We were parked right under the nut in a free camp(not in camps 6) in Feb, when we arrived it was a little windy so we parked into it. That night we darn near got blown straight back to the mainland. It was as bad as any cyclone I've lived through, you could not open the door without being pulled out of the van. At midnight we had a desperate plea for help from the A'Van camper beside us, it just blew appart and all their papers probably did get to the mainland So we and the motor home driver driver that came in at that moment looking for better shelter had to change over the way the ends went down because they were the wrong way and the poor copuple couldn't secure it. Every pop top was down and none of us got any sleep. The dockmaster said 130k winds were recorded (terrifying night) was anyone else there?
Cruising Granny said
08:30 PM Mar 13, 2012
That is scary! I've lived through a lot of storms in SA and a cyclone in Broome and monsoonal squalls in the Kimberleys and Cairns. It's never a good experience, especially when living in a caravan or portable home. The noise and rocking and rolling, hoping nothing airborne hits you, or a nearby tree falls. I'm glad to hear you've survived after all. I hope everyone else was safe as well. It's over. You've survived. Put it down to experience and celebrate you can move on.
Geoff n Jen said
08:42 PM Mar 13, 2012
Yep we did that thanks, the a'vaners found only their t.v instruction book and were going to try going home a few days early and we climbed the Nut the next day. We also had a big sleep after our climb and it was funny to wake up and look out we thought everyone had gone but they had all moved their vans in the same direction as ours just in case
wendyv said
11:22 PM Mar 13, 2012
We had an extremely windy night at Stanley, years ago. It was the aftermath of a big cyclone that had hit the WA coast. I was surprised that the effects were felt so far south. However, it was not as windy - or wet - as the afternoon/night we got caught in the tail end of a cyclone on the Barkly Tablelands. We'd been remote - away from weather forecasts - and were heading west. Ran into really heavy horizontal rain and high winds and had to pull over and batten down for the night.
Vic said
11:42 PM Mar 13, 2012
Geoff n Jen wrote:
We were parked right under the nut in a free camp(not in camps 6) in Feb, when we arrived it was a little windy so we parked into it. That night we darn near got blown straight back to the mainland. It was as bad as any cyclone I've lived through, you could not open the door without being pulled out of the van. At midnight we had a desperate plea for help from the A'Van camper beside us, it just blew appart and all their papers probably did get to the mainland So we and the motor home driver driver that came in at that moment looking for better shelter had to change over the way the ends went down because they were the wrong way and the poor copuple couldn't secure it. Every pop top was down and none of us got any sleep. The dockmaster said 130k winds were recorded (terrifying night) was anyone else there?
When we had our A'Van camper, we were told that in high winds face the dominant flat roof bit (the one with the overhang that folds/hooks over the other one) into the wind and it should be ok. Of course if the winds are extreme (in 7 years I never had to do this) to fold the camper down altogether and secure, however as there is no room underneath to lay down you would have to sleep in your vehicle sitting up or whatever if no sleeping room in that.
Dougwe said
02:33 AM Mar 14, 2012
I remember about 10 years ago I was camped in a 4 man size tent along side the Murray River on my own at what I call Cobrawanga, it's about 1/2 way between Cobram and Yarrawanga when another camper in a caravan and I were talking we heard this almighty roar, when we looked up there was this brown wall heading up the river, it hit and shot through as quick as it came. When things cleared, everything was covered in red mud the tent destroyed and the caravan on its side. About 1 hour later a ranger turned up and said it was a mini tornado, Mini be damned, if that was a mini I'd hate to be in the big ones.
ChiChi1 said
04:36 AM Mar 14, 2012
Might have been the one we had out west. Watched it coming all day. Thought it was a dustorm. However the dust was mixed with rain and wind. Our tents were ripped to pieces and everything scattered in two feet of water. Luckily we took refuge in the tug. 20k from the blacktop. Interesting drive out.
Dougwe said
04:26 PM Mar 14, 2012
I'd agree ChiChi1, I was told it came from the West and was red dust and rain. I didn't mention, I was red as well, had to jump in the Murray to clean up a bit. The bloke with the caravan had to be towed out. The ranger called for help and we were on our way.
Geoff n Jen said
12:46 AM Mar 15, 2012
Wow those events would have been terrifying too!! Glad your all still here to tell
the rocket said
12:51 AM Mar 15, 2012
Hi Jef N Jen, glad you got through it ok. Were you at the waters edge like a jetty? We were there last year and got to take a photo of a double rainbow. No terrifying story thank goodness. Enjoy the rest of Tassie. rocket n strop
We were parked right under the nut in a free camp(not in camps 6) in Feb, when we arrived it was a little windy so we parked into it. That night we darn near got blown straight back to the mainland. It was as bad as any cyclone I've lived through, you could not open the door without being pulled out of the van. At midnight we had a desperate plea for help from the A'Van camper beside us, it just blew appart and all their papers probably did get to the mainland
So we and the motor home driver driver that came in at that moment looking for better shelter had to change over the way the ends went down because they were the wrong way and the poor copuple couldn't secure it. Every pop top was down and none of us got any sleep. The dockmaster said 130k winds were recorded (terrifying night) was anyone else there?
It's never a good experience, especially when living in a caravan or portable home.
The noise and rocking and rolling, hoping nothing airborne hits you, or a nearby tree falls.
I'm glad to hear you've survived after all. I hope everyone else was safe as well.
It's over. You've survived. Put it down to experience and celebrate you can move on.
When we had our A'Van camper, we were told that in high winds face the dominant flat roof bit (the one with the overhang that folds/hooks over the other one) into the wind and it should be ok. Of course if the winds are extreme (in 7 years I never had to do this) to fold the camper down altogether and secure, however as there is no room underneath to lay down you would have to sleep in your vehicle sitting up or whatever if no sleeping room in that.
I remember about 10 years ago I was camped in a 4 man size tent along side the Murray River on my own at what I call Cobrawanga, it's about 1/2 way between Cobram and Yarrawanga when another camper in a caravan and I were talking we heard this almighty roar, when we looked up there was this brown wall heading up the river, it hit and shot through as quick as it came. When things cleared, everything was covered in red mud the tent destroyed and the caravan on its side. About 1 hour later a ranger turned up and said it was a mini tornado, Mini be damned, if that was a mini I'd hate to be in the big ones.
Hi Jef N Jen, glad you got through it ok. Were you at the waters edge like a jetty? We were there last year and got to take a photo of a double rainbow. No terrifying story thank goodness. Enjoy the rest of Tassie. rocket n strop