ARRIVAL

Poets Road, West Hobart. I look down and across the city. Bright-roofed houses on tree-lined streets fall towards the Derwent River, or rise towards Mount Nelson. The Derwent is very wide here, and Hobart welcomes large cruise ships from time to time, ships that dwarf most of the buildings in the city. The sky is high and wide, and the light that falls on the city changes throughout the day. When I was here in 2009 I spent a lot of time staring at this view. Seeing it again makes me happy.   

We have supper, chattering with our friends, and watch the view changing as the light shifts towards evening. A small cloud blows in with a wave of rain and then is gone, leaving a rainbow—then a double rainbow! I feel welcomed back.

A double rainbow welcome

The Derwent River under cloud

 After eating we go for a brief walk. I can’t tell what time it is. The days at home now are dark before 5:00. Here it’s nearly 7:PM and the light is still clear and bright. In the garden shrubs are blooming and buds forming. Poets Road rises steeply from the east towards Knocklofty Ridge, an outcrop of Mount Wellington. We follow the street west to its end at the entrance to Knocklofty Reserve. The park gives access to the network of trails that vein the mountain. I remember trying to find out where the name “Knocklofty” came from, with no success. I’m struck by how green and flowering the forest is. A eucalypt shedding bark looks like it has opened its arms to us. It’s very good to be back here!

  

Buds on New Zealand Christmas bush

Entrance to Knocklofty Reserve

Blooming forest

Eucalyptus