Thursday 9 March 2023

Daves Creek, Revisited

 Tuesday 21 February

It had been quite some time since I had walked the Dave's Creek Circuit. Unfortunately, the only Gaiter Girls available were Janice and me. Storms had bypassed us the previous couple of evenings, but not so in the hinterland. It was cool with low clouds, as we arrived at Lamington National Park. Pleasant for walking but the leeches were abundant and looking for free rides! At our lunch stop, I discovered one on my naval and another just below my hip. I had brushed many others off.



Mist amongst the thick rainforest canopy, created ethereal scenes as we commenced our walk.


For the first hour or so we were constantly in awe of the rainforest giants, vines, ferns and mosses.





Interwoven roots made for an interesting path in one section.




Leaving the rainforest we entered woodland of mallee and heath. The path hugged the edge of a rocky cliff face with occasional views of the Numinbah Valley below.



There were numerous damp sections, as a result of the storm activity.



Lunch, enjoying the valley view and dancing mist on the far ridges.

Setting off again, we left the cliff walk and entered grassy woodland, before rejoining the trail back through the rainforest.
We spotted several varieties of skinks. This impressive fellow is Cunninghams Skink.

Off into the bush, lazily.

Janice spotted this Brown Skink. It took me awhile to see him through my zoom lens.

Another skink, moss and some vibrant fungi.




This fungus looked like two yellow plates jammed between the tree branches.

The wildflowers weren't plentiful but the white ground orchid and the fresh leaf growth was stunning.

I would love to know how old this giant Beech tree is? My rough estimate is that it is at least 8 metres in circumference at its base.

And finally, the local rangers have a sense of humour.

I would love to read your comment.

10 comments:

  1. What a great trek in such varied terrain! You take us to such beautiful areas.

    The leeches would deter me. You were covered. How do they get on you covered body? It would freak me out. How do you take them off? You must be prepared for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is very interesting, Marie. If a fly lands on your skin you are aware immediately but leeches and ticks can crawl all over your body without one knowing until too late.There were so many because there had been rain. They are in the wet undergrowth and somehow manage to flick themselves on. We carry an old credit card or rewards card and scrape them off quickly and send them on their way. A trickle of blood alerts one to their presence and it doesn't coagulate quickly. Its just a fact of being in the bush.

      Delete
  2. Love the sign! What a lovely place for a hike. The colorful fungi are cool. Ugh, the chance of leeches would creep me out for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very beautiful, Linda with so much diversity of ecosystems. No leeches in Oregon?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love seeing your walks through such different terrain to that which I know. We have leeches in the UK but they are far from common; you'd have to try really hard to get one on you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed it John. After rain, and in the rainforest, it is a given, unfortunately. Alas, it is the best time to visit.

      Delete
  5. Oh my gosh, I think I would prefer having to deter a bear rather than scrapping a leach of my body! The size of that tree reminds me of the trees in British Columbia! The colours in the fungi are incredible!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think an encounter with a bear would be just a tad more dangerous! My only problem is that I always end up on antihistames.

      Delete
  6. Another wonderful walk but I could do without the leeches. We don't seem to have them in our mountain rainforests.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kim Fritzemeier16 March 2023 at 07:48

    How beautiful and green! It is so different from the browns of winter that we continue to see here. I would not like the hitchhiking leeches, but the fungi were absolutely beautiful.

    ReplyDelete