxation (as you’ve captured in your lovely photographs) but it must have been quite a different scene when all of this timber was washed up on the beach! You’re very fortunate to live in such a lovely place.
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I am indeed fortunate – as you are! I’m not a swimming person, but my son makes up for this as a dedicated surfer. There are many beach pleasures apart from swimming.
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Great wood designs. 🙂
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Beautiful captures of these creative work. 🙂
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How very Canadian 😀
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Canadian??? I’m lost.
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On the Pacific Rim beaches where lots of trees and logs get washed up there are always lots of these wonderful constructions. Yours just reminded me of them as they are so similar.

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Very similar. Thanks for the view of the wider world! I wonder if this was the inspiration for Spud?
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Well it is just the other side of your ocean 😉
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Your community is amazing Meg. It lifts the spirits to see such creativity using natures gifts/debris. Was it organised or did it just happen? The spirit of Robinson Crusoe lives on…
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It just happened. Only took one inspirer and everyone wanted to do it. And I reckon it’s the holiday community, although my son did build a hut out of stone when there was a wet spell and his car was out of action so he could watch the surf in comfort.
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Top left of the last 4 is my favourite! Lovely alive shadows 🙂 I’m not too far away from building my own in the Algarve.
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Again??? Where exactly do you live? Have fun constructing. What architectural style do you favour?
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1st Feb. I do have a home there, if you remember? My preferred one 🙂
Something a tad more substantial would be good 🙂
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Of course I remember!
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I know us oldies have memory lapses 🙂 🙂
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How wonderfully creative, they look high enough from the tide to last a while 🙂
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They’re pretty safe now – they’ve been there for a week. Although I did walk along the beach one day after wild weather when the water was breaking on the dunes.
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What incredible creativity. So inspiring.
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It was beyond anything I expected from afar. I certainly didn’t anticipate such diversity, and it seems to me that people knew what they were doing. The flood keeps giving gifts.
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How exciting that people feel so free there that they spontaneously create such wonderful structures.
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We’ve also had Troll Bridge and the fairy tree.
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Just incredible really – I hope your local council lets the structures stay up for a while.
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