One of the things that I like to do while in rereat is to discover the terrain around the place that I’m staying in. I’m spending another week at the KSP Greenmount and, of course, you can’t write 24/7. There is a need to get out into the landscape, stretch that curved-writing spine and exercise. For the last two days, I chose to walk in the John Forest National Park. It’s quite an extensive area, although a little hilly for my taste. Closer to the Ranger’s House, café and store is a smaller and more level paved-walk. As you can see from the photos, it is a pleasant meander around a lake cum water feature with ducks, bridges across to the other side and wooden resting huts. Or perhaps they are picnic huts for weekenders? An added feature, I’m sure are here for the tourists, are the kangaroos. One day, I counted twenty, all hanging out at the local store. It appeared that they were waiting to be fed. Not much grass around this picnic area.

The John Forest National Park is also historical. There are plates showing the early pioneers, especially Lord Forest and Lady Forest. A nice surprise was to read one about Katharine Susannah Pritchard who is quite revered in this area. It doesn’t matter who you talk to, and I also visited a friend up here for coffee, most locals know about the Katharine Susannah Pritchard Writers Centre and the lady herself. It’s good to see that some history is preserved, especially here where I am. Her original writing cabin is next to my cabin. Back to the manuscript!