A lovely long weekend in Noosa last week was going perfectly until the last minute.
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On the last day of my break, the Monday, we decided to go bushwalking in beautiful Kondalilla National Park.
Kondalilla National Park is in the Blackall Range of the Sunshine Coast hinterland not far from Montville.
The weather had been wet in the morning making the track a bit slippery though it was sunny when we got there after lunch.
We were following the descent of Kondalilla Falls, where Skene Creek drops 90m into a rainforest valley and alhough it is part of a several day walk we were doing a 5km circuit walk which starts and ends at the top with 300 steps down to the bottom.
We stopped for a swim in a deliciously cool waterhole about half way down.
We got to the half way mark at the bottom where I decided I wanted a better vantage point to take a photo of the falls.
As I crossed onto a large rock, my feet went from under me and I landed with a thud on my back.
My walking partner was out of sight behind a large rock but heard the thud as I hit the ground and she immediately called out.
However I was so winded by the fall that when I opened my mouth nothing came out.
After a minute or so I finally got my wind back and guided my partner to where I had landed.
It took a few minutes but I was finally able to get back on my feet and I decided against seeking help to get me out.
The 2.5km walk back to the top wasn't easy but we managed it slowly.
My partner wanted me to go to the hospital but with me booked onto an early flight back to Mount Isa on Tuesday I delayed it until I got home.
I knew that other than painkillers there wasn't much that could be done and I've since been diagnosed with either bruised or cracked ribs.
If they are merely bruised I can look forward to eight days of soreness otherwise it's four weeks of agony. I've also learned that me and the painkiller Tramadol don't go well together.
If you see me around, admonish me if you like for my stupidity, but please don't make me laugh - it hurts too much! - Derek Barry