2009 Walking Man Yatra – Nightcap NP

7 – 13 March, Tweed Caldera, Northern NSW

Route:
Cloud Mountain Homeland (Doon Doon) – Nightcap National Park – Peates Mountain – Rummery Park – Minyon Falls – Condong Falls – Protestor Falls – Forest Meditation Centre (Dharmananda) – Dirangah Rocks – Doon Doon Saddle – Cloud Mountain Homeland.

Facilitators:
Ken Golding, Greg Bantick, Ronny Hickel

group

Majestic trees arch to a sparkling canopy
A line of men silently wind through ancient forests
Stiff bodies bend and stretch in the first light of morning
Fire glow reflects on a circle of listening faces
The smells of cooking as weary legs haul in to camp
Memories surface and recede
Hard truths shared, tears allowed to fall
Rain rattles on plastic poncho mud underfoot
Sitting in silent meditation as the morning sun warms our bodies
Invisible Lyre Bird amuses with versatile calls
Deep green moss softens our perceptions
Heartfelt laughter as imagined loads get lighter
This foot now this foot
Dappled light
Edges blurring
Heart welling
Familiar joy

Poem and photos: Ken Golding