Walking in the Moonlight, somewhere new.

I had the opportunity to explore somewhere new. Me and Pip went along Lathkill Dale, to feel the river in the moonlight. Familiar day time path, but how would it feel at nigh

Torchlight required tonight. The path, although good, but human eyes not up to this. Help needed. Today’s rain still suspended on twigs of the trees and bushes. Jewels of water droplets flash in my torch light as I pass by.

Last years Hawthorn berries still in place, lichen on the boughs and just becoming visible the new buds of this years leaves. The cycle of life. The new Hawthorn leaf buds, often called bread and cheese as it is said they will fill you like bread and cheese if hungry, I do like them to nibble on but will have to wait a few more weeks before the leaf is big enough to eat. Hawthorn, leaf first the the white blossom of May, unlike the Blackthorn where we see the blossom first, then the leaves.

Hazel’s male catkins, drooping, worm like. Trees full of them. Like lanterns of the coming Spring catching the rain drops and holding them tight. To find the female flowers you have to stop and search. Tiny, bright red, a star burst, like an anemone, fronds out. No leaves but so much activity already happening.

To find actual leaves I see some honeysuckle and brambles. Here the green of new growth are starting to show. Tiny buds and pairs of leaves breaking through. Pushing out towards the light. To provide the long stems with nutrients from the sunshine and the carbon dioxide we breath out. After a winter of having to drink their nutrients they can now start to make their own and give us back some oxygen. Perfect reciprocity.

All this captured by my torch, a narrow window of exploration. But I have come see, feel and be present with the river. I can hear it. Flowing past, fast, down below me. times path and river almost meet up and can see more clearly. The white water as the river rushes over the rocks or small waterfalls along this section. The rain has filled the river and it is anxious to be on it’s way. The white contrasting against the black night. Water crystal clear and cold, icy cold.

A swan in a pool, it also contrasting against the black, but only when my torch catches it, then it disappears back into the night. I move on and leave to night time swimming.

A sign tells me to take care as the river has recently left it’s banks and invaded the path. It has turned the path into a river and taken chunks of the path with it as it returned back to the river course. The river will always find the easiest way and this time has left a deep trench in the path, filled with rocks. Crumbling sides and lose stones where there was once a flat path.

Soon the path and river do not separate any further. They become one and my walk is brought to an end. The path disappears under the river as the river claims it for it’s own use. I do not want to take on the river in this game of find the path. I feel it may not end well for me. The river watching and laughing as I try to make way forward. I concede and stand a while. The river rushing past to the side but at this point, the water laps against the path, a stillness, a pause in the flow as I also pause.

No wind, light drizzle cloud gently obscuring the moon, droplets handing from the branches and catkins. The moss deep and bright, lichen everywhere, the air and water clear and perfect for this type of growth. Dogs mercury and ground ivy, garlic will soon the green carpet. Bluebells will herd the Springtime into summer. Then we shall hopefully be able to continue on our way.

I hold this moment of stillness before starting my own journey back down the river. My passage a little easier as I join all this water and the river in the race to the sea.