blown away at byron bay
2008
First Day of the Spring School Holidays
Event: Day Trip to Byron Bay
Participants: Lily, Little A, Nan, Carolann, Little Peter
Depart for Byron: 9.30am
[ comments: delayed by losing car keys - after unpacking the carefully packed car and emptying all the beach bags, missing keys were located in garage door ]
Time of Arrival: 11.30 am
[ comments: delayed by alarming discovery that newly opened Tugun Bypass, which supposedly knocks 20 minutes off journey, includes enduring a tunnel of unknown length - I can only cope with tunnels where I can see the end as I enter! - so, accompanied by screeches of "LILY!!!!" from everyone in the car, we went the old fashioned way ]
First Stop: Julian’s Cafe – not named after globe trotting husband but the fabulous rocky island that is perched on the outer edge of the Bay.
[ comments: we ALWAYS start our day with brunch at this lovely street cafe - I've had almost everything on the menu and today had my favourite - corn cakes served with rocket, pesto and avocado - yum! ]
Second Stop: Lily and Carolann to drive around to the Pass, Nan and children to walk/swim their way around.
[ comments: Lucky Nan - see my experience is, with children, once you do it the first time that's it - it's tradition. So off Nan trudges! ]
Activities at the Pass: Swimming, boogie board riding, sandcastle building, mermaid sculpting, English country magazine reading, and frantic shrieking to children to come back as they drift away with the tide to the caravan park.
[ Actual activities: huddled behind too-small rocky outcrop as we were assaulted by stinging swathes of sand whilst the children - cheerful and oblivious - dug and swam for 2 hours. Couldn't even get out the magazines for fear they would blow away and almost had to give up on cheerful gossiping as our mouths were filling up with sand! ]
Third Stop: Gelati at Bella Rosa- creme caramel, honey toffee and malt, cherry in waffle cones, followed by a stroll along Byron’s bustling main street.
[ comments: must include short shop at favourite boutique Tupelo so that children have opportunity to whinge, hide in the change rooms and draw cartoons of their misery ]
Depart for Brisbane: 4.30pm
Forced Stop: delightful village of Mullimbimby to find petrol
[ comments: ended up parking the car, tumbling out, buying every punnet available of organically grown mulberries at Mullimbimby's Natural Foods, and then strolling round several blocks of dear little wooden cottages, nestled amongst lovely old trees, smothered in softly scented flowers, with children riding their bikes, chickens bustling in back gardens, and cheerful dogs, strolling alongside us, whilst we ate mulberries until our fingers were purple - no photos, I left the camera in the car! I want to live in Mullimbimby ]
Arrive home: 7.45
[ comments: no time for goodnights - everyone too desperate for the bathroom, and omg - my chest looks like an overripe tomato!!!!! Long showers required for everyone to remove thick sand from hair, ears, nose, necks, elbow creases ... even CLEAVAGE! ]
Verdict – FAB day Carolann, Little A, Little P and Nan – let’s go again next week – when the wretched wind dies down!
8 comments
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Delightful post! Sounds like a fabulous day. What is rocket?
OUCH and it looks like another wonderful day aside from the sunburn! Thanks for sharing the experience with great commentary.
LOL!!! Lily! You are so funny!
Making everyone look for the keys, emptying everything, and then finally locating the keys in the door….that sounds like something I would do!
It sounds like a great day, despite the wind-sand combo….
Sounds like a great day out!
Any pictures of the mulberries? Are they anything like blackberries, I wonder…?
A wonderful read and your fun day brought a smile to my face, thank you! Those dishes made my mouth water, but inspired me to try my hand at some of them….yumm!
That sounds great! We’ve been to Queensland only once, but a local friend showed us a day not unlike yours, sand and all. Memorable and delightful!
LOVE Byron Bay….I spent a few weeks there (In a VW Camper Van) when I was travelling the east coast of Australia…I still smile about Byron Bay
Dee
x
I think that I shall read your blog all winter long and pretend that I am in Mullimbimby. or eating gelato, or swimming, or anything fun and in the sun! What a wonderful trip…I like that you outlined “the plan” and then what really happenened, very funny.