Mr Toad loved messing about on the river in Kenneth Grahame’s classic ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and I would love to have joined him and his friends.
You see, I’ve grown up in a watery landscape, so I absolutely adore rivers. I’ve travelled along rivers on five continents, but the gentle, dark rivers of my East Anglian homeland are my favourite. Ancient willows dip their droopy branches into the water in the breeze like children testing the temperature of the sea with their toes. The black shadows they cast play tricks on the mind masquerading as otters, water voles, giant pikes and tench. Water flows slowly in these flat lands, so any movement catches the eye, raising hopes for something special.
Yesterday evening, I watched my neighbour make his daily after work visit to the pub and then strolled down to the River Ouse. I found a quiet spot, sat down and for an hour, dangled my legs over the edge and waited. I waited and I watched and it was wonderful.
A young kingfisher plopped into the water 50 yards upstream. Five times I counted it diving headfirst into a sparkling, sunlit pool of water beneath one of those mighty willows I mentioned. Five times it emerged empty beaked. It was playing. I don’t think it was even hungry; just practising its fishing skills.
Some time later, a dazzling adult sped past, piping shrilly, almost saying ‘this is how you do it!’ as a silver tiddler shone in its beak.
When you sit and wait, you notice more and the river was peaceful, but full of life. A brood of young sparrowhawks called from an old osier bed. A treecreeper kept me company, probing twisted gnarled old bark with its beak. A banded demoiselle damselfly chugged past. Two herons flapped downstream on giant wings, their harsh calls disturbing the peace. A fish leapt clean out of the water in front of me, sucking up a fly in mid-air with a kissing noise - too quick for me to see what sort of fish it was and too quick for the fly.
An hour passed and I reluctantly got to my feet and walked the mile back home. Maybe I’ll head down to the river again tonight. Better still, why don’t you? I’d love to know what your favourite watery place is and what you’ve seen.