Byron Bay - Sunday 18th June - Saturday 24th June

SUNDAY 18th JUNE

Byron…. I’ve heard so much about this place – I was definitely looking forward to getting stuck in – the problem is though the frigging weather. Rain, rain and yup – you guessed it, more rain. The first caravan park I found was up near the lighthouse but the guy didn’t have any concrete plinths spare so I was parked on a muddy hillside with the rain hoying it down – so decided to bin it and try something more central. I wasn’t going to be able to cook. Luckily, there was a beachfront park with a slot – so that got snapped up. The other thing was that Fostralia were playing Brazil – a game I wanted to see and the thought of having to hike all that way back to the campsite at stupid o’clock didn’t appeal!

Sam had recommended a boozer called 'The Railway', had a good food menu and a band on so mooched into there - steak and chips - winner! I'd just settled down for a beer and the band when a lad came over and struck up conversation. I thought he was a bit odd, especially when he started asking if I was here by myself - to which I answered I was meeting some mates later etc etc. Anyway, his purpose was revealed when he started banging on about the King James bible. It rang a vague bell but took another 10 minutes before I twigged that this was 'The God Squad' - Jehovah's Witnesses. Just my luck. Anyway, I had time to burn so listened on and had a chat - it was quite enjoyable - especially when he told me we're in 'the end of days' and that the Angel's had sent him over! Anyway, I offered a deal - after he finished his spiel, we'd go out for a few beers and watch the footy later, which to my surprise he did! It turned out to be an OK, if slightly weird, night! Shame that Australia lost. I suppose actually that God did too, as I wasn't recruited - but nevermind!

Tuesday 20th June

Having recovered from a somewhat crippling hangover - I decided to make some arrangements to take up the time and booked a dive for today at Julian Rocks, which is about 800m from the main beach. I didn't know what to expect but it turned out to be a pretty cool dive and saw a load of Wobbegongs, or Carpet Sharks, which are a weird old shark to say the least! Very flat headed and very well camoflagued, once I knew what I was looking at they were everywhere! The other point of note was how choppy the sea was and we'd had to reach our dive site by an outboard Gemini which, whilst a cool little motor boat, are really susceptible to the swell so the ride out and back were very interesting! I've never been in 2m swells in such a small boat - Great fun!

Wednesday 21st June

Highlight of the trip - the Captain goes surfing! Wahey! I finally tried it and here's the proof! It took me a long while to get to this stage and that was on a long board, which are very stable bits of kit! I loved it though and I have to say it was facking knackering! Still, once bitten, twice as keen so will definately be catching this again!

The evening was a beaut (mate) and the forecast for the morning also pretty good. I was planning to get up at 5.30 and make it to the Lighthouse for the dawn. The Byron lighthouse is apparently the eastern most point of Oz so it had to be done. As it was, I was running late (typical!) but managed to get these shots in - beaut mate!

I hung around for a couple more days in the hope of making Mount Warning and pre-dawn climb there but alas, the weather wasn't going to let me so on Saturday I left for Bris-Vegas and a few beers with Rebecca and Emma from B & B's wedding! Winner! I did have time to fit in lunch on Friday and few beers in the evening with Sally who'd I'd met at Sam's in Lennox Heads - in the end, she couldn't make it out but she'd met some mates in the bar who were out partying so I tagged along with them. One of the guys has just done a year out as well travelling around Australia and gave me some great tips for the outback and NT - nicely done!

Anyway, onto Brissy!