Seal Rocks and Foster

Whilst Fill, the Baron and I were driving up to Foster for Neil and Troods wedding, we stopped here to meet James and Dana so I knew this was a lovely beach spot. Unfortunately, as the lads had just arrived from the UK and were in the car straight from the airport so we didn't really have much time to look around. That said, I knew there was a nice caravan park there for starters!

I arrived mid-afternoon and took the bike out for a look around. I like to do this in new places as it lets me get my bearings. The area is great for surfing and I'd been told the view from the Lighthouse was spectacular. Certainly, the area was great. Here you can see where the sea had cut through the cliff face and washes around the back - tide coming in. Reminded me of those movies where the intrepid explorers row their boat into a narrow cleft in - smuggler style!!

I also found a camping area called Camp Tribulation - but it was a shithole - looked more like a haunted forest than anything. That said, the beaches on the far side were fantastic, with massive breakers and it was secluded too.

This is sunset as viewed from the Lighthouse - you could see right across the bay towards Foster/Tuncurry.

I think this is the rock that gives the area it's name - nice and seal-like huh!!







Foster

I'd been to Foster before with Lisa when we were boyfriend / girlfriend and Lisa's Mum, Lynnie lives here. Also, Troods folks, Muriel & Rex, live here too and so I couldn't go through without saying hello! It's funny, I was a bit nervous catching up with Lynnie because Lisa and I have kicked things into touch, but when I caught up with her at Neil and Trood's wedding, she was fine so I felt much better about it. We met nice and early, about 10 o'clock and to my surprise and pleasure, we spent nearly 3 hours chatting away and shooting the breeze. It was a really positive experience, especially as my own Mother has been, and still is, very unaccepting and unfriendly about and towards many of my partners - it was refreshing to see that there could be a nice chat and catch up without any pressure from the situation - Cheers Lynnie!

It was also great to catch up with Muriel and Rex too, although as fate would have it, Muriel was off to treat Lynnie's Mum for carpal tunnel syndrome with her healing so we could only grab a quick lunch and chat for about an hour or so - although Muriel and Rex could spare me some of their maps which was very much appreciated.

The good news with Muriel having to leave was that I could have a good waffle with Rex. I didn't have the opportunity to say more than a 'hello' at the wedding so the hour or so we had was good fun. Rex has had a very busy life and his stories are brilliant - I wish we had a beer to two to soak up the time but it wasn't to be. The sad thing for Rex is that he's losing his sight now and his favourite hobby, fishing, has now been taken away from him. The other casualty is the love of caravanning that Rex and Muriel have, which due to Rex's eyesight they can't do. It's such a shame as he's still a pretty vibrant and ballsy guy. It's very humbling to realise how the loss of a major sense can have such an effect on your life. Unfortunately, I think Rex's condition is degenerative, but I hope and pray that things will improve.

State of Origin 1

'What's this?' I hear you ask. 'This' is the biggest Rugby League series in Oz, bar none I believe. It's played between Queensland and New South Wales and is as ferocious, if not more so, than competitive internationals. These guys just aim to hit the opposition as hard as possible!! I'd never seen one of these before and was I in for a treat!! Watching in the local RSL, I got chatting with a couple of lads who proceeded to fill me in on the background. Unfortunately, I'd missed the 'TAB' for a bet, so my new friend kindly offered me an 'Pam Shriver' that Queensland would score more than NSW in the first half. I took that and lost, as NSW aced the first half 14-0!! Feeling reckless, I offered an 'Ayrton Senna' that Queensland would hump NSW 2nd half - which they did!! 16-3. The end result was 17-16 to NSW - a closely fought game and the Captain was up a fiver!! My new mates loved the slang for fivers and tenners!!

So, all in all, only a horror hangover to negotiate the next day...! Off to see Neil's folks now - the poor blighters!!