The park in winter

Wow it was a particularly cold start to our Saturday morning walk, about 3 degrees and the wind was icy.

It warmed up though as we covered the kilometres, up and over Munro Drive and through the central suburbs as we made our way to Voodoo Lily Cafe in Birdhaven for our usual of poached eggs on rye and a large cappuccino, so welcome after the 10 kilometres and the cold.

We are certainly still in the grip of winter, our grass in the city parks is gold and trees still bare with no hint of buds as yet.

The landscaped 'erratics' looked marvellous today.

• Walking log: 1st August

14.5 kilometres.

Total kilometres to date: 1346.5

• Walking log: 2nd August

4.5km easy sunday morning walk around the golf course.

Walking companions: Ian and Julie Wedderburn

Total kilometres to date: 1351

David Whyte's "Learning to Walk"

LEARNING TO WALK

Walked out this morning

into a broad green garden

with the rising sun in my eyes 

and the first hint of the day’s heat 

touching my face,

feeling as broad as the garden

and young as the day

and soaking up the heat

in my black tee-shirt,

walked straight forward

out of the gate,

through the wood,

along the river,

toward the mountain

and thought of the future

I could make in the world

if I walked toward it

like this,

with my face toward the hills

and my eyes full of light

and the earth sure

and solid beneath me,

walking on

with a fierce anticipation,

and a faithful expectation,

with the sun and the rain

and the wind on my skin…

...

LEARNING TO WALK

From RIVER FLOW: New and Selected Poems

© David Whyte and Many Rivers Press