RECOVERY

Cameron and Adrian took off in Adrian’s boat (the only working rig) in a search for Bill’s boat.  They found it snagged on a lone tree just fifty metres above another rapid (about Grade 3), 600 metres downriver from the bottom of Hardabut.

They towed it to where David Whitney was waiting on the southern bank.

Adrian stayed there with David, and Cameron drove across the river to the assembly point.  He collected Cliff’s rig and towed to the southern bank before once again returning to the main group at the assembly point.

On the other side of the river it was more than thirty minutes before Tony and David, the two land crew, could visually confirm the safety of the ten boat crew.

Tony then sped off in the 4WD on a forty kilometre round trip to find Kim Epton, Tay Overstone and Kim Thorson at Ross Graham Lookout.

“The boat crews are in trouble. This rapid is 100,000 times worse than anything you’ve ever seen before - and I’m not exaggerating.”  --  Tony Overstone.

The Support Crew arrived at Hardabut just as the boat crews were starting to sort themselves out and assemble on the island near the bottom of the Rapids
 

One of the first sights for the Support Crew after they arrived at Hardabut was to see Stretch attempting to reach Mike’s boat. He had donned two PFDs and, using a fuel tank for extra buoyancy, attempted to make his way across the raging river to where the craft was stuck.  The current was too strong and swept his legs out from under him when he was only two metres from Mike’s boat.  Finally he had to let go of the tank and float down river.  He stopped on a rock about 100 metres from another shoot where Phil’s boat was trapped.

“It was extremely dangerous rafting this rapid without a raft.  My situation was not good.  I was out of reach of ropes.  The (working) boat was 800 metres downstream.  Only option was to swim and hope.  I noticed Phil’s boat. I jumped into the water and steered myself towards it on my back.”   --  Cameron Wilkie.

He caught hold of the throw rope.  After twenty minutes he had freed the boat.

Immediately below his location was a large, dangerous whirlpool.  Cameron pushed the inflatable into the current and, holding the tow rope, leapt over the shoot, hoping the boat would drag him through.

His daring, courage, skill and awareness saw him safely to the bank.

After righting the inflatable he piloted it down to the assembly point in an exciting ride, standing up and holding onto the tow rope.

Cameron tried to reach Mike's boat
 

It was decided to no longer pursue the recovery of Mike’s boat.  All boats and gear were moved to the assembly point.

The Support Crew on the southern bank were unable to assist in any part of the recovery operation until craft and crew crossed the current.

Tony, Tay and the two Kims were scrambling over the rocks to get to the water’s edge when David Whitney appeared from the spot where Bill’s boat and Cliff’s rig had been dumped.

“It might need stitches.”  --  David Whitney holding his hand up to show a cut finger.

He had slipped while carrying Cliff’s motor and had been cut by the cav plate.  Tay took David into Kalbarri for medical attention to what was more than a simple cut.

Meanwhile, Cameron Wilkie piloted the only working boat and ferried each person and the other boats, one at a time, across the raging current.

The on-water crew and the land contingent were eventually reunited at this point on the southern bank, about two kilometres down from the vehicle access point (a rough parking area).

After an assessment of the situation it was obvious that the first stage of the Expedition was over and the boats would have to be retrieved from where they were.  It was a daunting task.

Mike Lenz’s boat was irretrievably trapped in the middle of the Rapids - after an hour of effort it was deemed to be too dangerous to make further attempts to free it.

The next four hours were spent hauling four boats, motors and gear up steep, rocky slopes in 40^oC heat.  The sharp spiky low shrubs, spindly scratching shadeless trees and scattered spinifex slowed the seemingly endless task.

Finally it was time to call a halt.  Everyone was exhausted.  Equipment was strewn over a two kilometre trail from where the boats had been recovered to where The Bus had been able to reach.  The loss was substantial.  In monetary terms it added up to over $12,500 including inflatable boat, outboard motors, spare propellers, handheld radio, compass, heliograph and other sundry items.

“I lost a runner.”  --  Adrian Bock.

Kim Thorson had the forethought to erect a shelter at the rear of The Bus that provided shade for the exhausted crew as they returned. 

“Staminade and glucose tablets were going down as fast as the crews were.” -- Kim Thorson.

Thirteen weary expeditioners climbed onto The Bus and into the 4WD for the fifty kilometre trip into Kalbarri (Tay and Dave where on the way to Geraldton).
 

The extent of the floodwaters was immediately obvious as Kim brought The Bus to the top of Meanarra Hill, over-looking the town.  A brown stain from the river pushed out into the crystal blue sea for two or three kilometres.  It extended up and down the coast for many kilometres.

After booking into a caravan park the rest of the afternoon was spent showering, sleeping and recounting the story of how lucky they were to escape alive and in a place that required only a two kilometre struggle up the steep rocky slopes of the river valley.

That there was no loss of life was fortuitous.  Both Mike and Dave were breathing water when trapped under the giant shoot.  Mike later had treatment at Kalbarri for water on his lungs and an injured knee.  John Haynes badly injured a knee that swelled dramatically and kept him on one leg for the remainder of the trip.  He subsequently had a week off work.  The injuries were not confined to the boat crews.

Not long after the recovery operation commenced, David Whitney was carrying an outboard motor up the near vertical slope when he trod on a loose rock, slipped and dropped the motor.  The cav plate nearly severed the little finger of his right hand.  After attention at the Kalbarri Nursing Post he was driven into Geraldton Hospital where he had microsurgery under general anaesthetic and stayed overnight.

“During the whole weekend Dave never mentioned his misfortune.  I admire his style.” -- Bill Breheny.
 

The late afternoon and evening was spent recounting the journey down the Rapids “at least twenty times”.

Kim Thorson and Phil prepared a magnificent meal and afterwards, with others, regaled the crowd with hilarious stories.

When things are going wrong, when people have just been through adversity, when it’s hot, when the terrain is challenging, when the work is tough and energy sapping and when everyone is tired, it’s a recipe for disaster.  A number of things can prevent total disintegration of the unit.

Among them, and paramount, is prior selection of the right personnel.  Good leadership is important but the thing that is most effective and certainly the quickest acting, is to satisfy the inner man with good food.  Contemplation of the results of all the problems the Team was experiencing and poor food was disconcerting!  Arguments, disagreements, tensions, dummy spitting and discombobulation.  Phil and Kim provided not just good food but excellent food - as good as one could wish, quality restaurant standard and plenty of it.  So important!  See Le Kalbarri Cafe.
 

It's seen better days

Postscript to the evening meal

The fridge had frozen the lettuce.  Kim Epton and Tony located some at the local fish and chip shop - the final cost of lettuce (combining ruined and replacement) was $5 each.  An expensive salad.

“The Murchison makes the Avon look like the last day of the Blackwood.”  --  Shane Kelly.

“I’ll never worry about going down Emus again.”  --  Cliff Hills.

“The standing waves were so big I couldn’t see the boats in front.”  -- Cliff Hills.

“Nothing on the Avon will ever worry me again.”  --  Bill Breheny

Stretch’s performance at Hardabut was “one top effort"