Just get out there David! — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

Zodiac Moth, Behana Gorge, 24th March 2024.

A large portion of my camera gear is off trying to be repaired. I do however still have gear that I retired some years ago but still works. I gathered it up and headed out to Behana Gorge last Sunday. I needed some bush time.

When I arrived the rain was taking a break and the sun was out. Along the walk in there were lots of colourful Zodiac Moths flying amongst the trees.

About 5 years I discovered the tree above and have since then waterflow permitting swam at its base. On this visit I wanted to see how the tree had faired following the floods of cyclone Jasper.

The water was flowing quite high and fast on the day and the above two spots I usually rock hop across the river were under water. There would be no swimming under the tree today but I still wanted to visit.

With the water so high I had to walk a fair way back from the river than I normally do. I came across very large pieces of driftwood that had been carried there during flooding when the water was extremely high. Those pieces of deadwood had now become host trees as they rot away

My eyes are not what they used to be close up without my glasses and I was sure I had a branch or something stuck on the edge of my bucket hat as I walked through the bush. I gave it a flick and it stuck to my hand. It was a spider with legs that spanned the size of my hand. I took some photos of it on the ground once I had “removed it”.

The above section of bush is usually a dry one I walk through on the way to the tree. With the river overflowing it has turned into a very nice little section of waterfalls.

I decided to stop there and have a hot chocolate. It is now well over a year since I stopped drinking coffee. Whenever I sit down I like to have a camera handy to take photos of anything that happens. Usually in Behana Gorge that is a dragonfly dropping by…..but you never know.

After finishing the chocolate I packed up to make my way to the tree which was not far away. The rain was starting to fall heavily so I did not expect to get a photo like the one above from 2019. I was soon to discover that I will never get photos of that tree again.

What is left of the tree, Behana Gorge, 24th March 2024.

The floods following Jasper had destroyed the tree. This would be a glass half full or empty moment. If it was half full then I could look forward to lots of new scenes in the Gorge as I explored going forward. Half empty and I had lost one of my favourite spots in FNQ to spend time.

Soaking wet from walking in water and the rain I turned away from what was left of my tree and headed back out. The sun started to shine a little so I stopped at the small waterfall section I passed on the way in and swam in the top pool until just before darkness started to set in. By the time I got back to the carpark as per usual my car was the only one there.