Family forced to walk the plank

A HINAKURA family has been forced to resort to an adventurous plank walk to leave their property after recent flooding washed out an access bridge ? twice.
The Riddell family lost their bridge, which had been part of the property for around 100 years, when Wairarapa's first floods hit on July 6. An effort was then made to repair the bridge but that was soon wiped out by further downpours.
Julie Riddell and husband Gary have now been without a bridge for more than five weeks, and despite their positive attitude, the situation is starting to become tiresome.
"It looks like it will be a good few months before we have a replacement," said Julie, who has had to resort to a crossing a precarious wooden plank before getting anywhere further than her own house.
Mrs Riddell said the family were lucky to have left a couple of vehicles on the town-side of the bridge when the flood hit because without them there would have been no transport once they crossed the plank.
She said the family still have to drive about a kilometre in a four-wheel-drive before they make it to the plank, which makes for some adventurous days.
"We're a bit anxious that more rain might make the plank give way, but in the meantime we're just trying to get on with our lives."
Mrs Riddell's daughter-in-law, Monika Riddell, is a teacher at Masterton Intermediate School and currently spends close to an hour getting to work each day.
She has to call her husband Ralph before she leaves town every day to make sure he is at the plank to take her back to their house.
Monika, who moved to New Zealand only four years ago, said she loves the tranquil lifestyle on the farm but walking the plank every day "is getting a bit tiring".
"It's hard to live a normal life like this. We only buy groceries once a week and when you have to carry them across the plank it gets a bit tiring.
"I love living in the country but its times like this you wish you were in town, living just around the corner from your job."
While the Riddells face a potentially long wait for a new bridge, they are also grappling with other flood-related issues. A power surge blew their water pump and shearing plant motors but the electrician is unable to drive to the house.
The family is also having trouble carrying out everyday farming duties because of access issues and mechanical repairs.
"We can't effectively carry on farming like this, but we just have to cope."
Mrs Riddell said she and her family have still managed to see the humour in the situation, which keeps them going.
"It's certainly curtailed our social life. But there is no point in getting too worried."