Eskdale River Visit Just Before New Year 2021

This year of 2022 I have set my intention to write about our adventures and connection with the land we love so much, a lot more often. As time goes by we frequently forget what went before and what we have learned and although there is so much that has flowed on by in the last few years, I hope that by jumping in right here, I can catch the threads of our story once again- before it's too late. 

I read a wonderful quote a while back concerning Einstein:"When Einstein gave lectures at U.S. universities, the question students asked him most was: Do you believe in God? And he always answered: I believe in the God of Spinoza." There is much written about Spinoza's philosophy concerning God, however, the bit that caught my attention and that has now been woven in to our own life philosophy is this: “Live as if there is nothing beyond this life, as if this is your only chance to enjoy, to love, to exist. Then you will have enjoyed the opportunity I gave you. And if there is an afterlife, rest assured that I won't ask if you behaved right or wrong, 

I'll ask, ‘Did you like it? Did you have fun? What did you enjoy the most? What did you learn?’" 

Our plan has been to re-shape Rob's nursing work in to something that gives us greater freedom to forage, explore & curate our own lives, but as yet that hasn't been possible with staff absenteeism and now the impact of covid. We are now in to our 8th year wrestling with Wattie's and the insolence of their thoughtless industrial behaviour. Their seasonal disruption continues to shape our summers. This year our lovely neighbour Margaret is having her house painted and that has entailed long days of sanding & scrapping next door. Just what we need! So as often as possible we slide out from the weight of the things we cannot change by visiting the land.   

With a days worth of sanding going on next door it was time to head back to explore our beloved Esk river- we never know with each new season what changes there will be in the landscape, so we decided to visit all our favorite places & say "Hello". The river was too swift for us to cross over & visit the Hermit's house this time, but the horses were happy to have visitors...sniff, nibble, munch. The access to the river for this spot is via a thing called Gregory Access that is really just a gateway and grass track that comes off Ellis Wallace road, over the railway line next door to the Olivery. 

What a fine blue jacket you have little Kotare.

The Esk river is brave and vigorous and manages such enormous volumes of water when it rains, yet in summer, it becomes the most idyllic, dreamy stream- willow shaded and safe as anything for wanderings & swimming.   

Although the river access is on private land up the road a bit further at Eskridge Station, there was a well mown & happy welcome & the same nurturing river & plenty of wild mints to greet us. 

Everything changes in the heat of summer so we were delighted to find shade and sheltered in the rustling care of these lovely old cottonwood poplars for afternoon tea.

This is a river for wandering- mostly very shallow with a fine stony bottom. 

There are always a number of wild mints, horsetail (equisetum arvense) & watercress to be found at this spot. 

And joy!

Heading back down the road we called in at Eskdale Park too. Sometime ago this open paddock alongside the walkway was evidently planted in asparagus. This season it's been overplanted in lucerne. So as we wander along we do a little dance in and out of the perimeter as we spot a viable spear or two. This asparagus is just the best we've ever eaten- of course! 

There's also a large amount of fathen (Chenopodium album, white goosefoot) growing along the path which is a useful and nourishing wild summer green. 

There's also a lot of this willow weed- Persicaria maculosa. 

It looks awfully similar to vietnamese mint, but alas it is not.

Fathen and asparagus with the pretty edible lemon flowers of wild radish in the background.

The walk from the park sweeps up around the corner passed the swathe of rye grass towards the Waipunga road bridge. 

Back over to the river on our return- water running swiftly.

I always adore finding wild carrot (Queen Anne's Lace) in wild places all through the summer. She is so self assured & pristine all through the days of fierce sunshine. See the wee red heart at her centre. 

Lucerne flowers are so pretty and come in many shades of lilac, lavender and purple. 

The serendipity of foraging and wandering always provides the possibility of a pretty or useful surprise like seeing this clump of soapwort under the bridge. 

And a little sweetly scented buddliea- beloved of butterflies.

Everywhere we visited we stood in the flow of this beautiful river & allowed our souls to be replenished. So lovely to see the landscape green & verdant after recent rain. 

And when we got home we heard someone at the door and here was our dear, faithfully generous friend Wendy Franklin with a bunch of sublime, homegrown sweetpeas.