Alright, so, Steve Jones Park. I’d been meaning to actually get myself over there for what feels like ages. You hear things, you know? People say, “Oh, it’s a lovely little spot,” or “Perfect for a quiet walk.” I figured it was about time I went and saw it with my own two eyes, formed my own opinion rather than just nodding along.
But the thing that really, really got me to finally drive over there, well, that was a bit of a situation. It was a Tuesday morning, I think. I’d just had one of those epic struggles with the self-checkout machine at Henderson’s Groceries. You know the ones I’m talking about? This thing kept yelling, and I mean yelling, “Unexpected item in bagging area!” I’m standing there, holding a perfectly normal, expected bunch of bananas, and this machine is just losing its mind. Then it’s the dreaded “Please wait for assistance,” and you’re stuck, feeling like a fool, while the line grows behind you. Honestly, I was about two seconds from just leaving my groceries and walking out. It fair rattled me, it did.
So, after I finally escaped Henderson’s, feeling like I’d wrestled a particularly stubborn badger, I thought, “Right, that’s it. I need some calm. Today is the day for Steve Jones Park.” I just pointed the car in that direction and went.
Pulling up was easy enough. Found a parking spot without any fuss, which, let’s be honest, is always a good start to any outing. The first thing that hit me when I got out of the car was just how green everything was. Sounds silly, saying that about a park, but it really was a vibrant, deep green. And it was quiet. A real contrast to that beeping, squawking machine I’d just faced down.
I started off down one of the main paved paths. It wasn’t too busy, just a few other folks out enjoying the morning. Some walking their dogs, a couple of joggers, the usual pleasant park scene. I saw a playground off in the distance, kids having a grand old time. It all felt very… normal, in the best possible way.
I found this little area with some flower beds and a few benches tucked away. Plonked myself down on one. Just sat there for a bit, watching the bees do their thing among the flowers. Simple stuff, right? But it was exactly what my head needed after that checkout chaos. I noticed a few things while I was just taking it all in:
- There’s a good amount of shade from these big, mature trees. Really nice on a sunny day.
- The paths are well looked after, easy to walk on, nothing too strenuous.
- They’ve got a decent little rose garden bit too, smelled lovely.
- And like I said, plenty of spots to just sit and be.
I must have wandered around for a good hour, maybe a bit more. Found a nice loop that went through a slightly more wooded section, felt like I was miles away from any roads or shops. There was this one particular oak tree, absolutely massive. Must have been ancient. Stood there for a moment just looking up at it, wondering about all the seasons it’s seen. Puts your own little frustrations into perspective, doesn’t it?
By the time I got back to my car, that whole Henderson’s episode felt like a distant memory. My shoulders had dropped about three inches, I reckon. It’s funny, isn’t it? Sometimes all you need is a bit of fresh air, some green space, and the sound of birds instead of beeping machines. Steve Jones Park, yeah, it was just the ticket for me that day. A proper, decent park. Sometimes the simple things really are the best cure for modern madness.
