Riverside Gardens

Elle Cross the road then carry on down the ramp or steps, along the river. Pause, take a breath. Take it in. It’s beautiful isn’t it? So many birds. So well-travelled but looking very at home here. It’s amazing how they just know where to go, which way to fly, following the rivers and coastlines and trusting their instinct. Migration is adaption you know, it’s survival, they go because they have to. Just like me. Head along the path, stay next to the river.

You see this turtle. It looks at home right, like this is the place he was always supposed to be. Looking forward, seeing what’s coming. But if you trace its path you’ll see its continuing on its journey. Creeping forward, not knowing what’s coming, but pioneering through. Because that’s what we do isn’t it. We keep moving. Try new things, find out for ourselves where we fit in to this crazy world. Can you see, in the distance, this turtle is not alone? Head towards its friend, along the river. They started together and even though they’re apart now, they’re still connected. There’s a concrete line that’ll link them forever. However far they go, they won’t forget their past. You can almost trace their routes back through time and space. Those memories, those shared stories, they won’t evaporate into thin air, they will remain in the stones and waters and mouths of all those who were there. Everyone who played their parts and those that listened, moulded it, shaped it by their tongue and passed those stories on.

Keep going along the river, turn right. We’re going to leave the water behind. Over the hump.

We’re going back towards the city now, between the buildings past the five neat trees on your right.