Sitting out the storm : Day 7, 5th January 2018: Port Jackson/Fletchers Bay

After a challenging night with heavy rain and lashing winds that made it impossible to keep everything dry in our small tent, we woke to hear the thundering of the sea.  About 2.00 am the rain stopped, but the wind continued as strong as ever, caused huge swells.  We decided to get up at 5.30 am as the rain had stopped and the wind was drying out the tent to make it easier to pack up, with the plan of riding out from Port Jackson to Colville during the short period with no rain.

Even eating breakfast was challenging as the wind was so strong that the kitchen shelter didn’t provide a great deal of protection from the wind.  As we were packing up the DOC Ranger came to speak to us and recommended that we should not ride out from Port Jackson as the wind was too strong and there was a risk we would be blown off the road.  As his request was close to a plea, I gave in at that point to Ross’ wish to stay put.  The Ranger offered us transport to a DOC bunk house a kilometre or two down the road and some emergency food supplies which made us feel a whole lot better.

While we waited for the transport, we watched the waves rolling in mesmerised by the power of the ocean.  The tide was still 90 minutes from full and the waves were already breaking at the beach edge with considerable force.  The pieces of the shipwreck from out in the bay were washing up and it was clear that the collection of smashed boat pieces that had been collected at the cliff edge were going to be distributed around the bay by the sea.

Frederick came to give us a lift to the shelter and also offered transportation out to Colville from James and Judy (Rangers at Fletchers Bay) who were heading out for the day.  The day was definitely looking up.  After coffee  at the DOC bunkhouse, we walked up the road to the hilltop carpark and walked back along the Murawai Ridge Walkway towards Port Jackson.  The seas were huge, boiling white at the foot of all the cliffs.  The wind was fierce, fortunately blowing us towards the cliff, and causing us to miss many steps.  Reluctantly I had to admit that as the wind was frequently blowing us off balance, it would not have been safe to ride out in those conditions.   

Ranger Heather arrived back at the DOC bunkhouse to tell us that there was a change of plan because the road to Colville was closed, and the rangers were needed at both Port Jackson and Fletchers Bay to deal with the conditions there. She showed us pictures of the devastation caused by the king tide at 11.00 am, which had been exacerbated by the super moon and the storm surge.   The front part of the campsite was badly damaged, with the walkway destroyed, bollards swept away, the camp kitchen swamped and water nearly up to the office.  One of the highest tides ever.

The change of plan included an offer of a night at the DOC backpackers at Fletchers Bay for no extra charge.  The Backpackers gave us warm, dry shelter, hot showers, and some ability to dry things out.  A great offer, given that there were few other alternatives with the road closed. Rangers James and Judy from the DOC Campground at Fletchers Bay would pass by shortly to pick us up and take us over there.

We spent the afternoon quietly and gratefully at Fletchers Bay, chatting to the two  families who were fellow guests at the backpackers, enjoying a warm shower, charging all devices, writing up our trip blog, and drying out a little.  A much better prospect for a good nights sleep and some restorative rest after the challenging previous night in the little tent.