The 1000 Day Holiday

Had lunch Sunday in Coffs Harbour. Nothing beats half a kilo of prawns 🙂

then headed inland as suggested in my book. To Dorrigo to do the rainforrest canopy walk. Now this sounds amazing. its a boardwalk up in the canopy. we arrived looking foward to it. However what is not said is that its only ~50m long! (this is ~60km from the highway). This was a bit of a let down, however the drive up there is quite nice, and would be fantastic on a bike.

We carried on to Dangar Falls, and had a very chily swim underneath it. Quite enjoyable and woke us up a bit.

Would have liked to see the ??other?? falls on the road to armidale, as apparently the tallest in Aussie @ 220m however couldnt find it on the map, and it was a 160km road.

Headed back for the coast. Stayed in Uranga. Very small place with a large river mouth and nice surf beach. However again no wind.

Well, I got a bit addicted to the lifestyle in byron. I was staying above the dive centre. they had some very comfy hammocks, and a few of the dive group were staying on so it was a great atmosphere.

Left Byron on Saturday (DOH -since Shihad were playing that night…) picked up Nanouk (another from the dive course) and headed south.
Dropped into Maclean. Man this town is from way back! crazy old style. The Supermarket even had a visitors book! A local reccommended where to camp… Camped at Sanson heads? (need to check this) great little spot way off the beaten track. river mouth and great little beach. Just a pity no wind to be seen anywhere!

Finally had some wind on Wednesday. 20knots with 30knot gusts. Defiantely not ideal to be out in, let alone being the first time kiting in surf. Defiantely adds another major element to kiting. The 9m Yarga is so fast turning when youre used to the 13 or 17.

Well Im now an Open Water diver. Had dives at Julian Rocks. Great fun & some awesome sharks etc. Supposedly shoul be heading back in the Direction of Sydney now. But I dont want to go!

• 1 1/2 C Flour
• 1 t cream of tatar
• 1 t baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 egg
• milk

break egg in centre of dry ingredients. Add milk gradually , mix w knife until correct consistency.

Batter:

• 1 1/2 C  self raising flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 t salt
• pepper to taste
• milk to mix

Add:

• 2C corn kernels
• 2T chopped mint
• 1/2 C feta cheese

home made self raising flour:

6C Flour + 3T baking powder

or

1C Flour + 1 1/2 t baking powder + 1/2 t salt

I gave up on the wind in Noosa, So in my tradition of being in noosa went for breakfast at Sierra (ab fab food everytime)then spent the day body surfing on the main beach. Had a great time with some big sets coming in. I think my tan must be getting good cause I caught a lot of sun and didnt get ‘sore burnt’.

Tahlia was staying in Coolum Beach, so popped down there for a few bevvies then dinner. This also was the first night spent in a caravan park! as theres no backpackers in Coolum. The park is right on the beach and there was a HUGE swell coming in for the ~10 hardy surfers who were out there till dark.

Today I drove back to the Gold Coast, Stopped by in Sandgate and the Broadwater in the hope of wind. Alas none.
I can’t even count the days since my last kiting. Its depressing. 🙁

6.30am start for the remainder of the dive course tomorrow & thurs in Byron so will head down there early. Or maybe late tonite.
Fingers crossed for good weather, otherwise I may have to push out my return date 🙂

Well staying at Koalas Noosa this time. quite a good spot. only the YHA is closer to hastings st.

had a big nite. was a funk band playing in the Koala bar, then off to the Rolling Rock. Not very busy I guess since it was a sunday 🙂 its soo crazy that they have a cover charge, and wont give you a glass of water even when youre buying rounds of shots!

what a load of bollocks!
but fun was had. And it looks like Im going to be out of luck for wind again today. Maybe Ill learn to surf. Off to Brisbane tonight I think.

Since I was in the area, and it seemed that therewas never going to be any wind I decided to do a day trip to Fraser Island.

I was blown away. Totally not what I was expecting. The island is amazing. A freak of nature. I went with Fraser Ventures. who use a 52 seat 4wd bus. The ‘roads’ on fraser are sand tracks not very wide, and never straight so the ride itself was great. But to see such diverse flora (rainforest etc) on a island made up of sand was crazy. The lake we visited which was acidic was cool. Pity I don’t have any hair to gain the benefits. Its like a good conditioner apparently.
The sand was 100% silica. 0.2mm which means you could use it for cleaning your jewelery etc.

I also did a flight from the beach over the island. taking off on an uneven beach in a small plane was V cool. it also meant i got to see the sand blows. Which is how the island continues to grow. When there is a storm/high wind sand is picked up and dumped over the existing hills onto the interior of the island. completely burying parts of forest. they look kinda like glaciers, except they are sand 🙂

My god. This is the most random place ever.

I arrived after dark +rain. Which doesnt help navigation.

It has since been proved that is irrelevant.

There is no CBD.
the ‘happening’ backpackers part is on the esplanade. which consists of 1 backapackers (koalas) V loud bar where you cant hear each other. And not very busy.
1 bar which is 2 blocks east, very locals. kids etc. Ok food tho.
1 irish bar 2 blocks west. Good live band etc. The crowd left something to be desired tho.

The other backpackers (which Ive since found are apparently more happening) have closed gate policys. IE no open bar. whouldnt know if it was any good.
but from reccommendations post fraser Is trip. Stay in Beaches. Not Koalas!

Hervey bay is a ~50,000 cluster of people which i guess the average age is ~69
not much going on.
beach is v shallow. But would be good to learn on.

Spent 1 day waiting for forecast wind.
No such luck