On the road to find out…
‘Depth, behind the known’
- Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
The Red Rock Gorge on the Murrumbidgee River
Canberra, ACT
This post is a multi-purpose post, as I’m writing it to:
promote a local Canberra attraction, and through this the good work of the Australian Capitol Territory (ACT) public service department, Parks ACT, who develop policy, deliver services, and in general promote and look after some of our local wonders, like the Red Rocks Gorge on the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Track; and to
promote a connection to the natural environment, via a ‘tourist in your own town’ mindset which applies to any hometown; and to
hopefully encourage you to find poignant meaning in the world around you.
‘looking back, your path has more clarity’
- Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
The Red Rock Gorge on the Murrumbidgee River
Canberra, ACT
Frederich Nietzsche once said that happiness is continuing to desire what you already possess. And I know this to be true. A younger me would have yearned for far off lands, and in a way, as an immigrant, Canberra is ‘far off lands’ for me. And yet, this version of me has started to realise the truth behind Nietzsche’s comment. I have found the wisdom in approaching things anew, with a beginers’s mind which enables me to be ‘doey eyed’ and desiring of those things that I already have.
I am an outdoors person. I’ve always been so, for as long as I can remember. Camping and bushwalking have always been favourite pastimes (‘hiking’ for American readers, ‘tramping’ for New Zealander’s), with rock climbing and boating (Canoe is my preference) a close tie for second. These activities help me to feel connected, feel inspired, and feel humbled by the power and beauty of nature… and in this connection, to help me to appreciate that which I already have.
Here, in the A.C.T. it is important to note, that we have so many wonderful outdoor pursuits and places to see them grow!
‘connect with gratitude’
- Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
an old eucalypt
on the northern banks of
the Murrumbidgee River
One of my ‘friends on the shelf’, American author and long distance walker, Ray Jardine, once said that people spend time in nature (specifically on long walks), in order to go on ‘…a journey in search of what parts of ourselves might lie within it’s deserts, forests and far flung mountains.‘ (1992:17)
I’ve found this to be true. I go to the wild places, the places of nature, and feel that there I find parts of myself that resonate back to me… connecting me to both nature and my own nature. And I’ve found that we need not even have to go deep into the wood to find this. The beauty and inspiration of nature is all around us.
This past week of school holidays, the kids and I found a place of inspiration here in Canberra. The Red Rocks Gorge of the Murrumbidgee River, just an hour and a half up the Discovery Trail from Kambah Pools car park.
Kambah Pools Beach Car Park
The path is an easy trail to follow, clearly signposted and follows the river from its north ridge, and runs east beyond the gorge to Pine Island and beyond to Point Hut Crossing. As we were walking, we saw several groups of trail bikers, and several groups of walkers. Being autumn, the weather this past week was perfect for walking. The warm sun, clear skies, and slight breeze meant we were able to walk in comfort, as together we explored and admired the beauty we saw, and the insights this gave us.
‘An insightful path of contours’
- Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
While not the land I grew up in, after decades of life in Australia, I’m becoming more and more connected with this dry land. A connection that is important to me. The feeling of being ‘held’ by the land you inhabit has always been a part of my childhood, of my sense of connection and belonging, and a part of my definition of ‘home’. Across the past several years, this is becoming stronger and stronger for me here.
As leaders, if we want workforces that can innovate, and can thrive, we need to find ways to foster cultures where people can feel similarly connected, feel safe and accepted.
Along the path, we were lucky enough, and at times, quiet enough, to see the local residents of this river way. A sense of feeling blessed by the native fauna arose in us - which is a wonderful thing to feel. It is as if you are being privileged enough to be accepted by these creatures as an equal. As another creature, no more, no less than they… simply sharing a moment. We saw wombat, kangaroo, deer, wallaby, eagle, fish, and lizards… and sat in the cool shade, as we grew quiet and shared our happiness and exchanged happy glances of excitement.
As the kids and I walked, we talked of all sorts of things, adventures, lessons, work, and life. We pointed out the interesting and beautiful things that resonated with us individually, and shared these moments in their arising. And we, most importantly, created a space where we each felt respected, trusted, and valued for what we could contribute.
Across our afternoon, a deep insight arose about one of the ideas that has guided me in my life. That is, that I will walk a path of insight with you if:
1: you are someone I can respect. (Your actions are for things greater than yourself); and
2: you are someone I can trust. (You will help me actualise the value I want to bring into the world); and
3: you are someone I can learn from. (You have insights and knowledge and wisdom that you want to share with the world); and
This one is important:
4: you reciprocate these three; you can respect me, trust me, and learn from me in return.
If I don’t have this in a relationship, I try to build it. If I realise the other isn’t interested in this, or is actively working against it… then for my own sanity, I find a different path.
As a parent, I’m starting to see that this guidance has helped me create an environment where my kids feel respected, trusted, supported, and valued enough to reciprocate this too. That in that culture of safety, they are able to find out who they are, and who they want to become.
This insight is, I believe, an important one to try and cultivate across the different components of life.
‘from shadow to light’
Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
There is something about the sound of running water that, as one who grew up in a canoe, just calms and excites me in equal measure. Along the trail, there are many side trails, some footpaths, some animal track, which lead to river, or the little creeks that flow into it.
‘a Cassurina’s shade’
Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
About 45 minutes of adventurous ambling, we reached one of the best views in all of Canberra, that of the Red Rocks Gorge Lookout. We took the path (to the right) and were duly impressed!
‘the grounding of rock, the power of water’
Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
The look out was a great place to take in the view, have a snack, and provided us our first glimpse of the Red Rock Gorge (the cliff line on the opposite bank at the horizon line of the river).
Red Rock Gorge Lookout
on the Murrumbidgee River
We were getting close. We could feel it, and our excitement led us to question every ‘off shoot’ trail, wondering if it would take us to what we had heard was an amazing view.
We hiked through tight curving tunnels of tall Kunzea (kunzea ambigua), and around bends in the trail, until we saw a small cairn (stack of rocks marking the trail) just off the downhill side (south) of the trail.
A small post on the uphill side of the trail marked the distance back to Kambah Pools at 3.2 kms.
As we left the main trail at the cairn, and started to hike down to the water, we saw an amazing view. The rock climber in me, and in the kids, grew increasingly excited and awed. Red cliff lines of beautiful stone appeared on the opposite side of the river.
‘Red Rock Gorge’
Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
Even in the dry, water was flowing, and created a view that so many Canberrans and visitors to our fair city, would be surprised exists but a short easy walk away.
‘Red Rock Gorge’
Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
‘long shadows in the afternoon’s light’
Insightful Path
19 April, 2024
the Murrumbidgee River Discovery Trail
As an amateur geologist, I love looking at the layers of rock, finding lines of interest and light. There is something primal and comforting to me when seeing such building blocks of the land. Some feel this when looking at the sea, and I can fully understand this. But for me, it has always been the mountains and the rock that whispers insights to me on my path.
Looking up this wonderful spot on The Crag, (a collaborative rock climbing and bouldering website (link here)), we were informed that climbing at this site was not allowed between August first, and December 31st, due to falcon nesting. The site also mentioned the work of another local organisation that seeks to manage access and guide users to respect and support our local climbing areas, that of the Canberra Climbers Association (link here).
Climbing, as I did, in my youth, I know the value of organisations such as this - that spend considerable behind-the-scenes work in building relationships between government agencies, land owners, and user groups. Collaborative efforts to ensure that we can enjoy the wonders of places like this for years to come.
At the beginning, I mentioned that through this post, I had hoped to:
promote a local Canberra attraction; and
promote a connection to the natural environment; and
encourage you to find poignant meaning in the world around you.
It is an incredibly easy thing to visit a local area of natural beauty (in this case the Red Rock Gorge of the Murrumbidgee River). What is more difficult is to hold loosely your sense of identity, loosely enough to walk a path toward new insights.
One of my childhood favourite singers, Cat (Yusuf) Stevens, wrote a song that has long resonated with me, “On the road to find out”, wherein he said,
‘well, I left my happy home
to see what I could find out
I left my folk and friends
with the aim to clear my mind out.
Well I hit the rowdy road
and many kinds I met there
and many stories told
me on the way to get there.
So on, and on, I go,
the seconds tick the time out.
So much left to know, and
I’m on the road to find out.’
I hope that you, too can leave your comfort zones, and see what you can find out. You may also find paths of insight, and connect with all the beauty that is already around you, and find yourself desiring your known home, and friends, and folk, once again, anew.
