Yucky Flu & No Escape from Byron Bay

Poor Den. As if having to put up with me for 24hrs a day wasn't bad enough, now she's been suffering from a heavy dose of the flu. As a result of which we ended up staying for 9 days in Byron Bay.

I'm guessing that half a day to look around the town, half a day to head up to the lighthouse and maybe a day on the beach followed by a day's surfing, and with evenings spent taking in the nightlife, 3 days would be the ideal amount of time to spend in Byron before moving on. 9 days is definately too long. Especially when it's mostly raining. By day 5 I knew where everything was in the local Woolworth's supermarket, I knew the names of the staff in the bakery, I could give directions to most shops in town when asked by tourists..... I was more local than some of the locals.

Luckily for me, Den summoned the will power to leave on the Friday and we had a short (30 mile) cycle North to a lovely small town called Pottsville. It's most lovely feature largely being that it wasn't Byron Bay. It was so nice in fact, that we spent the following day there too, before heading up to the Goldcoast and jumping on the train to Brisbane. Where we have another day off while we wait for the Tuesday morning train to power us to Rockhampton.

Brisbane... almost, & Richard becomes an old git

According to the route guide in the back of Dodgy Planet's East Coast Australia it's 907kms from Sydney to Brisbane along the Pacific Highway. Our route it seems is somewhat longer, but only just. We've got to Byron Bay, with about 100k left to go until we hit Brisbane.

We've followed the coast north, away from the backpacker trail, following pieceful sunny beaches where towns have for the most part constituted large villages with a local shop. we've been sleeping in tourist parks in our tent, looking very much the odd ones out as other campers settled back into their lavish caravans and campers. My favourite was a couple who had a camper, the back of which lowered down to form a ramp, and contained a little 4wd car.

My favourite site was in a village called Croki, just off the main highway. It's a lovely town that formerly was a paddlesteamer port, it contained just a couple of elegant georgian villas, with lovely virandas, and a quiet campsite on the river side, with it's own jetty. Only two other campers - tranquil & relaxed. UNTIL.... two camper van's full of (wouldn't you know it) essex boy brit backpackers turned up and proceeded to play very loud drinking games at the barbeque until the early hours and then running and jumping off the jetty, which was next to the tent. Really I don't want to be labelled a grumpy old git, and hate is a strong word. But I hated them. Some people shouln't be given passports.

Anyhow, better get over it, because it's one long PARTY town all the way up the Gold Coast from here to Brisbane. Byron is flooded with the great unwashed straight off the OZ experience coaches, then it's through places like Surfer's Paradise, which is a bit Ibiza for Ozzy kids and Euro twenty somethings and then onto Brisabane itself which according the guide is a 'clubbing mecca'.

Mmmm.. wonder if there are any trains. I can feel a cheat coming on.

Sydney, Home & Away & Much Embarrassment

After ridding ourselves of the bourgeois luxury that was the campervan on a very rainy Saturday back in Auckland, we flew the 5 hours to Sydney, where we spent three days seeing the sights and both came away very impressed by the place, in no small part, no doubt, helped by the clear blue skies and warm weather. Best of all, on the Sunday after arriving we managed to get involved with filming for a TV commercial at the Sydney Opera house. We are now fully signed up talent in the latest worldwide Australia tourist promotional advert. Yey!! Fame at last!

On Tuesday, we were back on the bike. A short hop through Sydney and onto the Manly ferry, north en route to Palm Beach (where they film Home & Away) accompanied by more sun and warm weather.

Our plan is to follow the coast and so far most of the terrain has been benign, flat roads so making for lots of officially certified Denyze approved nice cycling. We chatted to a local cyclist chap, who very kindly has provided us with an excellent route up the coast, staying off the main highway as much as possible and using local ferries where necessary.

Amusingly for Den, we got to a campsite a couple of nights ago and jumped off the bike outside the reception, where a woman was working at a computer behind a desk. I strode up to the door and attempted to slide it open, it budged a little, but wouldn't open. So I tried it again, a bit more forcefully and the door slid open. I was in!! "A bit sticky!", I remarked to the lady behind the desk, "Actually, it was locked" she replied. I looked at the door. Attached to it were the remains of the catch, screws and plugs that had allowed it to lock. Opppps!!! Apparently she had closed half an hour before and was just cashing up. Luckily she accepted my grovelling apology and allowed us to stay the night without letting our tyres down. I have resolved to be more respectful of sticky doors in the future.