on November 6, 2018
I arrived in Mapleton yesterday and truly gobsmacked at how beautiful it is . I checked in to my accommodation it seemed I qualified for the gecko deal and received choccies and wine with my booking which was a wonderful surprise. made short work of those choccies.
After I had settled in I went for a walk in to town I walked filled with gratitude at the sheer beauty and very light energies of the place As I walked I passed pockets of rainforests and a couple of lakes filled with lilypads and Moor Hens which reminded me nostagically of the beautiful meditation Lake I had spent many peaceful reflective hours hours walking near at Southern Cross Uni in Lismore . My first stop in Mapleton was the Range op shop which also doubles as a Visitor Information Centre.
I spoke to a lovely lady called Jan and before I knew what was happening I had purchased some exquisite white linen (my weakness ) at bargain prices for which there defiantly is no room in my suitcase I was invited to volunteer at the information / and Range opshop which raises money for really worthwhile services offering Home Care services to elderly and disabled people across the range and was talking art and learning all about a man called Bruces mid life crises which he redeemed through his art .I had somehow learnt about all his numerous past wives before I managed to extricate from a definitely interesting but alas very one sided conversation …..
Over lunch I examined the brochures I had picked up at the info centre and learned about the most amazing community initiative the Mapleton Community Library which is described as a community owned facility operated entirely by Volunteers .Mapleton Community Library once existed as part of the Maroochy shire library but when the library building and all the contents were destroyed by fire in 1992 the council decided not to reopen the library so the community banded together and in 1993 the new community library opened here which is staffed and run completely by volunteers and offers a variety of different services eg photocopying computer and internet book clubs .JP services ,art exhibitions a venue for home schoolers etc .
I am impressed and cant wait to visit the library. I also met a lovely lady working in sales at one of the real estates with whom I had a wonderful chat. We shared a exchange of info She is off to Perth at Christmas and I was able to tell her of beautiful places to see and experience in Perth and she was really generous with info to help orientate me to what is on offer up here .As I walked around the village I gazed out at vistas of heart achingly beautiful countryside which stretches away down to the Sunshine coast and is pure chocolate box . As I walked past the pub l spoke to a man gesturing the scenery and commenting on its beauty he smiled sheepishly nodding in agreement.” Yep he said it sure is but I have been living here for 50 years now ” and admitted he took it for granted
Today I have been relaxing in my cabin working at the computer My verandah looks out onto rainforest and the air is filled with rainforest sounds and embued with the heavy scent of magnolia . It feels wonderful to just stop for a while . Today I have given myself permission to acknowledge my tiredness to take a nap and watch TV in the middle of the day .Small pleasures .I have been travelling for a year now and I need to stop for a while and smell the roses or the magnolia and I will rest here a while on the range. There are three little townships in heartachingly beautiful countryside ……a stable interesting enlightened open minded community I look forwards to getting to know a little better …….
My heart is filled with gratitude at finding myself in this beautiful place where I will stop awhile ..(photos to come)