Sunday morning, about 7.15am - Pippa the dog is by my bed waiting for the morning walk. I've only been back walking for a few weeks, but Pippa is well into the routine. Sleeping in is not an option!It's Spring and with daylight saving time, it's still cool enough to walk at this hour. In a month or so I'm going to have to start earlier to beat the morning heat.We live in the hinterland behind Coffs Harbour, which is on the east coast of Australia. While it's not quite the tropics, the vegetation is lush and green. We live on a small country road and fortunately there's little traffic early in the morning. Once out the front gate there's a slight uphill climb. On both sides of the road the vegetation is thick and tangled. Over the hill is our neighbour's driveway. He has a letter box perched on a post. It isn't really a letterbox, it's a faux-letterbox because it has no innards for the mail. He has a post box in town - the letterbox is only for the benefit of his visitors so they can find his house.The road levels out for a bit. On the left are beautifully manicured lawns, so much at odds with the rest of the properties here. I don't know what possesses people to mow vast expanses of grass.....but the wallabies love it, there're always half a dozen of them on this lawn, watching me  as I walk past. This morning there was also a big kangaroo and a  flock of ducks. The name of this area is Karangi, which is aboriginal for 'home of the duck'.I walk on past one of the older properties on the road. There are a couple of blackberry bushes just on the fence line. Blackberries are very scarce now since they have been declared a noxious weed and almost eradicated. Hopefully there will be enough to pick from these two bushes - as long as the birds don't get there first. I reckon another couple of weeks and there will be a nice little pickings there.Up the next small hill. There is always a kookaburra on the power line here. He says nothing, just looks down on me. He's a member of the kingfisher family but he's more likely to be looking for snakes, than fish. There are also a couple of butcher birds here. They have such a melodic flutey cry. Handsome birds, their name derives from their appearance (like stripey butcher's aprons) rather than their nature, although they are known to kill small caged birds.Down another hill and on my right is a thicket of camphor laurel trees. These introduced trees are beautiful, but a real nuisance as they tend to strangle out the native bush. This morning several small parots can be heard arguing in the top branches. Now I'm on the downhill run. The road sweeps down to meet the main road and to my right is the local cemetery. It has the appearance of of a well maintained parkland- a small man made lake is surrounded by lawns and trees. Nestled in this lovely valley, it's a place of great beauty and tranquility.This is where I turn around and make my way home. In all, I am walking just over a mile. It doesn't sound much, but this time last year I couldn't even get to the front gate!