“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” – Helen Keller

The world is a wonderful place but not everyone is someone I want to meet, especially not when I am alone in remote or isolated areas of the landscape.  Through our population there are a small number of people who are addicted to drugs which can make them irrational and dangerous, there are others who find humour in physically hurting strangers, and there are a few who like to go in for the kill.  I do not want to be at the receiving end of any such activity.

When I first started writing the Walking the Derwent blog, I would provide advance information about which bus I was catching and from where.  Early blog followers pointed out to me this might be an encouragement to a weirdo to join me on my walks, and so I stopped giving out this information.

Then  one day I surrendered to those fears and stopped worrying: partly because I was well prepared for  most adverse circumstances. Despite the concerns of others,  all my walks have been safe.

For the past months I am sorry not to have been able to immerse myself in the stimulating isolation, the grandness of the sky and the clean freshness of our bush; instead for much of this year I have been hunched over the computer tapping out my books.  I am particularly grateful for the blogs of others who continue to photograph our wonderful Tasmanian bush nooks and crannies – especially those locations which few get to see. In particular I would like to draw your attention to This Amazing Planet .  Mark adds a photo or two each week and they never cease to amaze me – if you wanted another blog to follow then you will love the regular outpourings  from this site.