It’s not too late to join this Shared Answers Group Writing Project - Closes August 15, 2007
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Caught Between Two Rising Rivers - How We Got Out of There

In the first part of my Shared Answers entry I wrote about being trapped in our car between two rising rivers, in outback Australia. Here’s how I lived to tell the tale.

Our enforced delay started off as an adventure. We camped out on the road during sunny breaks in between storms. Talking to fellow stranded travelers was a welcome respite from being cooped up in the car. The hot sun in outback Australia heats the road quickly, so in any sunny breaks, clothes were spread flat on the road in an effort to dry and air them.

Waiting for the rivers to subside soon became scary as the rain continued day after day, without any signs of abating. We realized that the rapidly rising rivers could break their banks at any time. Also, we had no food or water.

It Takes All Types

In times of difficulty, people show their true colors. A tiny store nearby with very limited supplies, decided to take advantage of their monopoly. Suddenly, with a captive customer base, a packet of cookies, normally $1.50, went up to $22. As we didn’t know how long we would be there, we had no choice. Besides, the food was running out too.

In the line of vehicles waiting to cross, were a few huge, heavy road trains. After much discussion and surveying the river, with a fellow road train driver familiar with the road, one went across. As the road train was high enough off the ground, and heavy enough, it crossed slowly without a hitch. This gave us an idea of the depth. He just kept driving and we watched on enviously.

Having spent many years in the outback, where heavy prolonged rain can very quickly turn dry river beds into floodways, we just wanted to get out of there, even moreso now. We also knew better than to attempt it ourselves, as we had seen cars being swept downstream.

Knights in Rusty Armour

A second road train driver approached us and offered to hitch our pick up to the back of his vehicle for $50. We readily agreed. Our pickup was put into neutral and hooked to the back of the road train. Our windows were wound tightly shut, and away we went.

It was like being in a washing machine. Our car was floating and being buffeted from side to side against the metal guard rails of the crossing. Our windscreen wipers were useless against the backwash of the road train. I was petrified of the road train stalling. Maybe it’s best we couldn’t see a thing. At long last, we were on the other side… and safe. The road train crossed back over and repeated the process for every car there.

Still Not Home Yet

There were further major rivers in our path on the way home. As the floods were widespread, we were advised to divert. We drove North to Darwin, another seven hundred miles in the wrong direction. We put our car on a train back home, and caught a flight back to Mt. Isa. The flight back gave us a glimpse of the floods. It looked like an inland sea.

An experience like this certainly gives you renewed respect for Mother Nature. I also had some interesting stories for my boss, and a novel excuse as to why I’d been away from work.

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