Mt Bauple (or - off with the Fairies? )

Those present: Denise, Graeme, Mandy, Ron, Mick

We met at Gympie Woolworths carpark on a perfect morning. The weather the previous day had been horrific, with rain and storms and even a mini tornado which had demolished a local house. But today there were just a few puffy white cumulus clouds and a brisk breeze. We made our way up the highway to Bauple and headed off to see the "Fairy Lady" This in itself was an experience, as we were doused with "fairy dust" (fine glitter) upon entering and indulged in some quite cryptic conversations. We ogled the wares for a while and made a few purchases. With instructions of where "not to go", we left and headed for the mountain itself. Unfortunately the "not to go" instructions seemed to be off target, so we stopped for coffee on the side of a rough track, attracting the attention of a herd of cows who almost stampeded in their efforts to check us out.
We continued on up a different track only to find another "Private Property – Keep Out" sign on a gate. A bit of backtracking found us parked beneath a couple of trees preparing to hike. We followed the property fence down into a steep gully, and after surveying the area from a huge egg-shaped rock, continued down to a creek line. This was a magical place with small rock pools and waterfalls. Unfortunately the previous day’s rains had muddied the water, but the feeling was still here. An extremely calming place. We pottered around, looking at stones and absorbing energies before following an ill defined track up the other side. There were many small red and blue flowers as well as "wait-a-while" and another ground-cover which gave off a strange odour when crushed underfoot. Eventually the climb got steeper and rockier, a bit like Pinbarren but not quite as shaley. There was a lot of tall trees as well as vines and small woody weed, with bare patches and small grassy openings. We then came upon a magical grotto. Shaded and with rocks all around, it seemed a bit surreal, but was where we decided to take a breather and "ground" ourselves. We all meditated in our own way, and at an unseen signal, continued the climb. Mandy had a rock which was "calling her" and we battled our way up to it. Once we got there, it seemed like a non-event….. Yet all those butterflies seemed to say that "we had to be here"…… We had to experience this place just once. We did.

We returned to the "fairy grotto" and sat and meditated again…. Then Denise lit some "Peace Candles" and passed them around. We drank in the beauty of this place for a while longer then slogged down the mountain again and settled by the creek.

This time the creek and rock pools seemed to be the catalyst for the whole trek. All of us felt "different" and spread out and did our own thing. Mandy "cooled her heels" (and soles, and toes) in the soft, flowing waters, Mick desperately sought stones to present to the others as "their Bauple rocks", Graeme, as usual, disappeared for a while, and Denise and Ron sat and absorbed the energies. We all again seemed to be absorbing "what was meant for the individual" although we were there as a group… The "group thing" was irrelevant on this occasion.

We made our way back to the cars, and on Mick’s suggestion, headed to Miva for lunch.

The bridge at Miva was an experience on its own. With a railway track on one side and the roadway on the other, it is fairly unique, given it’s position.

We had lunch in the nearby park and then investigated the bridge. Unfortunately, the river was extremely muddied due to the recent rains, and we did not sight a "Lung Fish", (much to our dismay) but we explored around the bridge and down to it’s foundations where Denise & Mandy found the biggest "skink" lizard that I have ever seen. It sat in a crack between the rocks, and despite most of us gathering around, and "oohing and ahhing", did not move for the whole time we were there. Again, some of us selected stones, and returned to the park. We said our goodbyes, and departed for home, all somewhat weary and worn out.

 Micks Musings

 Thank you (whoever) for the weather!

Denise & I both felt "unease" near Glenwood…… Why?

Fairy Lady at Bauple – Lots of FUN, and some good stuff in her shop..

Pity about the directions – seems to be SOP… Send ‘em off on a hunt, and if they’re OK they will find the right spots anyway!……. (a test maybe?)

Pity that the rains had muddied the waters…..

I love small creek valleys… They have character!

Strange about the colours of the flowers along the way.. Red "bells" and blue "puffys"

Absolutely love the "Fairy Grotto" ………

I, personally, heard the "laughter of children" or was it Pamela, or was it the wind? Or was it Fairies? What is our reality?….. Based on my upbringing, what I experienced was cause for incarceration in an asylum……. But it was there…. I know it…….

Many magnificent butterflies, and cheeky bush doves…. GREAT!

Peace candles should be mandatory in all schools…. Think about it…..

Pity that the river was so dirty at the bridge…… Lungfish have a habit of making one re-evaluate one’s misconceptions………

Thanks for the driving, Graeme!