3rd of August 2021

Being in Barron Gorge often I have got to know one of the local kayakers Steve quite well. He is on the river almost every week barring injuries.

Kayaking can be extremely dangerous and the community look after each other quite well and always appear to be sharing knowledge. Steve is one of those always ready to guide a newcomer down the river.

Sadly I am not going to see Steve around much anymore as he has moved to Tasmania where he assures me he will be continuing to kayak. It seems during our time together we have effected each other a little.

Lately if there is enough light left Steve will stop on his run down the river to chat to me about what I am taking a photo of or what I am waiting to take a photo of. At the same time I have come to realise how many more places I could get too and take photos of if I could kayak. See where this is going?

On Steve’s last day in Cairns I fulfilled a promise to take him to one of my favourite spots is Barron Gorge. A huge Fig Tree high up the side of the Gorge. While we sat at the base of it we chatted about other waterways the “river rats” kayak and Behana Gorge was mentioned.

Behana Gorge is another place that I have visited many times but not as often of late. Usually the water is shallow enough that I can walk in the river along large sections. In our heat the water is often a cool relief so I enjoy getting wet. When the water is very high however the river rats move in and kayak down it.

During our time up at the Fig tree we discussed a very special spot in Behana Gorge that is near to my favourite tree and swimming hole there. I emailed Steve photos but he said he did not recognise the tree or spot on the river. I love swimming under that tree! Never seen a person there…only wild pigs.

The next day I started holidays so with Behana Gorge fresh in my mind I decided to walk in after lunch. I walked straight past my favourite tree as I had another location in mind deep down one of the small waterways that break off and go into the National Park.

My destination was a bend in this smaller waterway that cut around the base of a tree. I was half expecting the tree to be toppled as so many others have been by heavy water flows in the area.

The rocks that are entangled in the trees exposed root structure seem to anchor it during heavy water flow.

While the water flow is low and slow in the main waterways I can cross them readily so I will head into this spot a few more times in the coming weeks and explore. It was on my way out of here that I discovered something that brings us back to Steve and kayaking Behana Gorge.

About 50 metres behind my favourite tree, well above the current water level, I found a broken paddle in the bush as I walked back out. When the water rises in here it goes well over the exposed root structure of that big old tree. A massive volume of water to be treated with care before paddling down.