Bringing the Mountains Alive

We've been having some gorgeous, clear, rather too summer like weather over the last few days but last weekend was a different matter. Last weekend it rained, and rained and rained. It was record breaking rain that in just a couple of days left us with the wettest May since 1920. It was a bit of treat considering what a flop the wet season was this year. Rain like this is what brings the mountains and waterways alive.

Walsh's Pyramid turned on the water works with multiple waterfalls clearly seen running down the mountain. A couple of days later these were no longer there.

Sis G had come up for the weekend so she got to see first hand mountains shrouded by cloud and water running everywhere. Her reaction was like what my first one was. Come to think of it, I still get excited. We didn't exactly grow up in an area that turned on misty mountains and waterfalls.

On Sunday, she had to head back south and I decided to come part of the way with her so we could look around a little together.

It didn't take long for something to catch my eye, the Pyramid for one and the swollen Mulgrave River for another.

We aimed for Babinda Boulders and were planning on a late lunch at the Bakery. Well that was closed that Sunday and so was pretty much everything else except for the Kool Spot Cafe. Oh, their fish and chips was delicious. Just thinking about it makes me want to head back again.

After our extremely enjoyable lunch we headed to the Boulders. Now, this is when I realise I haven't actually shared my last visit with you so there is nothing to compare it with. Well let me tell you, this time it looked the polar opposite of my last visit. Rushing and raging, Babinda Creek was putting on a show.

We walked along the Devil's Pool track to the lookouts over the creek. 

The best view of all was through a break in the trees looking back up stream at a waterfall. I believe last time I could hardly see any water going over the rocks.

The final lookout over the gorge left us with a view of foaming water raging off into the distant trees.

 We, meaning I, dawdled along watching the mist on the mountains and the flowing water. Well I wasn't the only one, Sis G was aiming for the perfect selfie and was enjoying the natural beauty just as much as me.

There is a legend or dreamtime story about the Babinda Boulders that you can find here. It is an interesting read telling of how the boulders came to be and also possibly giving a bit of a water safety message. 

Last time I was at the Boulders I went swimming here. Knowing how fast the creek was flowing there is no way I would have gotten in this time. Not only that but that water is cold there, and the rain was cooling us off enough.

Unfortunately, then it was time for us to part ways. Sis G needed to seriously head south so she wasn't home too late.  It was so nice to spend the time with her even though, as per usual, it was too short.

On the way home I stopped to take photos of the heavy clouds and smoking mountains. A bit of a joke from the weekend, sometimes that wispy, misty cloud looks like smoke coming off the mountains. I might have started it by blurting out something about 'look, the mountains are smoking!' I am all class.

On the way back I passed Walsh's Pyramid again, this time stopping to check out more of the falls on different sides.

I love seeing how different paces look in different weather and how the beauty of them changes to a different beauty.

Here is a bit more of an idea for you on the differences between my last visit, in March, and this more recent one.

Out on the Street

We can safely say the sky doesn't look like it does in this post at the moment. We've been having some record breaking rain, mainly over the weekend, with it being the wettest May since 1920. The middle of last week however was bright and sunny, mostly.

On Wednesday afternoon I looked outside to see what was happening with the sky. I was enjoying the golden light so much I headed for a quick walk around the block as the sun set, while dinner was cooking.

The sun was headed for the mountains on one side, the moon was well risen on the other.

The time outside was good. I'd had a few hours at daycare and had to head to a few hours night work that night. Actually, the last fortnight has been a bit like that. I had worked every day at one job or the other, including both Saturday and Sunday. 

It is rather sad, but it has been a while since I have wandered the streets around where I live. I really should get back to walking. That however requires shoes and I am the owner of a never ending ingrown toe nail, yet again. Just what you wanted to here. This is not a new thing.

Walking around, it is hard to tell what season it is. In photos especially.

I know that it is slightly cooler now, but I can't really show you that.

I know that certain things flower at different times of year, but then there are the plants that flower all the time.

At the moment some plants are a little confused on the whole flowering thing too. The weather has taken a while to loose its summer feeling.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if once the rain goes again, it warms up.

Apparently, there have even been stingers (box jelly fish) spotted around the marina. We should be pretty much clear of them by now. Stinger season ends in May.

We also haven't had the wet season we should have, not that we can complain when compared to other areas. Maybe the weather is trying to make up for it now. There have been some incredible photos taken around the ridges of swollen rivers, creeks and waterfalls.

Going out for a wander was a good tiredness buster, well maybe more of a keep me going activity.

It was good to get out to observe, to see what I could see and to relax.

So often I overlook what is close by, instead heading to some beach or waterfall. It is good to look for and be reminded of the natural beauty that is right around the corner.

It would just be nice if their weren't light posts and power poles, but I guess we do like light and power.

I think the sign coming into the city say 'City in a Garden' or something like that. They do try to keep that going with plenty of greenery and plants on the city street. Somewhere there is even a plan for what is planted where so you can find out what type of trees are on your street.

It was also nice to watch the changing sky.

I should do this more often (I say that a lot it seems), especially now I start work later ... and finish later.

By the way, the whole midnight finish time is completely screwing with my sleep. Sleep is always a topic for discussion at work. Last night I was feeling so tired when I started (I had been at daycare during the day too) but by the time I finished work I was nearly ready to bounce off the walls. How do you come down from that and try to get a few quality hours sleep?

Oh, the so tired also had something to do with sitting up late Saturday night watching 'The Holiday'. It is such a sweet movie, and extremely long with all the ads. Also to do with Mr Sparky going out on Sunday evening to a mates place and not getting home until about 11pm. What was with that, by the way, on a 'work' night?

Anyway, if I am telling you about lack of sleep, I am obviously down at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to things to chat about.

Oh, in other news, I am on the countdown to seeing family again. I'm heading down for a carer gig. I'll be hanging out with my brother and making sure he doesn't burn anything down. I doubt that would ever happen but he probably would trash the joint and watch every DVD in the place on repeat while eating the pantry out of Tim Tams. Apparently he has a liking for the odd packet of chocolate covered biscuits, or two. But really, who doesn't.

It is getting to the same time of day as shown here. Time to think of dinner and I am wondering whether a sunset viewing is in the cards. It is hard to tell what the sky will do.

I'm thinking pork for me and steak for Mr Sparky. He doesn't like pork. He doesn't know what he is missing.

 Well I hope your week treats you well and that you don't need to resort to a packet of Tim Tams to get through ... or that new Oreo chocolate, or my personal favourite mint Twix.

I also hope you find time to relax or to soak up some nature.

Have a good one!