So the overnight bus wasn't actually that bad! I woke up and got out the bus at the 2am stop and at the 7am stop but other than that I slept across the two seats in the fetal position! Felt surprisingly refreshed when I got to Byron.
Tried to book something to do in the afternoon but all the kayaking and snorkelling tours weren't running as there was a massive storm last night and the winds were still high which was a shame. Ended up wandering aimlessly around into town and 2 of the girls I met on the bus recognised me an said hi. Took me so long to realise who they were, was wandering in my own little world.
Ended up spent the day hanging with them. It made what would have been a dull boring day much better. We had an amazing lunch at Barger, got our hair braided with the coloured cotton (haven't had that done since I was really little), chilled out on the really windy beach and then had a hot chocolate with mashmellows to warm up. I did exactly what I would have done alone but it's far nicer having people to chat too.
Got back to the arts factory and really wasnt a fan of it (don't worry my opinion changed). Just seemed pretty loud, I had no clue how to break into any of the groups of people and none of my room mates were there so I couldn't start there.
Ended up going back out with the girls and to a bar called Cheeky Monkeys. I was far too tired and a bit homesick to be there and pretty much everyone seemed to be on a mission to get with someone. Not fun although I did meet a guy from Warwick who I have mutual friends with which I guess just shows how much of a small world it is!
Day 30: Bryon Bay - surf lesson 1
So the weather for my first ever surf lesson wasnt exactly ideal! It was chucking it down and so by the time we'd been for a run and done all the stretches and explanation on the beach we were already soaked through. Thank goodness for the wetsuit keeping us warm.
Surfing was pretty intimidating to begin with, being knocked about by all the waves and I kept loosing the board so having to drag it back to me with the me strap. One of the instructor taught me how to get pass the waves with board still in hand and they helped me stand up. Took most of the lesson (and quiet a few attempts with the instructor holding my board swimming behind me kicking) but I stood up and surfed waves in :) Totally a surfer dude in the making.
Had the longest warmest shower since I've been here then met up with 2 of the people from my lesson also on the surf and stay camp. We went into town and chilled out in a Turkish cafe whilst the last of the rain past. We all started wandering down the beach but the Swedish girl didn't want to walk as far as us so the Canadian guy and I walked all the way to the viewing point at the corner of the bay.
Such great views of the bay and the island in the middle kept appearing to change position which was pretty wierd. It would have been really picturesque expect the whole shore line was littered with hundreds of dead seabirds! Meant the walk involved dodging them the whole time.
Looking towards 'The Pass' in Byron bay
Byron Bay
Had an ice cream on the way home as a treat and we met back up with the Swedish girl and went for a Bush walk that the Arts Factory organise. We didn't actually leave the main area but he showed us all the different uses for the plants, how to find water, how to light a fire, how to throw a spear and we got to eat some flowers. Pretty interesting hour and we were given a free beer for our troubles!!
Bush walk
Managed to end up spending the whole day with the canadian guy without actually finding out his name (got too awkward to ask!). Eventually found out his name as we went for dinner in the brewery (yay proper food not anything instant) when he admitted he didn't know mine!
Had a chilled out night sitting on the floor in the common room of the arts factory listening to live music in the talent show.
Slept in a teepee which was really cool! Not a creaky bunk bed in sight and it was like camping in a bell tent with guides but more comfortable.
Forgot to get a picture so stole this from their website
Day 31: Bryon Bay - surf lesson 2
Much nicer day for surfing as the sun was out! Started the lesson feeling pretty frustrated as I couldn't get up but once I stopped rushing and the instructor helped me up the first time I started catching my own waves and riding them in! I really wanted to do a third lesson but the whole of tomorrow was booked out :(
The 3 of us hired bikes from the hostel and then went for a cycle around town to the lighthouse. Who would have thought I would willingly go cycling. I looked pretty cool with my basket and flame helmet and once I figure out the pedals (had to put so much force to get them to turn around) we were off!
It only had one gear, pushing backwards on the pedal was the back break and the break on the handle bar did the front breaks.
Cycled all around the head land (we took a lot of wrong turnings!) up and down lots of hills (all the wrong turnings did not help this) all the way to the lighthouse. It's meant to be beautiful for sunset but only being able to rent out the bikes until 6 and with no car to get us back up we had to make do with it during the day.
Lighthouse
Walked along the paths around the lighthouse (with burning legs from all the uphill pedalling) to the most Easterly point on mainland Australia.
Cycled back and then Sean and I headed to a pretty much deserted beach to chill out. It was so windy and after lying down my ears, eyebrows and hair was full of sand (and I didn't even manage to remove it all in the shower there was so much!)
Less dead birds at this beach!
Met up with the people in charge of Mojo surf school for dinner in the brewery. Had the best veg and ham pizza ever! With lots of sweet chilli sauce to dip the crusts in! Entered the trivia quiz at the hostel and we did alright. Only 3 points off the winning score and my knowledge of the risk board helped us confirm what someone had guesse the previous name of Thailand to be!
Hid out in the common room whilst the storm past and when we made it back to the brewery when it was dry (across the car park) the live music there had just finished.
Had a really interesting chat about how the Canadian political system works compared to the British. This is what I'm really enjoying about travelling-learning about different cultures and systems from people!
Went into town to Woodys to party. Didn't manage to win the custom designed surf board they were giving away :( although I'm not sure how I would have got that home......
Day 32: Brisbane
Had an amazing banana and chocolate pancake for breakfast before getting on the bus to Brisbane. Obviously the moment I crossed the state boarder (tr moment is not an exaggeration) the heavens opened up! The clocks went back an hour as well so had an extra hour on the bus I wasn't expecting.
Got to Brisbane, checked into the Base hostel okay (although annoyingly I didn't book the one opposite the transit centre!) and did a bit of food shopping. There is a free river ferry that's meant to be for commuters around the CBD of Brisbane that I ended up using as a way to see the city.
It started out a lovely day
but it went from that to this
to this
and then finally this
My luck with the weather strikes again!
Headed back to the hostel to cook dinner and shower and although its 7pm (which is 8pm for me!) I'm in bed in my pjs to chill out for the evening. Getting up super early to go to the Zoo so it's aloud. And I have been having super early starts and being super active for a very long time now!
Turns out this dorm is far more friendly than Sydney so sitting chatting to people relaxing :)
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