Washed out at Roper Bar!

Hi All
Just thought I would share a brief story of our fun times over the last few days. Last Saturday we drove from Darwin to Roper Bar, about a 7 hour drive. Sky grew cloudy as we headed east from the Stuart HWY, arrived and set up camp and threw in the Prawn pots. Next Morning we had enough Prawns to have a go at a barra, had three on but the only one landed was undersize! Rain started Monday and continued all through Tuesday and Wednesday. A large tidal surge due to Cyclone Paul ( a name we won’t forget in a hurry!)raised the river level substantially, winds were also high but despite a few scary moment our new Chinese tent withstood the onslaught . Tuesday afternoon we drove across the bar to flick a few lures, water level was about 30cm. By Wednesday morning the few people in camp were delivered a message from the local shop to pack up and move to the higher ground at the shop. The water level had risen several meters and was rising, (it only comes into the camp ground at about nine meters). The shop owners very kindly offered anyone who needed a room was welcome to stay at the Motel free of charge. By the afternoon the river had risen 6.5 meters!!!!!!!!!!!! We awaited the return of the shop owner who was driving in from Mataranka for a road report, by this time it was 4 Pm, as he is someone who knows the country very well we took his word to be good. “You have 4 hours to be out or you won’t get out” How long will we have to wait? “Minimum 2 weeks worst case scenario 4 weeks” Were out of here, I said. Two other guys followed us as we drove out, the rest were enjoying a drink and said they would wait and drive out in the Morning! As of this morning the river level had risen another 4 meters and was still rising ! You could now drive your boat through the camp ground. The drive out was a little hairy but were glad we did it, the entire country side was a river flowing on either side of the road, truly and amazing sight.
A Fishing trip completely stuffed but still and interesting experience.
Cheers Lyndon