We went down to the Woods that day!

Two of my favourite places are the forest and the ocean. Ideally, I would love to live in a forest cottage, surrounded by tall pine trees, overlooking a beautiful, untouched & secluded stretch of beach. The smell of pine cones fills the air and your lungs, bringing a sense of peace and grounding for me. As the saying goes, “Slowing down is medicine” What better place to slow down than among the tall green trees of Knysna, where a friend of mine & I visited a short while ago to spend time with a mutual friend.

The name “Knysna” is thought to have its origins in the Khoikhoi word Xthuys Xna, which could mean “place of wood” or “ferns”, a place the Khoisan hunter gatherers called home.

There is a beautiful little place that can be found if you wonder up the Rheenedal Pass, not long after you pass through the town of Knysna. Forest Edge consists of 5 beautiful cottages fashioned after the cabins of the wood cutters that once worked and inhabited the area. These are secluded, private cottages along the edge of the beautiful forest. Here you can revel in the tranquility and enjoy an authentic forest experience.

We, however stayed with our friend in her beautiful home there.

Sunday morning came and we had already decided to end our stay off with a walk through the forest. Our friend B often visits the forest as she lives a short drive/walk from where you can wonder and get lost in your thoughts as you venture between the tall trees, that look like they are touching an amazing blue sky, visible from time to time through the forest canopy.

That morning, there were no wood cutters and the elephants have been extinct in the area for a long time, hunted to extinction for their ivory by European settlers and ivory traders alike.

Walking where there are now graded gravel roads, I couldn’t help but think of the wood cutters carrying out the back breaking work of felling tress and transporting them through difficult terrain. There were no graded roads for them to move from one place to the other.

We did about 4km of conscious walking, taking in every little detail of the trees, the clouds when we saw them and the other vegetation that thrives and puts on a spectacular show for those who visit. You cannot see the forest floor for large sections of the forest, as nature has creatively covered these with a carpet of pine needles, infused with the forest breath that stirs the soul.

Normally it is during these conscious walks that you stumble upon something unusual that you have never seen before. A quick photo loaded to Google will give you some insight into what you have found, it’s purpose and how it fits into the ecosystem around it, that contributes to the flourishing of the sometimes misty and cold forest. Being July, we were kitted out in multiple layers of clothing, complete with down jackets, beanies and warm socks inside our trail shoes.

Along the way we discovered these light brown, powdery objects. To be honest, they looked like some form of animal droppings that had been lying there for many years and had finally become dry and powdery. Gently touching them with our shoes, they released a powdery substance that quickly settled on the ground around us.

We discovered they are often called “Dog’s Poo Fungus” or an earthball fungus. They are part of the forests recycling system. They break down organic matter to help keep its ecosystem healthy.

Fascinating! How many people have noticed them during their forest walks, and were even interested to find out what they are? We are not always looking carefully for interesting organisms living in nature. Lesson for the day for us.

We wondered along the roads, through the forest on small paths, stopping, talking and sometimes standing still just listening to the whispers of the trees around us. We warmed up as we went and chatted very briefly to a lady who was running with her dogs. She was the only other person we saw that day in the forest and there were a lot of cars in the parking lot, where we left the car to start our venture.

It was a wonderful way to end our weekend, before setting off back home. Mind & soul rested & restored before getting back to real adulting.

A cabin in the woods, where I can see the ocean & a short walk will take me to my secluded beach. I’ll grow herbs and veggies; teas and fruit trees & walk everyday with my fur babies.

Yours in Soul Scribbles

J

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