Waterfalls and wanderings...

Yesterday we arrived at the weekend with a strange nothingness with which to occupy ourselves. For the last month or more, our weekends have been full to the brim: here with music practices at church, there with gardening pursuits and other such domestic duties, and also with family gatherings. It was with almost surprised wonder that we arose saturday morning then with gardening completed, clothes already on the line, and nothing more to do. But there's always new things to see, so without serious deliberation (or planning) we set off in our car for the tablelands in search of falling water.

Some of you may wonder why it is that the paragraph above sounds so ridiculously formal. In fact I wonder myself. Surely the answer has something to do with Anna Karenina which Mez and I are reading through at present in a vain attempt to extend our combined literary understanding. Classic literature is (of course) classic for a reason though, and 'Anna' is a strikingly alluring read, if you can get into the language. The only problem with getting into the language is getting out of it again. So i guess it's lucky for you we're not reading shakespeare! In saying that... it does fade with time, henceforth the style that begins the blog will, in all likelihood be different in both content and substance from that which is still to come.

Falling water we did search for, falling water we did find. (Seek and you shall find is another worthwhile saying to attune to!) Both from the sky and from the sides of hills, beginning on the way up the windy Gillies highway, and to the soulful tunes of Abbey's screams. Actually they were more like soul-destroying! - I suspect she was a little vexed at the windyness of the road! But nevertheless we arrived into Yungaburra in one piece. Frazzled for sure, but in one piece.

The century old bookstore in Yungaburra (actually it's older than that, having been established in 1875!) is well worth a look to calm road anxiety and settle into a relaxed holiday frame of mind. Following that we went in search of Water. What we found first was the Gallo factory which sells speciality chocolates and cheeses. So after tastings were tasted, tastes tickled and wallets emptied, we set off again in search of water, buoyed by the purchase of sure to be tasty treats... The first falls we found were those immediately above. Situated on the outskirts of Malanda (the very name of which makes one think of some kind of sickness or disease), I didn't think them hugely impressive given that they're surrounded by concrete to humanise (?) the scene and allow easier bathing... Doesn't really fit with what I like about nature though. Gimme rough and unspoilt nature any day. Millaa Millaa was more spectaular (see right) but photo's marred by the swimming couple, and the fact we couldn't stay long because of the waterfall in the sky! Pretty impressive cylindrical rocks in behind the falls though which you can just make out in that photo! Next stop was Zillie falls which was also pretty cool and certainly scores points for ruggedness. There isn't even a track to lead to the bottom of the falls which makes them extra cool. Also cool was this sign which you could be forgiven for thinking was excouraging crazy dance moves. Actually it was suggesting you'd be daft to get out there on the rocks and play at the top of the falls which are immediately behind the barrier. A point well considered when you see the height of the drop on the falls. After Zillie falls came the completely unpronounceable (at first read) Ellinjaa falls which looked exceptionally cool and near which was the exceptionally cool tree photographed... with it's parasite ferns and vines encircling it like gigantic pythons... Very cool - I do love the rainforest!We then, needing nourishment, headed for a biodynamic farm, which Gwen and Vince had visited when over here and which Mez had seen but I hadn't, however the Quark (cheese) had been raved about by both Gwen and Vince. And duly so i might add (after myself tasting the aforementioned!). After this there was one more fall - Mungali falls which I didn't photograph for two reasons one is that it was only recently that it featured here on the blog, and the second is that the waterfall in the sky had opened which meant Abbey and Mez stayed in the car, while only the toughest ventured out into the pale blue streaky stuff (yes that was me). Tough is probably not the word i'd use for one wandering in a tropical rainshower though. It requires no particular toughness as would the cold of a NZ similar shower (which I might add I have also braved in former years...) perhaps just wet is the appropriate term. Or a sucker for punishment. Anyway I

saw, I pondered, and I returned to the car to drive (in blissful quiet) the rest of the way home.