Port Stevens to Byron Bay

Monday 6th April 2009
Well i checked out and headed to Salamanda Bay where i used the free internet at the library to catch up on blogs.
I was with Wayne and after we got something to eat we were racking our brains on what to do next. We eventually decided to go to the cinema as our coach didn't come till 8:50 and the last bus to Newcastle wasn't till 6.
First we went to Nelsons Bay and had the most biggest ice-cream ever, it was huge and gorgeous!!! Then we went to the cinema and we saw Monsters v's Aliens, it was so cool! Wasn't as good as some animated films but it was a good watch.
We came back to Melaluca (the hostel) to get our things and i went and said goodbye to the owners. I really didn't want to go, i loved it here and i have been really looked after! It was sad.
We took the bus to Newcastle, then had a drink in the pub as we had a 2hour wait till the coach arrived. The coach journey was horrible! It was impossible to get comfortable, the seats didn't recline a lot and it was really squished! I think Wayne had it worse off as i fell asleep on him so many times - ooops! There were a few stops on the way but i only got off on one.

Tuesday 6th April 2009
We arrived at Byron Bay at 7.30 in the morning. Then walked to our hostel called the Arts Factory. It was a bit of a walk with our backpacks but as we were nearly there the bus from the hostel picked us up.
It seemed cool on first impressions there were pool tables, a pool, volley ball court on sand, hamocks by a lake, you could make your own diggery doo(but it was stupidly expensive), a cinema(expensive), a resturant(expensive). So it all looked good. But it was a bit shabby in places and i just didn't get it? Its a hippy surfers town, maybe that was it or maybe its because there wasn't a lot to do, i don't know but it had been so bigged up by everyone then when i got there and had a look round i just wasn't feeling it.
Me and Wayne hyred push bikes and took a ride to the lighthouse at the other end of the beach. We took a wrong turn and had to come back, then when we went down one road it took us to the endn of the beach, so in the end we decided to cycle back across the beach. At first i thought i was going to get stuck but the sand by the water was quite hard so it was easy. Nice too it was something i havn't done before. When we were at the beach i couldn't believe it but we saw Jack, Callum, James and Darren on the beach! what a coinsidence!
That night we met up with the boys at Cheeky Monkeys. It was a fun place they did compatitions on stage of all sorts, one was a hoola hoop contest, i wouldn't get up there because the girl you had to beat was really good! When the night went on there was no dance flooe but everyone danced on the tables and chairs, it was normal aparently.
Jack was apsalutely out of it when me and Wayne got there, he was eventually chucked out with Callum, but James and Darren stayed and we had a top night! I even saw two girls who i had a ten minit conversation with in Port Stevens, it was good to chat to them, they recognised me first.

Wednesday 7th - Thursday 8th April 2009
Didn't do much these days, we explored a bit more of byron, had a wonder, eat walked and wondered some more. There really isn't much to do at all here, but there are some nice shops and a nice pub by the beach we liked, im pretty sure its the one Bex was on about as it reminded me of the coogee bay hotel and in there Bex said that it reminded her of a pub in Byron.
We did see more and got to know the area but still couldn't really understand what the big fuss was about hte place.
We had to check out Thursday as there was a festival on and every hostel was booked up, so we had no choice but to leave. I would have liked to stay a bit longer to try and get the place but i wasn't too bothered.
When we were waiting for the bus in the evening we also saw some girls that i saw in Port Stevens and also stayed with Wayne in Sydney?! How cool.

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