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Published: August 6th 2008
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So we left the campsite the next morning after realising that the motor home rental company had no intention of fixing our lights on a Sunday, and it was Mother’s Day for them, and it’s any excuse to hit the beers early. So we accepted that we would stop at a repair shop in Ballina the next morning. In the meantime, the sun was shining and we could still get light if we had hook up, so we booked into Broken Head campsite. It was actually a beautiful little place, on the edge of the nature reserve, and also right on Tallow Beach. It was also quite quiet so it was really relaxing. We did the decent thing and lazed on the beach for the afternoon….and as Stu had ‘dinged’ his board and had repaired it, the resin was still drying, so he had to go in the water with my bodyboard (and size 6 flippers, with his hoofs!)
We had a BBQ and some great Australian wine and had a really good night. Australia had great outdoor amenities, nearly all the beaches have free parking, clean toilets, and free gas or electric hotplate BBQs. Some have showers too. And
everything is kept really clean. It’s a cut above UK hotspots like Blackpool and Barry Island!
The next morning we had to head to Ballina (home of the giant prawn re: the Australian obsession with all things big), which is south of Byron. It’s actually quite a big town, with all the usual features of the Aussie coastal towns, the standard generic streets and large shopping malls, but some fantastic beaches and a laid back feel to it. Anyway, the caravan shop made a great job of fixing our lighting problem rapidly.
With that problem fixed another was looming….how were we going to spend the next 3 weeks when Lisa and Duncan wanted to do different things and we both wanted to spend time with them both? Duncan wanted to stay with Shaun and stay in Southport mainly, exploring the night life and relaxing in the day, while Lisa wanted to explore some of Australia’s famous sites and travel around a bit . It was a bit tricky as we both also really wanted to explore all of the same things rather than spend a nearly half our time in Oz in Southport, but maybe not in such
a short space of time - but ultimately we wanted to catch up with the guys. So we had to compromise, Em booked a 4 day trip to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island with Lisa, for the weekend, while Stu decided to miss out on Fraser to spend some time with Duncan and Shaun, and see some Aussie Rules Football, and do whatever else Dunc wanted to do.
So with that settled we left Ballina and arranged to meet Duncan, with Shaun and Kerry, as they had a day off work, in Byron Bay for lunch and a little look round. Byron Bay is known for being quite touristy and for having a hippie vibe. But it is pleasant enough for a few days. It has some lovely restaurants and shops, and a great beach. The lookout from the lighthouse was amazing. Kerry and Shaun showed us all the best spots. The waves were small and clean and perfect, well except for the 100 or so tourists trying to surf them! The water was so clear and blue, and we even spotted a few dolphins in the waves.
After a lunch, a walk around and game of ‘frizzo’
on the beach we headed back to our camp site with Lisa, while the others headed back to Southport.
We had a big day planned ahead. We had spotted some people hang gliding off Cape Byron, and wanted some of the action.
The next day we met up with Neil and Mark who would take us and signed our lives away. Both were aging hippies, one had worn better than the other. The wind was light but forecast to build through the morning and the confidence was high to get all three of us up. Our first task was to get weighed, both Em and Lisa did the girly thing of not showing the final outcome and Stu shed every piece of clothing. This had nothing to do with being weighed, he just feels free without the shackles of modern garments.
After the human weight version of paper, scissor and stone, Em was elected to go first, so while shaking from head to toe, put on the gear and went through the practise run. Both Lisa and I stood there watching, filled with nervous energy which resulted in fits of laughter at the drills that the Dr
Lady was being put through. However with the severe nature of our chosen adrenalin rush, the in depth safety routine was settling. Lisa was intently looking at the running aspect of the drill, complaining that she had not prepared properly as she did not have on her sports bra. A piece of equipment that was designed by NASA, not only does it hold down two of the Breacon mountain range but it has also been recorded as being removed in under two seconds (Usually after a couple of introductory comments from an intriguing gentleman and a double vodka or six).
Then finally when the wind was right all that was needed was to literally run off the cliff, with Neil guiding. The hang glider acts like the wing of an aeroplane, so as soon as you leave mother earth, the wind starts to lift the craft. It is an amazing feeling, the speed is a massive rush and to do this with the scenery of the Byron Lighthouse below was indescribable. So I won’t try too.
After thirty minutes and several passes of the viewing tower, Em and the instructor started to descend. Lis and I had
got into the other guys car and headed to watch the landing on the beach below. Unfortunately we missed the landing after getting stuck in traffic. But the smile on Em’s face explained how the whole event proceeded.
Lis was up next, so we dapped it up the hill with instructor and glider in tow. All ready to go after the safety checks and Lisa was perched at the top of the hill waiting for her moment in aeronautical destiny. All she had to do was run………All she didn’t do was run. Not the bra thing this time, nor the aversion of moving off the sofa. She just plain forgot. The glider, with instructor and Wheaters attached, left the platform with only one noise to be heard - the screeching of Lisa’s trainers on the tarmac. Once in the air however she found her environment and squealed her way across the skies.
It was only the beanpole left, with a little run, skip and jump he was off. The feeling was amazing, it is just like being able to fly but without the scare of being shot by an overweight toff with a double barrelled. It was an
experience that should be sampled by all.
We left the beach, all still beating with endorphins and with stories of our exploits. We agreed that the only true way to celebrate would be to have spot to eat in the local café. Not as exciting as the last hour but according to the veggo it was a close race.
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Taimi
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Beautiful Byron
Your photos took me back to last September when we spent a week in the caravan park right in town in Byron Bay. It was warm enough for the kids to swim in the water every day and the caravan park had direct access to the beach. Bit noisy at night (especially Friday night) with the pub being just over the road. Your photos also remind me of our big trip around Australia when we visited Lucky Bay just out of Esperence in the West. It was stunning and only $12.50 per night with solar showers and a clean, modern amenity block.