Pooh's Corner
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 27 May 2015 | Views [128] | Scholarship Entry
It used to be that if you didn’t know where Pooh’s Corner was you would miss it. But in the age of every little thing getting attention what was once just a humble cave in a lonely rock wall on the Clyde Mountain’s treacherous Kings Highway in NSW Pooh’s Corner is now well sign posted and overflowing with stuffed toys.
My Nan pointed out the cave to me on our way to her caravan in Ulladulla when I was eight, and ‘no we are not stopping’ was her comment.
In fact in all the times I have driven this road over the last 40 odd years I have only ventured to stop once. Five months ago on our third annual visit from Melbourne I decided it was worth the heart stopping moment of pulling over on the bend of a short sharp hair pin turn into a verge only just big enough for two cars to experience it at least once. I held my breath and took the plunge while the downhill traffic passing me barely missed a beat.
I climbed over to get out on the passenger side, I’d rather twist myself like a pretzel and smack my knee on the glove box than open the door two feet from traffic on a race track.
We all piled out giggling at each other and I was so excited to give this moment to my children, however, I got more than I bargained for that day. I was completely gobsmacked that once we were on the other side of the car we were in another world, like a little secret rainforest garden straight from a story book. The little cave held our attention for about 30 seconds and inevitably we were pulled by the beautiful scene under the canopy jungle of years of growth. The gentle waterfall ran from deep within the mountains flowing to a tiny river at our feet. A safety conscious council has built a bridge with unusual foresight of complimenting the story rather than taking away from it and we just stood there breathing in the green and the water and listening to mighty Mother Nature. It enveloped us and layered itself on our skin and we stood like this until a little flatulent sounding frog brought us back to reality and me to the knowledge of where we really were.
I gave my girls another few minutes while they made stories up about the frogs and other creatures living full lives within this little hidden oasis then called it time to leave.
The only reason they were happy to leave was the idea that we should make room on the verge for another family waiting to visit Pooh.
What a glorious little surprise adventure we had that day and one my girls and I will never forget.
Tags: 2015 Writing Scholarship
Travel Answers about Australia
Do you have a travel question? Ask other World Nomads.