We’re doing what we do best. Immersing ourselves in nature. Giving ourselves time out from the old ancients. We need a breather.
Our last full day on this site. Five nights in one spot long enough. Forecast tells us “All gone sun by sundown” – rain’s coming. We’ve one local ‘must visit’ visit left. Polylimnia Waterfalls. A series of interconnected ‘lakes’. A 25K Scoot up into the hills.
If there’s just the slightest of chances of choosing the wrong direction to go, then you can guarantee we’ll take it. Exactly what we do after parking Scoot. Surprised to be the only ones making our way down a very steep dirt track. Start to doubt. The growing rush of water below eggs us on. Get rewarded with a pretty little waterfall and . . . lake? Er, large pond.
Our return uphill hike takes a little longer. We should have packed our grappling irons. Greet three Greek women coming down. They’re searching for the Black Lake. “Is it this way”. We exchange slightly confusing info. They go down. We go up. Like a couple of passing cable cars. Our navigational error reveals itself when back at Scoot. The official parking a further 1K. How do we know? A large blue sign ten feet to the right tells us so!
We Scoot on. Go visit the real waterfall and lakes. A lot of effort for small reward. Not the most spectacular. All gush and no rush. No barrels for hire either!
Earlier in the day I burn off excess energy. Go off-road. Just inland. Kick myself for forgetting my camera. Keen to snap a snake napping. They like to warm up in broad daylight. I’m not long into my climb before a smooth chocolate coloured curly wurly crosses my path. Or rather me his. He feels my approach. Long before he can see or taste me. Uncurls his three feet of glossy scales. Shyly and slyly shifts to one side. Allows me through. Obviously already had breakfast.
This family friendly site has some pros and cons. On the plus side its wind free table tennis area comes supplied with free ball boys. We play adjacent to the toddlers’ soft play area. Mary-Ann’s end. A couple of boys, on separate occasions, become more fascinated with our game than theirs. Delight in scrambling after and retrieving every stray ball. Their other favourite past-time is playing lumberjacks. “Nyam-nyam-nyam-nyam”. The chain saw sound effect particularly effective. They decide this fir tree is for the chop. It has other ideas. One hour later it’s doing an Elton – it’s still standing.
The down side? No need for an alarm clock. Come sunrise and our immediate neighbours’ two boys like to wake and wail. Feel we could do the same.