MAYHEM IN THE MUD-published in Augusta/Margaret River Mail 19/9/2018

MAYHEM IN THE MUD

Viv started up a conversation with a lovely couple camped alongside us at Port Hedland who were keen to show me some of their photos from a recent incident at 80 mile beach. When you meet people it is easy to forget names, but they had a great system as their names were Marilyn and Greg, so just think Marilyn Monroe and Gregory Peck! The next morning I quickly caught up with them and their photos below tell the story far better than I could. Last week’s new moon came with huge tides and a boat retrieval went horribly wrong. Once the vehicle was bogged, the station front end loader was ‘commandeered’, brand new at that, but alas that got bogged too. Next artillery was the bobcat excavator, which didn’t get bogged, but could not remove enough mud to dislodge the vehicle and loader. Then the tractor was deployed, but still no success. During this time the tide ebbed and flowed, all nine metres of it, to fully submerge the vehicle and loader on several occasions. Apparently the station owner remained calm throughout, no doubt having dealt with these situations previously. Eventually, after about three days of high drama, with tow ropes snapping under pressure and of course spectators galore, Port Hedland Towing had to bring in a purpose recovery semi trailer. With a huge roll of high tensile shipping rope, they were  eventually able to drag all and sundry back to terra firma.