The dual use path moseyed on, br tracing the crags and grottos of br eroded cliffs beside the river. br Tender shrubs in private gardens br their roots swaddled in loam br lined the high side br and faced off low-side scrub br that clutched with scuffed roots br at broken limestone. br Rainbow lorikeets squabbled br over a nesting hollow and wagtails br harried marauding crows. br A child in a garden pulled a silly br face and I smiled amiably. br br Rounding a curve, I met a fellow br pedestrian head on and for a few br seconds we mirrored each other's br evasive steps like Elizabethans br dancing a galliard. br ‘Idiot', he muttered, unfairly br because I'm not. br I felt less amiable. br br Five minutes later, another weirdo br called me a name too: ‘Bicycle! br Bicycle! ' he yelled, zeroing in br behind me like a torpedo. br ‘Am not! You are! ' I yelled back br as he pedalled away. br I'm nothing like a bicycle. br I'm taller and more intelligent. br I felt cross. br br Then I thought some more br about bicycles; about how they're br kind of lean and racy and have nice br bells and it struck me that maybe br he'd meant it as a compliment br so I belatedly called out ‘Thankyou! ' br I was happy again. br br On the wild side I spied br the soft yellow ears of donkey orchids br pricked to listen to the idle slap of br water against moored yachts. br I'd like to buy a donkey. br I think I will. br I'll ride Temerity (for that shall be her name) br on the meandering dual use path br and when I see pedestrians ahead br I'll spur her up to a mad trot. br The jounce will add vibrato and br tremolo to my voice as I thunder up br behind them yelling ‘Ass! Ass! ' br and I'll be extra happy.