Under My Umbrella…

Under my umbrella,
under my umbrella,
under my umbrella,
I’m unlikely to get wet.
– Unknown (a vaguely remembered childhood poem).

It is hardly a comforting thought as I notice the shabby state of said umbrella. For starters, it’s one of those teeny, tiny hiking ones, and this is one hell of a thunderstorm! It also has at least one broken spoke, and holes… yep, right above my head.

Undeterred, I set out on my forest walk anyway. It will be an adventure!

There really is something about being in a rainforest in the rain. Somehow, the rain adds a dimension and intensity that just isn’t there at other times. It is stunningly beautiful.

Overhead, thunder booms and crashes. It echoes through the tall trees – a cathedral of nature. Spine tingling stuff!

Briefly, my thoughts drift to the Lightning Room at Scienceworks! But I soon decide that being surrounded by thousands of treetops, 60 metres above, as I am now, I would have to be SERIOUSLY unlucky!

Then a scuttling noise beside the path grabs my attention. An echidna is snuffling through the undergrowth, totally unperturbed by my presence. Obviously dinner is far more interesting.

I keep walking, avoiding the rapidly growing puddles as best I can. The rain pelts down harder. And then suddenly, like any good rainforest shower, it is over and the sun emerges.

As I walk back to the car, I notice the giant mountain ashes have foam streaming down them. One after the other – Magic Faraway Trees, complete with their own Dame Washalots.

I am wet through, but I don’t care. Instead, I do a little happy dance.

For the forest, the rain and my totally inadequate umbrella… Today I am grateful.