Living on a largish bush property that shares two boundaries with a state park gives a lot of scope for interesting exploration. Particularly good for exploring is the temperate rainforest that begins about one hundred metres from the boundary. The forest has some dense areas of ferns and many moist spots of moss mixed with a variety of fungi. Through the midst of the rainforest runs a small stream of the cleanest water in the district.
That particular day was a little on the warm side, so I decided to take the camera for a walk in the slightly cooler rainforest. I was told years before that there were native orchids in the area but up until then, I had not managed to find any. I hope that day my luck might change.
As I slowly moved along a narrow path through the moist undergrow, from the previous week's rain. In the distance, I could hear the stream as it cascaded over the rocks in the gully. As I neared the stream, I was just able to make out some humming over the sound of the cascading water. By the pitch of the tune, I assumed it was a female voice. Of course, that meant that I had to check it out. Am I finally hearing the mythical wood nymph of the state park? I certainly hoped so and thought a quick prayer in the hope that she would be very photogenic.
It wasn't a nymph, but she was beautiful, nevertheless. When I first set eyes upon her, as I peered between the ferns, only the top of her shoulders and head were above the water. Her hair was long and dark. Some of it floating on the water. The dappled light reflecting off the droplets on her skin and ripples in the water sparkled to make a beautiful image that I had to capture.
I aimed. Click! She spun around to face where I was secreted. Staring in my direction she announced, "Whoever you are. You better come forward, be naked and join me.
Slowly I moved from behind the big fern. As I appeared to her, she stood up in the waist-deep water. Speechless, I stood there just staring, trying to look at her eyes which were in shadow since the sun was behind her. She gestured for me to strip.
"Good morning, neighbour, get them off," she said. "I'm here just cooling off a little. The water feels wonderful flowing over the skin. Come join me." She beckoned me to join her with hand motions.
As I admired the view of this perfectly proportioned nymph, standing before me, I did as she ordered. I wished I could hide my erection as I waded toward her.
"You are right. The water i..." She cut me by placing a forefinger across my lips and then embracing me.
"I'm glad you decided to explore the area this morning." She whispered into my ear as we embraced. "I have been sending messages to the cosmos and hoping that someone would hear them."