After the falls

Things don't always go the way they should. I had originally planned to take some friends up to Lamington National Park for a day exploring one of the greatest one day hikes in Australia. Some absolutely drenching rain over the last few days put paid to that idea -- I've since been told that Beechmont Road is currently closed due to a landslide. This meant altered plans, which, in today's case, meant a trip through Tallebudgera and Currumbin Valleys, which are often spectacular after heavy downpours. Today wouldn't disappoint.

Initially it was off through Tally Valley, simply because it's the closest. Tallebudgera Creek was obviously swollen by the rain, but it was amazing to note just how much higher the creek had been (judging by the debris) just 24 hours earlier. I think the source of this stream is somewhere on Springbrook, where they had 20 inches of rain in two days, but the water definitely ran off quickly. It's also a chance to reflect on the contradiction, the rain that gives life to places like this can also be extremely destructive when the mood takes it. It can also create things that mightn't be here otherwise.

Next in line was Currumbin Valley, after the short climb over Ducats Road, and the insane descent of Trees Road. Here, things were slightly different. The cloud that had remained through the previous night was now burning off, although there were still a couple of random waterfalls remaining to offer a reminder of what had happened. I had planned to visit Cougals Cascades at the end of the road, to really see what the rain had done here, but a road closure at a flooded causeway put paid to that. This was hardly surprising, as Tallebudgera Valley had also been flooded near the top of the valley at a causeway, so I guess I just have to make do with what I was able to find here.

I have no idea what I'll be doing this weekend, as this flooding (which I understand has closed off at least three of my regular mountain climbs) has really left things up in the air. Even my football hooligan duties for Gold Coast United are under threat of postponement as I type this. I'm sure I'll find something worth doing, however.

The prodigal returns

Well clearly it's been a while between posts. I spent a month in Tasmania as planned, and had a great time, but I haven't been able to post about it due to a computer suffering a functionality phobia. Consequently I have some posts to catch up on. The most recent thing I've been dealing with is the usual searing heat that I simply can't stand. As the picture above shows, the haze from the humidity was obvious from the top of Springbrook. It's days like this, when the humidity effectively means the sun doesn't shine properly all day, that are just generally unpleasant.

As it was, I decided to head for the summit of the mountain, knowing that at least the descent would be a lot cooler. It was, too. Officially a climb the size of Springbrook should wipe 6.5 degrees (c) off the temperature, in practice, the gap almost always seems to be much higher than that -- especially if you've managed to cover yourself in sweat on the climb.

With that in mind, I decided to spend some more time on the higher points, heading for Goomoolahra falls on the Eastern side of the escarpment. This place was famous for a drunken idiot walking off the edge of the cliff and falling 100 metres to his death a couple of years ago, and as useful as that event is, I still prefer to focus on the sight of the waterfall next to the cliff face. The views can be even better at a slightly lower point of the falls sequence, but I didn't have time on this particular day. I just had to enjoy what I had, such is life.