close encounter with an eccentric tramp

 Let the family sleep on, both of them, and take the walk up the hill to visit the rhea birds, those one thousand odd steps out of the valley through the now green and leafy woods of the castle park. Gather a few maple leaves in anticipation and take care not to step into those parts of the path which have been washed out by the recent torrents of rain. The devils bridge appears to be falling apart now, more and more. They will have to do some serious repairs to it in the coming spring, or close it.

It is early, and the lower part of the park is deserted. It is cool and pleasant. In the distance there is a man in an orange safety waistcoat filling a bottle from the fountain with the drinking water. 

The big flightless grey birds are scattered inside the large enclosure. One of them comes over and placidly takes the proffered leaves, snapping them down it's long neck. The others start to walk over, and the placidity goes, the bird wants to get as much of the available leaves as possible before the competition arrives.

Then there are three birds there. See that they all get their share, and then leave.

The man up on the hill is still filling his bottle. It is a large bottle, his vest has advertising for a local hardware mall on it. The man appears about fifty, is wearing shorts, and has a wheeled case with him, of the sort that some people use for going to the shops. Sitting on a park bench, watch him pack his things into his case. Another elderly man arrives, he has two sticks. He greets the man in the orange waistcoat, who immediately starts to tell him the story of his life.

That was close.

Leave the elderly man and the man in the waistcoat. The man in the waistcoat is now prancing about explaining things to the elderly man who appears to be regretting his friendly greeting.

Get up and go, take the long way back into town, use the path that leads to the castle. There are parking attendants there, talking about the four wedding parties that will take place there today. Listen, and then leave. Take the steep brick footpath down to the town, the town that is now filling up with the first tourists of what promises to be a hot day.