Friday, August 21, 2020

Walking in Paradise

It's been a while. Time to start walking and writing again. This morning's little training walk at home - a reminder to be grateful for small things, and that even the small and familiar can be special and new every day.

T'was a bit cold! -1.3 overnight. 2 degrees when I left the house. But the frost on my car - the artistry of nature!

Fortunately, I did not need to drive. My car was wearing an ice-fur coat on its roof.


Icing-sugar snow on Mr Roland and curious locals.


Mist in the valleys


Nervous locals

Melting frost


Locals collecting breakfast. Many birds seen and heard; and heard but not seen.



Spring is in the air. Black wattles are in full bloom.


On this day last year, which seems like a century ago, I was in England, on day two of the South West Coast Path. There was no frost, it was hot, we bought icecream on the beach! Click here South West Coast Path and you will see photos to prove it!

In 3 days time, I will be walking Tassie's Three Capes Track way down south on the Tasman Penisula - another coastal path of cliff top walking. I have not really been doing enough walking over the last ten months to be fit enough but it will have to do. The Three Capes is only four days and 48 kms compared with the SWCP's 1000kms and many, many days, but there will be no luggage transfer service, or devonshire teas at cafes, or warm pub meals, or hot showers at the end of each day. We do have to carry our sleeping bags and all our own food, but fortunately, no tent or cooking equipment as the track provides a bunk bed with a mattress and cooking facilities each night, but no hot showers. It will be a challenge but also a privilege to once again be walking multiple days and immersed in wildness.

Today, it was 6 degrees when I arrived home. Balmy! It is spring in my garden.