Back in Barron - in the rain....still! — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

Late April 2024

Following Cyclone Jasper Barron Gorge Road was closed to all traffic due to damage. Recently they opened the road to pedestrians and cyclists so last Sunday I parked my car at this gate and headed into the Gorge for the first time in 4 months. That sign is not kidding about the “rock fall zones”!

As I made my way in the magnitude of the road damage and the rocks slides is all too clear. I believe they intend to have the road ready for cars again in mid 2025.

Prior to cyclone Jasper that road up to the bridge was two lanes. In many parts it is now only one and it appears they have already done some repairs to this section that barely make it one lane.

Looking back into the river from that same spot in the road you can see the carnage that the raging water that followed Jasper brought to the vegetation along the river bank. The river used to be obscured by trees from this point. Clear view now!

Heading up the side of Barron Gorge, April 2024.

Once I was well into the Gorge I started heading up the hillside to check some of my favourite spots. There were beautiful alternating spells of sunshine and cool cloud cover as I started my ascent. Everything was wet and it was the best time to be in the rainforest…….just after rain.

As beautiful as the rocks were they were extremely slippery so unsafe to climb on. I would need to make my way up and around the hillside through the rainforest.

After many years on the hillside I know the regions to avoid for “Wait a while” and “Gympie Gympie”. I have general paths/directions I take to make my way across the top of the Gorge. On this day walking through the rainforest would take twice as long as normal. Following months of rain and wind their is deadfall everywhere.

The first waterfall I wanted to visit was Dragon Falls. It is here that I usually find Eastern Water Dragons on the rocks or out on the logs.

As I approached the falls I could clearly see that only one log remained. I approached quietly but there were no Water Dragons present. Not to worry as we would spend a large amount of time with one at another waterfall later in the day.

My plan was to be at Rainbow Falls near the top of the Gorge to have lunch. This waterfall is my favourite place in the Gorge…….and perhaps anywhere.

The image on the left above was me hoping for some sunshine to create the rainbow I see so often at this waterfall. During the hotter months I swim under both a waterfall and a rainbow here.

On the right is a Rainbow there back in December 2022. On this day in April 2024 the clouds were heading in and rain was on its way….again. No rainbow for David today.

The customary lunch photo, Barron Gorge, April 2024.

Whenever I am in the bush having lunch I always have a camera ready just in case I am joined by a local. On this day I ended up eating alone so instead turned my camera to the root structure of a glorious old tree nearby. I wonder how old that tree is and how long it would be before nature would alter or destroy it?

There is a small Gorge right at the top of the hillside that flows along the top for a short period and turns down into a very pretty waterfall and pond. With lunch over it was time to crab across the hillside to take a look at Little Gorge Falls.

Being such hard going in the bush on this day I decided to leave the bulk of my 25 kilo camera pack at Rainbow Falls and pick it up on the way out. I would take just one lens and my tripod.

Approaching Little Gorge Falls, late April 2024.

This day was not about trying to get great photos so the light at Little Gorge Falls being horrible did not bother me. Sure if they happened I would not complain but I really just wanted to look at what has changed since Cyclone Jasper.

I noticed two things as I approached the Falls, the first was that almost all the deadfall had now been washed away from the pond. The second was that a local was present. In the above photo he is right at the edge of the pool looking back at me.

Usually when I am walking in the bush I change the camera gear I have in my hand to longer glass just in case I need to take a photo of something I cannot get close too…say like a snake. With the rest of my camera gear back at Rainbow Falls all I had was a 28mm lens, about 270mm shorter than I would normally use to take a photo of a Water Dragon..

I sat with this Dragon for a while and chatted with him as I do with all Water Dragons. He let me lie down on the ground and get that photo from about 3 feet away. When his photo session was done he hung around the base of my tripod for the half hour or so I was there.

My new found Dragon friend who I have named George sat and watched me wait for some nice light to hit this tree located to the side of the waterfall…….nice light never eventuated but heavy rain did. Time to get off the hillside.

I said a quick good bye to George and headed back to collect the rest of my gear and make my way down the hillside. I don’t think I worried George one bit and that kind of makes me happy.

By the time I was about a third of the way down the hillside it was very dark and the rain was extremely heavy. I decided to take a break and as I squatted in my rain poncho under a rock overhang I noticed this fungus being hit by the tiniest bit of light….so I took a photo.

Between the road and river, facing up river, Barron Gorge, April 2024.

When I arrived back at the road I intended to check out the rainforest (what was left of it) on the river side of the road. I will get some better photos on a day a bit drier and when I am not so exhausted from heading up the hillside.

The photo below I took very close to the spot above but back in December 2021. Almost all the vegetation between the river and the road is gone……..all the way along the road :(