writing | Toes In
Sometimes you need to just stop and enjoy the moments. I found this in my notebook, its from the end of a walk in Exmoor a few years back.
We’re perched on the pebbly patch of a river bank, with our feet dangled in. Cold water rushes passed, providing a refreshing break after walking for the last few hours in the warm sun.
Dappled light shines through the tall trees that surround us, the forest's canopy providing some welcome shade. Old man's beard and monk's hood lichen hang from the branches like tinsel.
Thick tufts of tamarisk moss grow amongst the oak and hazel. Common haircaps and silky forklet-moss cover the banks. Ferns are slowly curling into life, as spring begins its riot towards summer.
The sound of bird song fills the air. A robin is flitting back and forward with insects, its nest deep in the far bank, buried amongst the undergrowth.
Sunlight reflects off the water's surface and onto the pillars of the nearby bridge. The panels of the bridge are brown with rust, and the bricks are covered in more lichen.
The shallow pools of pebbles and small rocks, smoothed by years of water, look inviting but would require effort. My toes are numb, so I take my feet out of the water and let the warm breeze dry them.
Today was a good day. The warm sun and open spaces. The sense of adventure and exploration of new places. Losing ourselves amongst nature and pondering everything like a new experience. After months of lockdown and travel restrictions, this is what we needed.