Never underestimate The Kimberley rivers!

I've heard for years, tales of fast rising rivers, and flash flooding in Australia.  People getting stranded, unable to cross rivers that had come up suddenly, even though it hadn't rained in that area.  Well now we have experienced it for ourselves....Australia is an amazing, but dangerous place, don't turn your back on the wild unpredictable Kimberley!

Photo: the May river in the afternoon.  Earlier that morning there had been NO water flowing where the arrows are, and a much calmer flow over the crossing.

It had rained two days ago.  We went for a drive to check out how much the river had changed because of the rain.  To our surprise the road out was dry.  When we got there the river looked the same as last time, flowing and clear.  Obviously the rain had not fallen this side, the major down pour being around the other river system.....so we thought, and so we....CROSSED the river!!

As we were crossing I said to Johnno, ''Oh that's a bit deep than you expected hay''. 

Johnno ''and flowing harder''

But we were across, so no point going back now, deal with it when we are going home.  So off on our exploration adventure we went.  There were a couple of muddy ditches to cross, but we are getting good at winching ourselves out now, so can adventure further than we used to.  We got to ''the spot'', the favourite spot Johnno has been itching to get back to the whole wet season while it has been inaccessible.

Johnno was onto a Barra straight away on fly.

Fly fishing for fresh water Barramundi, Johnno not so new obsession.

After releasing this beauty, Johnno left me to bait fish off the rock while he wondered up the river, catching barramundi as he walked.

I was glad when he came back a lot sooner than normal, some times he can walk most of the day.  I had been watching a log on the far bank, it had looked like a crocodile when we first arrived, so I was keeping an eye on it.  The log was now UNDER water, and my once calmly floating live bait bucket was now being pushed around in the flowing current.  We both agreed THE RIVER IS RISING!  And we were on the wrong side!  We need to get back to our side of the river!

It was a tense drive back to the crossing, unsure what to expect, not wanting to get stuck in the muddy ditches, no time to dig ourselves out now!  We passed two other vehicles and breathed a little easier, ok obviously they had just come across, it must be still passable.

Turning the corner to that first glimpse of the river crossing, my heart sunk!  Rapids pushing over the crossing, the river flowing down the tracks where there had been NO water at all in the morning, only a couple of hours earlier.  We stopped, we accessed, I got out and walked into the river.  I felt sick, the flow was too strong, I couldn't stand up!  If we drive into the river, and the car looses traction, our beautiful POSFISH will be washed down the stream. We even contemplated driving diagonal across, with the flow.  But know the sand is too soft further down the river, we would then be bogged. We have to cross at the firm crossing, that is what it's there for.

The beautiful, ever changing May river.

 Johnno made his way across the fast flowing water to talk to a family on the other side.  Yes, the other two car had only recently gone across, they had to have two goes at it, but they made it. Ok, if they can do it we can do it.

I felt nauseous, like I seriously thought I was going to throw up.  Johnno made the call, we are going for it.  I had visions of us getting pushed against the large rocks on the edge of the crossing, rolling, and all being stuck in the car filling with water.

''Are you ready for this'' Johnno says with a cheeky smile

''Am I ready for this, YOU better be ready for this, YOU are the one who has to concentrate and keep us moving forward''!!

We entered the fast flowing water, the car started working harder straight away, the sound of the motor and the rushing water seemed so loud.  Then the water started flowing over the bonnet.  ''Just don't stop Johnno, keep moving forward''!! 

Another interesting part of this story, we had the day before, broken the snorkel off, driving under a low hanging tree.  Lucky we went back and found it, and Johnno fixed it straight away!!  I remember thinking at the time, It doesn't matter, we never use it. hahahahaha.  SNORKEL worked great!!  The water rushed over the bonnet, but the Landcruiser kept pushing forward!! 

I screamed as we started raising up onto the other side!  We had made it!!  What a rush!  Johnno is a friggin legend!!

Other people had started coming down to see the beautiful river.  I got out and danced around like a crazy women, screaming and laughing, everyone like, what just happened. hahahahaha

Above, the scary moments of rushing water over our trusty Landcruiser.

Below: Johnno's excited face as we made it to the other side!

We sat in the fresh flowing river for some time, relaxing, taking in what we had just done.  It was intense!

Lesson learnt.  In hindsight, we now agree we should have stopped in the morning when we said the river was deeper than expected.    Saying that, most the people out there were surprised also how much the river had risen.  People were shocked when I told them there had been NO water in the middle of the river, the crossing tracks, earlier that morning, it had only been flowing at the crossing.

Be careful out there people!  Don't make the same mistake we did!  Get over to POSITIVE FISHING on YouTube to watch our wonderful morning fishing, and the EPIC drive back across the river....If you think you can handle my screaming!  

Miss our POSFISH number plate, but a very clean, polished, front end!

Johnno releasing his Barramundi caught on fly, earlier that morning, while the river was still clear and calm, before it started flowing and rising.