Time Travel via Seawinds ~ for Writer's Island

Seawinds is a magical garden on top of the mountain known as Arthurs Seat. It is a haven on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia; a haven where I love to wander for time out to nourish time in.

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Early, on a recent Sunday morning, I wandered here again.

The air was fragrant with dappled sunlight

A little tang of salt from the sea

And a slight hint of eucalypt

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I chose the secret, rocky,winding track into the gardens. The main car park just beyond a sprawling, yawning gateway somehow looks so commercial. And just beyond the carpark is a supermarket line up of barbeques. For me, it looks like a stopping place for hasty time travellers. I prefer a simple, long, timeless walk into this whispering garden.

~

I quietly opened an aching, tiny, peeling silver gate. And ambled down the dusty track. Trees seemed to move closer and closer, making the track appear more fragile than ever.

~

At last I reached a little wooden bridge, leading into one corner of the garden. As I stepped on the first wooden planks, a head popped out from behind the bushes ahead! It was a tiny grey wallaby, busy with breakfast nibbles. Drawing closer, I found this was Mum wallaby; for baby was nibbling not too far away on an expanse of grass. Mum moved just a little. I chatted on to her, wishing her a good morning and hoping she had a wonderful day. I am sure she understood, because she just seemed to intently watch my face, while still nibbling of course. I passed close by her, and sensed just a little wariness, but mainly there seemed to be a lithesome bond of morning delight. Baby ignored me completely.

~

I kept walking, but smiling now. I felt I shared the joy of a moment; an intimate encounter with time in nature's zone.

~

The next wander past the shaded lakes, rose and fern gardens and countless rocky steps became a bit of a blur. I still carried that first moment. But I was headed for a special rocky wall where a few of William Ricketts' spirits were sculptured (see pic) No matter where I chose to wander in these gardens, always this particular spot was an essential stopping point. I loved to feel this man's dream of souls uniting across the oceans of time. For him, the reality of time is the eternal soul, like some huge cosmic heart, always pulsing, always breathing a purpose into life.

~

A few precious breaths here by the wall, and I moved on toward the cliff, high above Port Phillip Bay. A tiny garden here embraced the view. Homes, roads and distant Melbourne seemed so small here. The waters and the spill of the sky were far greater. Utter exhileration always filled me at this place. For a little while, I sat on the bench, in memory of some soul who had passed here. (Many benches have little plaques as memorials of people who once enjoyed Seawinds. Perhaps, some day, I would like a fragment of me to always be here too!)

~

I felt it was time to return. The breezes were freshening, and there was a distinct aura of grey rain in the air. Of course, I returned via the wallabies. And there she was! Lazily nibbling on a small grassy hill! I voiced another good morning to her! But she just glanced my way, and then turned to watch her baby. I felt a little disappointed, but maybe I was interpretting her reaction the wrong way. Perhaps, she had decided I was no threat! Just another piece of nature's time and space. I should feel special!

~

Again, after leaving her, the gardens became a blur of passing colours and swaying greens. But I suddenly realised my feet were hastening a little more. Subconsciously, perhaps, I could feel the presence of storms. Yet the sky was just a mist of greyscale clouds! I felt somehow highly tuned into the cycles of Nature, feeling her desire to travel on.

~

Travel on! I had to travel on! I had to travel back to travel on!

Time out is time in, fuel for the hungry time traveller!