I sit looking at the rolling sand dunes

A place of play when children young

The river meandering in front of me now

I close my eyes and see our rubber dingy

Children laughing splashing swimming

To the far left I see the sea with white surf

Remembering my son’s delight in surfing

Cherished memories long gone I paint

 

Have parked by the side of a nosey road

So eager was I to find a free parking space

This being my third mistake of the day

So brave going up a bank ‘spur of the moment’

Had I stopped to think I wouldn’t have done

Not sure how I am going to back off this

It’s alright to have courage to do and find

But had I left my adult sensible head behind

 

Got all my things ready to come out, last night

Way in advance packed neatly awaiting me

All I had to do was pick it all up and go

So thats just what I did, scouped and went

No thought for my phone which lay on bed

My alarm for this morning appointment at 10

I had High hopes for my day, outing at last

It’s been many months since I had a foray

 

Even got a mixing bowl with a lid and a hole

A toilet as most I have heard are closed

So here I sit the view is really lovely in sun

People paddling canoes helped by the wind

Dogs having fun wagging, shaking weeing

I realise I will have to wee too not so easy

I put my mixing bowl on the seat beside me

We look at each other, how is this done

 

I climb in the passenger seat sat up high

I watch the cars as they go by not knowing

That I am weeing and watching them too

Though I know I am covered not exposed

In the distance 2 horses and a pony ridden

Their seating high too much easier for sure

I smile because that is all one can do yes

This pandemic gets us doing the oddest things

 

But life goes on even if in a different way

The views haven’t changed, well some haven’t

People on surf type boards standing with paddle

Have only seen that done on TV before now

I don’t quite get the point of this sort of sport

That’s probably because I’m not the one doing

So many people out enjoying this weather

Haven’t see so many people for some months

 

I decide to go and park in an official car park

When I get there guess what? It’s already full

So off I drive till I find another off road park

Over looking the sea I’m on top of a steep cliff

To escape the noise of traffic and the wind

I take my seat cuppa soup and homemade bread

Down a cliff steeper than I had thought it was

I sit quietly though feeling rather vulnerable here

 

To one side I suddenly see a notice ‘falling cliffs’

I see a picture of my daughters frowning face

The trouble is I know just how right she is

I just wanted a quiet space with a view I say

Lunch is enjoyed and this poem written in pencil

Which decides to fall off my precarious lap

As I try to save it I nearly topple it’s long way

Oh how badly could this outing end I wonder

 

I decide to go, my adventure is on it’s way out

A chair and steep hill now that is a challenge

Kind young girl offers her help takes my chair

And stands there watching that I stay safe

I wanted so much to take her offered hand

But sadly my arms are not two metres long

Afterwards I realised I had hand sanitiser

So touching would have been alright outside

 

What have I got out of this sunny outing of mine

My glasses are mended that’s why I ventured

I have fresh air in lungs and pictures in my mind

Magically car’s in one piece though not my back

On the way home a field full of crows lined on fence

Others flapping and crowing a crowd gathering

All in all I am glad I went round the next bend

And I seem to have survived with no terrible end

 

Me at 75

Here’s to adventures never ending