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We began our Saturday of silent walking quite early. The Sydney contingent were quite surprised at the emptiness of the roads -- and made it to Linden station in record time. Yes, I said ‘empty’ and ‘Sydney roads’ in the same sentence - odd, different, unusual! And it was not 4 a.m.
I took the group of yatra walkers up the road to King’s cave. This is a marvellous occupation cave with plenty of space, and a spring at one end.
Spring-seekers
the birds whose claws
sank in the mud
Before white arrival, the Aboriginal people of the area ( Darug or Darkinjing) would have used this cave over and over again. Many artefacts have been found here. We know the general story of gradual disappearance of tribespeople and a traditional way of life. The cave was then used by the King’s Own Regiment, who were a kind of police force keeping an eye on the new road out to Bathurst (Cox’s road). They built up a retaining wall to extend the level floor area. One can imagine that horses and men would have sheltered here. Our group picked up some of the rubbish left by more recent visitors - not artefacts that enhanced the ambience of this place - lit by morning light, birds singing.
We walked silently up onto the ridge at Linden and walked a little more than was strictly necessary, along an old section of Cox’s road. Then we had the pleasure of taking our shoes off for barefoot walking.
That ant
no shoes on
like me
We began the descent into a valley. The Boronia floribunda was out in flower, full strength.
In a field
of sweet boronia
heavenly slow steps
Down in the valley, there were waratahs in flower. I felt though, that there were less of them than I had seen when I first came here, the previous year. Had someone been lopping off, and making off with, our NSW state emblem? This happens to waratahs all the time in the urban fringe. So sad.
At the pool we luxuriated in sun, sand, morning tea, and a lovely flow from the waterfall.
There had been a day of wild weather in Sydney the day before, good for the streams. No-one was quite game enough for a swim, though Joanne waded in speculatively - it was cold! And then we walked.
I led the group out of that valley and to a rock on the crest of a hill, where we paused to take stock of our walking practice. This rock was decorated with Boronia and other flowering things. We ate lunch there and most of us had a good doze in the sun - like lizards. This is the time to enjoy the sun - before it turns into a November monster.
Then I led everybody down to the next creek. I could not find the axe-grinding grooves which I’d seen there, on my last visit.
Beside this creek is another little beach, and by now the group was feeling more confident and creative. We stayed here quite a while enjoying what it had to offer. I decided to walk up and down the creek concentrating only on what was entering my ears. Wrote this ..
Frog call
bird voice
stream song - alive!
The yatra ended at Hazelbrook. Somebody said it had been like a holiday. And for me, the leader, it was great to be walking with this group of people, and sharing their enjoyment of silence and that particular landscape. Thank you everyone.
In 2013 I will again lead yatras in autumn and spring. I'll keep you posted about the dates and details.
Yes, mindful walking in the mountains - not like this...
Want to see this Wiley cartoon more clearly? Try this link...http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2012/05/17
