Slippery when wet
Early January 2025
Sunrise north of Ellis Beach.
The year for work is still winding up, so with a bit of quiet time I decided to visit some old friends (if you know you know :) near Lake Placid. Before that however, watching sunrise out past Ellis Beach was the plan.
Someone fishing at sunrise with success.
I have no idea if this man watched the sunrise or not but I do know he caught fish. There were so many large fish jumping out of the water near the shore line. Never really got into fishing….perhaps something in my future?
Heading up the hillside into the rainforest after lunch.
After the beach I visited my friends until a bit after lunch. I then headed into the nearby rainforest. It was really hot so I was keen for a swim…..and it looked like it was going to rain. I love being in the rainforest when it rains.
Some good light for a photo.
A bit of rain to make the water flow and the colours in the rocks pop, added to be a bit of cloud cover to soften the light, and it was time to take a photo.
Then the rain came.
As I expected the rain then came and the rainforest transformed. Water flowed over everything and the smell and mood of the forest changed. I love it.
Danger Will Robinson, danger. (if you know you know :)
Once the rain comes everything gets very slippery. Time to slow down and definitely use the rule of 3 points of contact. Over the years in the rainforest I have lost count of how many times the wet has put me on my backside. I often play a game when it rains to see if I can go the day without a single fall.
I see a monster eating a rock?
I have come to accept falls in the wet rainforest, I just try to control where they happen and how far I fall. Once it is wet, there are places I will no longer hike into. Slowing down to avoid falls means I get more time to observe things I would otherwise walk straight past. Like this part of tree that I think looks like a monster eating a rock.
In between the showers the sun was shining through. I decided to visit a section of the rainforest for the first time in quite a few years. When I arrived sadly most of it was gone :(
This used to be a section of beautiful trees that surrounded a clearing. It was at this clearing a few years ago that we had a Cassowary for a short period.
The floods after Jasper caused a lot of landslides and in the second photo you can see the tree up rooted in the back ground. I used to get a lovely photo of those two trees together. Tried to find a photo of them from a previous visit but failed. If I do eventually find it I will add it in later.
A fallen branch becomes food in the rainforest.
Whatever falls in the rainforest becomes food. In a way Jasper gave the rainforest a big feed when it sent so much to the rainforest floor.
Cooling off in a hillside bathtub.
After the walk in the rainforest I was now covered in sweat. It was tIme to cool off in a hillside bathtub. I never tire of having places like this to spend time so close to home…..and probably hundreds I am still yet to discover.
Closing the day back north of Ellis Beach.
To finish the day I headed back out just north of Ellis Each to watch the sun drop over the view up towards Port Douglas. Tomorrow work starts to busy up and I have enrolled for another study course that will keep me busy for 10 weeks. Hopefully not so busy that I am unable to enjoy my world.