23 August 2018

Waterfall Country - The Brecon Beacons National Park

A Walk on the Wild Side....



Waterfall
Nothing can harm me at all
My worries seem so very small





My brother rigged up a sound system with Wharfedale speakers and a record deck set onto the truncated base of our first, defunct, tv set.  Some days Jacqueline du PrĂ© would practise Elgar.  Other days Hendrix would perfect his chords.  Are You Experienced was a revelation, as the stereo separation never quite seemed to work with the 'cello concertos.







In the quiet of the woods by Afon Mellte, walking downstream from Cwm Porth, this comes back to me, as Hendrix's words and fluid guitar over Mitch Mitchell's bubbling drums rise up in my head.






With my waterfall
I can see
My rainbow calling me
Through the misty breeze
Of my waterfall






It's a soft and beautiful day.  Grey clouds drift like goose down across the sky.  A very light drizzle just moistens the leaves.  A Dipper bobs at me from a rock in the stream, calling out as if he's gargling with tiny pebbles.  Then there's a flashing bolt of gunmetal as a Kingfisher rifles past, following the watercourse, too fast for my photographic skill.






This beautiful circular walk passes four waterfalls, bright with the recent rains, though not as awesome as they might be in full spate.  It's uneven, and quite strenuous, and takes four hours - an hour a waterfall.  How much is that? 






The largest of the falls is on the Afon Hepste, and is reached by climbing down 170 steps, and then slipping over the rocky riverbed to ease behind the curtain.  This one is known as Sgwd yr Eira.







Some people say
Daydreaming's for all the
Lazy minded fools
With nothin' else to do
So let them laugh, laugh at me
So just as long as I have you
To see me through
I've got nothing to lose
Long as I have you






It's cool under the river.  The water crashes and thunders and splashes and sprays, and follows its watercourse way to the sea.  






It is peaceful under the water.  Peace comes dropping slow.  The noise and shower cut out all lazy minded fools.  You have to make an effort to be here.






For a moment the sun shimmers clear of the downy clouds, and the rim of the falls glistens.  I couldn't wish for more.






Waterfall
Don't ever change your ways
Fall with me for a million days
Oh, my waterfall




Thank you, Jimi.....

Let them laugh.....






2 comments:

  1. 'Wonder-fall; like 'watching the sun rise from the bottom of the sea’ - Brother Simon

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