Must have been very disappointing to put that much effort into the planning to have a unique year where the weather has been far wetter then normal cause you to have to wait another year to try again or spend large amount of money to try the USA.
Sounded to me like they had been there some time but the weather conditions were just poor and getting worse. I got the feeling it is a small window of opportunity they have for when the lake is empty and dry before the fall rain hits and makes it all soggy again.