It is Bottlebrush time, summer is here :)
5th November 2025
Devil’s Pool, Barron Gorge, October 2022.
When I think of the Bottlebrush I think of this photo which is my favourite of Devil’s Pool in Barron Gorge. My oldest son came on this walk with me and I think it was the last walk we have done together.
The bushwalking I love is not really for the rest of my family. As I write this they are overseas holidaying. I do not enjoy overseas travel and have so much of Australia that I want to see and enjoy, that I no longer travel with them. Plan and try or wait and die!
My campsite in an old logging area near Ravenshoe, November 2025.
Whilst my wife has been overseas I have been working very long hours. I have had some issues in the workshop right in the middle of a heavy work load. That lead to me not having a day off in weeks. I needed some bush time!
Crystal clear water running near my campsite.
There are many things that are great about the campsite for this trip but these are the three most important:
it is isolated, not a soul in sight
it has shade, it is so hot at the moment
it has water, so I do not need to carry much on the bike
A very dry bush floor.
In the bush there are a lot of fallen trees and the remains of logged ones. Everything is so very dry at the moment. Super dry and a great fire risk.
A smokey sunset at Chillagoe in November 2023.
On this trip I mixed business with pleasure. I took the long route to Ravenshoe via Mareeba to deliver a ring to a customer there. From Mareeba I would head out towards Chillagoe and then cut across back to Ravenshoe. The Mareeba customer informed me that there had been large fires out that way recently.
A smokey sunset at Chillagoe in November 2023.
From Mareeba I headed out to Petford (on the way to Chillagoe) and then cut across to Mt Garnet and back to Ravenshoe. As I rode the old Wheel Barrow route the burnt bush reminded me of my trip out there 2 years ago. I got some memorable smoke filled sunset photos.
At my campsite at Ravenshoe I spent most of the days down by the water in what shade I could find. The flowering Bottlebrush added a loverly touch of colour, the flowing water an accompanying soundtrack and a great place to jump in and cool down when the heat got too much.
It is now my habit to read on my trips. The current book is Split by Tara Moss. I am half way through it after this trip. After a slow start I have warmed to the story and the author’s writing style.
Tara can be prone at times to IMO put in more information than needed….I guess it shows she did her subject research……gets a bit too much for me but I just skip those parts. I will let you know what I think once I have finished it.
The Bottlebrush were not he only native plant flowering. I love the Australian bush so much. I just wish I knew more about it.
Time to load the bike and head home.
It was a short break but a well enjoyed one. I have no idea how they got the logs out of this area back in the day, it sure is an effort for me to get Himi in and out of there when she is fully loaded.
The total cost of my first trip was as follows:
$23 fuel
$9 4 rice pack meals ( I bulk buy them when they are half price :)
$1.50 instant noodles
$4.20 3 tins of chicken/tuna
$5 extra for things like milo, tea, oats, toothpaste etc
$0 The novel “Split” by Tara Moss - free from the Mt Sheridan Plaza book swap stall
$42.70 total
When I filled up fuel at Ravenshoe they had burgers on the menu for about $20. That makes my trip at less than $15 a day feel very reasonable.