September 13-26, 2003
George
Mei Lin Fod
Mick (me)
South West Rocks
Byron Bay
Noosa
Crescent Head
See the pictures
The full story....
We headed off on Saturday morning after a detour to Dee's place for some cake. Then on the open road, after stopping 5 times to check the surf boards on the roof. The car was packed. We nearly had to leave George behind. Mei Lin had brought everything with her. Some of it actually proved to be useful. Other bits....
First stop was Taree where we had lunch. Hamburgers allround. I was smiling to myself whilst reading the article in which I was quoted.
South West Rocks
Off again, we made it to Kempsey where we shopped for groceries, alcohol and ice (between Mei Lin's thighs). We drove towards our two options - South West Rocks and Crescent Head. Ended up down the road to South West Rocks and kept on driving towards the sleeply little sea side village. NOT. South West Rocks is bigger than you think. It has a big supermarket, a town center and a monstrous 'country club' which is obviously where they keep the poker machines.
We drove through town and toward the Gaol/camp site. As we pulled up, George yells "A Whale!!!". Sure enough, in the water is a whale. We are quite pleased with our holiday.
We then drive down to the camp sites and at the second location all go 'ahh' at the thought of camping by the beach. Very nice. The ground is very hard and we borrow a mallet from the teens. FOT (the Fu$k Off Tent) is up. Soon beer is flowing and Mei Lin and I even go for a quick swim. It's cold. More beer and UDL's (Mei Lin had gin and tonic...) and a nice dinner of steak and vegies.
Next morning (day 2) is lovely and we all go for a jog. We all make it to the end of the beach near town, so that we can have coffee (roughing it!). Cafe lady confused by our Sydney Sider orders - soy, skim, latte, etc. Quick swim and walk back to camp. Day of reading on beach and trip to lighthouse for girls. No surf.
Wind picks up in afternoon and we are forced to move FOT. We have started drinking at this stage, so we decide to pick it up and walk the 100m to the other camp site. This amuses all passing cars and we get some honks. But the spot is better, despite the poo (wombat or kangaroo - Em??). Dinner and chatting and a good night sleep.
Up the next morning, (day duo (2) ) packed and on the road pretty early. Drop in to see Amber (Mei Lin's friend) in Coffs Harbour and get coffee. Then drive through Grafton and Ballina to get to Lennox Head for lunch. No surf.
Byron Bay
We arrive in Byron, and to the surprise of Mei Lin and George it is quite developed. Not a chilled, beach town at all. We get to our cabin, which is well located next to BBQ's and beach access. We take a stroll into town and have a quick look around. We have a beer at the Beach Hotel and laugh at very (very) cool guy and other locals. We head home, get changed, walk back to town and then we go to a cool Pizza joint and eat. This is when we start talking about dating.
The Dating Debate
I think it started with me saying that I'm happy to date anyone to begin with. The controversy started when Mei Lin said that she has never dated (and never would). George did one of those looks of astonishment that she is so good at and said "what? I'm sure you have!". The debate rages. I thought about asking the cute waitress on a date just to add more spice, but don't get the chance. We do ask her for some Byron Green, to which she replies "you aren't under cover cops are you??". She can't help but does promote her own Yogalates (half yoga half pilates) class. We move to the Beach Hotel for some more drinking and debating. We drink white russian and then scotch and dry (nice combo). We realise that Mei Lin has dated (according to our definition). The defining of dating will be refined over the holiday. End result....
A date - a prearranged event where one of the parties has romantic notions of taking the relationship further.
Next day (day 4) we are up and about late. We walk on beach and I introduce the push up, sit up routine to the girls. (see other blog entry). George likes it, Mei Lin is in pain from push ups. We try beach cafe for coffee and a bit of breaky. Then we read and do nothing. Unbridled joy just from sitting in the waves and splashing around. George and I doing handstands in the water. Afternoon poking around the shops. Dinner at cabin (I think). Maybe that was the great Pumpkin and spinach salad for Linner (between lunch and dinner). George has sleep whilst Mei Lin and I play silly buggers (card game) and drink lots of Gin. We also play the dice game.
Day 5
A day of not doing much. I surfed at Wategos (not bad). George walked to lighthouse. Mei Lin went to have coffee. We did have a big breakfast of pancakes, bananas and strawberrys. So good. And we cooked it right on the BBQ top. Reading, hacky sack, swimming. Then we go into town for shopping. George has first round of oysters. Mei Lin has a hair cut and George and I have a massage from Karina, the russian - "half an hour not enough for you!" (to George). "You work with computer too much!" (to me). That night we go out to a lounge bar place and have a cocktail from the 'very hot' bartender. It is called an Alexis Love (after a friend). Cranberry, vodka, barcardi? A bit of dancing (Mei Lin gets a lesson from a local) and we head home.
And then.... Day 6 - we get up pretty early and drive to Mt Warning via Muwullimbah (?) (via coffee of course). We arrive at bottom and start the long walk up. George is soon way ahead and we start passing kids with parents (hmmm?). The walk is about 4.5k's each way and it is very hilly. Vegetation changes a lot as you climb which is cool and the walk is really interesting. Last 100 meters and you clamber over rocks and have a chain to help you. It's quite steep and pretty cool. At the top is waiting an amazing view west to hills, east to the ocean and also 100 kids on an excursion. "Ahh the serenity". We cotemplate waiting for them to go and a teacher says "If I were you, I'd go now!". We took his advice and left. We walk down the hill, also good. I meet Lindsay who tells me how bad the RTA, Telstra and other things are, but he does invite us to his farm for scones.
We drive off in search of Nimbin. We find the lovely little town and ask a nice young man for directions to the waterfall. He shakes and is not quite on planet earth, so we go back to the bridge and spread the blanket for a great picnic. Then we venture into Nimbin. 2.9 seconds later we are offered to buy some of their finest. We are shocked deeply. We buy ice blocks instead. We also pick up some vegies for tonights meal and some cookies for dessert. We head home via Lismore.
Home and tired, we enjoy some local fare. I sit back after my cookies and proceed to eat like there is no tomorrow much to the amusement of Mei Lin and George. It was only two bowls of cereal, two sandwhiches, 3 muesli bars and two bits of corn. Mei Lin is keen to see Kath and Kim and so promptly falls asleep as soon as it comes on. I also laugh a lot at Kath and Kim and especially CNNN "Bakery thief takes the cake" etc. George wakes up at midnight and goes for walk. I get tired and go to bed. George comes back and wonders why we are all asleep.
Day 7- We secure Friday night in the cabin (and there was much rejoicing). Mick goes for another surf (yeah, some good rides, but small). More of nothing. Hacky sack, reading, food. We do go into the town for a lunch special. $20 for entree and main at seafood restaurant. Bargain! But we buy $50 worth of wine, order vegies and bread. It ends up costing $150 all up.... not so much of a bargain. But very good. Well worth it. Then we had a quiet night - I think...
The 8th Day we got up and drove to Watego Beach. Then we walked up to the lighthouse and saw dolphins and a whale (yeah). Then we went surfing. Mei Lin and George had a good go which was fun. I think they caught more waves than me. George gave us the 'point at your watch' thing to show us we have to check out of the cabins. We go back, pack up and get out of there. With ice creams, we leave for Queensland. Then we take a detour to Fishwyk (?) to visit Mei Lin's wood wielding mentor Richard. As promised, he is a big, friendly bear and she (and the fish tank stand) are happy. Back on the road to Noosa....
Noosa....
We booked some accomodation on the way and I slept most of the rest of the way. After a quick lap of town, we find the caravan park and our lovely spot. The park is packed, but we get a really good corner spot. I borrow a hammer from Craig (the dad straight out of The Castle) and we get FOT up. It is a really nice caravan park by the river. A mecca for families and kids swarm the dunes. We get dressed to head into town. This is the first outing of Miguel. Miguel is me, but with a strategically shaved beard and a flowery shirt. It is supposed to make me irresistible and I'm assured that I will be beating the girls off with a stick. "We shall see...." We have a nice dinner in the surf club and do a bit of dancing with the thonged, drunken menace before quickly leaving. We head to another bar, after a lap of town, for a cocktail. Then home to bed (after Mei Lin has to get away from a very forward man at the bus stop by pretending that she is me girlfriend. I ask her to prove it with a big kiss, but she assures that it is not neccesary.) No luck for Miguel though... oh well.
Day 9. Morning jog/walk into town to pick up the car, quick swim and two sausage sandwiches from the nippers for George and I. We look around the shops for a while, have the mandatory coffee and head back to camp. After lunch we drive to Sunshine beach (very messy) and decide to walk down to Alexandria Bay. We get down there and there are paragliders above us. A poor lady on a tandem is forced to land so she can throw up. They are amazing though. Pretty much flying. We head home and cook a seafood BBQ masterpiece (especially next to the families baked beans, eggs and snags). Much white wine is drunk and we fall into the tent to sleep.
10th Day sees more jogging and breakfast on the beach. Then we go the coastal walk to the other side of Alexandria Bay. Great walk. "Like Mexico" said George and Mei Lin. We see a turtle in the green waters of a cove. George's sunglasses amaze us with how much greener they make things look. (she bought 2 pairs of the same ones on special). Back to town for some shopping. We head home for late lunch and George and I head to movies. Mei Lin becomes very bored (and drunk) without us and sends 100 text messages, including 3 to me to ask for chocolate. We arrive home and are hugged - for the chocolate.
Day Eleven
Up early to get a good start on our long drive South. We drop in to see George's auntie, uncle and cousin who run a Bali Gardens place outside of Brisbane. Very nice family and some cool stuff including a turtle and an eel. Back in the car and we drive to Coolangatta for lunch - nothing is open. KFC and kebabs. Keep driving and an afternoon stop in Sawtel. (much rhyming...) More driving and we do some shopping in Kempsey. During the drive we have booked some accomodation in Big Hill (after struggling with the name.... "What was it again?", Mick. "Ummm, ummm, Gentle Fondle I think?", George. "Um, no, it's Delicate Nobby actually - but close", Mei Lin.
Crescent Head
Drive into Cresent and then to Big Hill. The cabins are amazing - basically a three bedroom house. We are in luxury for the first time and are very happy about it. We cook a massive meal, drink lots of wine and go crazy (see couch pics). A good night sleep in a proper bed.
12th Day into the holiday and I am up early for a surf. It is not very good. I get 2 waves. Girls go for a massive jog as usual and I cook up some pancakes for breakfast. Day of not doing much. Girls go into Kempsey "It's a hole". They bring back food and drinks and a very melted ice block for me. BBQ lunch, hacky sack and bocci (about time). I win Bocci but we get to 10 hack sack hits. A night talking about the worlds problems. We solve most of them.
Day 13 and I get up to find a very nice day and pretty good surf - well, at least there are some waves. The girls jog again and we eat breakfast. I have failed to mention that despite an initial box of Honey O's, we have only eaten Crunchy Nut Cornflakes. We must of eaten 5 or 6 boxes worth. A day of not much. Reading, snoozing, enjoying the last full day away. George and I play table tennis and pool in the hot shed with birds. George also intentionally spills a glass of water on her head after I threaten to do it. "Crazy la" as Mei Lin said. Much drinking at night as we try to finish all the drink. Then i ate one of the worse things ever - a table spoon full of Nimbin vegies with maple syrup... "Thanks George!" Mei Lin falls asleep in front of Kath and Kim again. I watch CNNN and laugh my head off. George has an early night.
Last day - we get up and go for a great surf, including some pics and vids. Girls jog then surf. Some good waves today. Plus a naked girl on the beach doing some sort of rebirthing thing. She puts her top back on as we go past her (???). Final breakfast, pack up and leave Crescent Head with fond thoughts. We drive all the way home, stopping at Buladelah for lunch by the river. Then all the way back to Sydney!!!
Great holiday. Really enjoyed it. Thanks girls.
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