Binna Burra- The Coomera Falls walk

We went on a 24 kms walk today under threat of rain but we were lucky for most of the morning. This is one of the few instances when the forecast was accurate. We walked the Coomera Falls track down the most scenic trail leading to not just one Waterfall but countless ones - all gushing with clean, cool water. The scenery was truly breathtaking.

A typical cautious Aussie warning by the falls. 

It was early. There were no other people. The birdsong filled the forest. At times deafening, cockatoos screeching, cat birds wailing, doves gurgling and then a sharp rat tat tat - I saw what looked like a boring black bird in silhouette but its call gave it away as something extraordinary - YES, the male Rifle bird was not only in sight, but also in sound. This photo is taken from Wikipedia but you can see why we were excited. 

A little further along sunning itself on a rock we found a red bellied black snake which moved towards us with lightening speed. I muttered some expletives and moved away quickly. 

Another snake further along was fast asleep in the sunshine and I approached it with more courage. 

We crossed raging torrents and little trickles, flowing streams and bubbling brooks. We probably crossed the river about 10 or 15 times and with the water being fast and furious crossing was not always a hop and a skip, even for these old goats. The law of probabilities was stacked against keeping dry !

I fell in with one leg wet through up to my crotch. The other leg and foot was dry. I squelched my way on and after a while found that both soles of my walking books had come unstuck. They did date back to Liverpool days and had a lot of wear and tear in Switzerland and the Himalayas. So the second part of the walk was spent a bit like Jemima Paddle Duck. Splat, splatting my way along. Lightening and thunder soon followed.The canopy kept us dry for a while but not for long and soon we were donning our waterproofs and seeing the mist descend over the Border trail back to Binna Burra. Who cares about a wet sock and foot -  soon we were drenched. 

The forest became dark and eerie and there was no one else there. Just before this great day came to a close we saw a yellow tailed black cockatoo, also given away by its distinctive call. That made three very black, beautiful creatures sighted today.  The following morning we awoke to this sky. 

I have earned new walking boots !