Henty river trip

Left Thursday morning for a windsurfing trip on the Henty River, West Coast Tas. Locked hubs in off the bitumen about 10am to be greeted by a relatively dry track all the way in. A few mud holes with sand but with tyres deflated the mighty pajero powered on. We scouted the area and found a camp site around 400m from the river Henty. Not great wind direction for windsurfing so we set ourselves up to settle in for the night. Fire started, hot soup to keep us warm,Canadian club cans on the go, all set for what was supposed to be a great windsurfing session Friday morning. Close eyes, alseep at 9pm Wind coming in strong gusting to 40 knots.. perfect... blissfully unaware of the nightmare about to unfold.









Happy days on Thu morning after arriving



I will never forget next words to be spoken to me, I awoke to Paul "Ben We have a problem"
It's2am

Firstly I thought the wind had caught our sails and taken them off into the bush,But my bed was super comfy... Kind of like the waterbed at home...my bed was floating... and my tent. Confused I emerged from the tent to find no dry land in site.Unknown to us the dam up river was spilling, The Henty had broke its banks and rose by well over a metre turning the camping area into an eery looking lake. The fun was only getting started, the water still rising.
With bear feet in freezing water we gathered what we could before holding up in the pajero, heaters flat out and feet on the dash. With no chance of getting out in the dark we tried to sleep. the water rising around us and no idea how high it would get.

Once the water was over the doors we moved the car to the highest part of the camp site.. that gave us an extre 2 inches and we now had no where to go, and no idea how we were going to get out. Deciding to wait for low tide to empty the river we waited.... 4am Listening to the water lapping the side of the car higher and higher was not a great feeling.

Once daylight broke the water was showing no signs of going back.. With Low tide been and gone without effect on the water we decided we had to get out. Packing up the gear, tents halfway to the roof with freezing cold water, bare legs and feet. Jacket blew off the bonnet into the drink, thankfully the phone was in a waterproof cover...Bags and eski's floating around. Paul then went looking for the best way out.
The best way out was unfortunately well above the headlights and coming over the bonnet for around 250m, we had no snorkel and no choice so went for it. If the car had of stalled it would have taken the situation from bad to critical. Walking in the water was too cold to be an option.

Thankfully the $900 diesel pajero never missed a beat, Never been so glad to see a bitumen road. Snow and sleet falling most of the way home we have been very lucky this weekend.
Never turn your back on the West Coast.












The ONLY way out



Before and afters: