The Great Wall of Westholme stands as a testament to Clive PlumptonB次元官网网址檚 ingenuity and foresight.
The fortress around the Hicks household on the banks of the Chemainus River near the Chemainus River bridge has held its ground many times and did so again during the most extreme flooding yet on Nov. 14-15.
B次元官网网址淚 am so proud of him,B次元官网网址� noted Roberta (Bobbin) Hicks de Plumpton of her late husband who died in July of this year. B次元官网网址淭his is the first time the flooding has breached the back wall you see with the gate. It was coming over in waves, something never seen before.B次元官网网址�
Hicks de Plumpton vows sheB次元官网网址檒l finish the work her husband started.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to try,B次元官网网址� she indicated. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to try to tier it up to where he got it to.B次元官网网址�
Clive started building the walls more than 30 years ago after Hicks, who grew up on the property, moved back for Halloween one year and they woke up to the roar of the river that December.
Clive was astounded when he heard the sound of the raging river. When his wife advised him to look out their bedroom window, that was enough to convince him to start building the Great Wall in the spring as a preventive measure for potential future floods.
With the current situation, he was right on the mark in planning ahead with the Great Wall to keep the wall of water in the Chemainus River thatB次元官网网址檚 continually becoming more prevalent at bay.
B次元官网网址淗e started and went all the way around,B次元官网网址� pointed out Hicks de Plumpton. B次元官网网址淭hey knew him as a builder. He was very artistic when he built. He made it beautiful.B次元官网网址�
Hicks de Plumpton, who just turned 60 in February, has lived all but a few years of her life on the property along the Chemainus River and has seen many floods. ItB次元官网网址檚 never been enough to penetrate into the house, but came close this time.
B次元官网网址淚t was one inch below the bottom step of my porch,B次元官网网址� she noted.
Hicks de Plumpton receives regular checks from the fire department during flood situations and this was no exception.
B次元官网网址淭he fire captain was just at the top of the driveway and I said, B次元官网网址榥o, IB次元官网网址檒l be OK.B次元官网网址� I wasnB次元官网网址檛 worried at any point it would come in the house. Touch wood.B次元官网网址�
When Clive was alive, theyB次元官网网址檇 sit outside on a table along the wall and inside the fence line to witness the power of the river from as close as you could possibly get without being in danger.
B次元官网网址淲e would sit there and watch people taking photos and wondering why are they sitting there?B次元官网网址� noted Hicks de Plumpton. B次元官网网址淭he water was like right beside us. ItB次元官网网址檚 scary, but it is exciting. IB次元官网网址檓 sure people were looking at it and wondering why donB次元官网网址檛 they leave?B次元官网网址�
The secure feeling comes from so many years in the same location along the river and knowing its force would only go so far. And itB次元官网网址檚 also comforting that CliveB次元官网网址檚 wall is the ultimate layer of protection as his legacy and will only need a little more reinforcement to be sure.
B次元官网网址淚 love this place and Clive did, too,B次元官网网址� Hicks de Plumpton said.
