In spite of early expressions of interest which had led us to believe that we might require the entire resort for ourselves, it didn't quite work out that way. So many people got sidetracked, other countries, exams, work and so on and they missed out on a really good long weekend.
With Ros and Felix cruising comfortably in their Accord and Leon and I rocketing along in the Turbo we battled through the Pacific Highway to come ashore at Kingscliffe and a pleasurable drive along the coast brought us into down town Byron Bay right on time. Right on time for what?
Maybe it's always the right time for "interesting" people in Byron Bay, but our walk around, in and out of lots of curio and craft shops opened our eyes in many ways. Auras read, tarots interpreted, flesh branded, tummy's topped. Certainly not your Brisbane suburban shopping centre.
We went and did a little beach watching, fed the seagulls, saw some juggling, fire-eating and sun burning flesh. Witnessed some unusual local rituals, still don't really know what that was!
Checked into our unit, plenty of room for 4. Well placed, good value for money. Plenty of friendly facilities. A walk through the densely vegetated dunes (complete with rampant noxious weeds, Bitou) past lots of big and little birds doing what big and little birds seem happy doing, down to the beach. Lovely beach with a few fishermen trying their luck and one or two surfers.
Saturday night found us going to the Services Club for a cheap, though adequate, meal. Leon and I sent Ros and Felix back to the resort and we went looking for "the action". After a little diversion around the streets we homed in on "The Great Northern", for here, we had been assured was really where it was going to happen. Getting in led to Leon say some interesting things about his friend Grant (what free tickets?), but we found ourselves among a reasonably cosmopolitan crowd that could've been lifted from virtually any middle market night club. Except for the night long pizzas. And then it happened, "My Friend the Chocolate Cake."! I had read a preview of this one night only, but it was one of those previews written by someone who had to fill in 250 words or so and hadn't actually heard them. They played from jazz fusion, contemporary pop/rock interpretations and melodic classical wedding marches. Hmmmm. There was one song that they did which I have to say that the young lady playing violin did a superb, amazing, exciting, everything performance. (I have always subscribed to the theory that good musicians would be particularly exciting lovers. What I saw and heard this young lady doing with her instrument would lead me to believe that she could be fatal to most mortal lovers.)
In spite of that excitement we all found ourselves able to wander through the Byron Bay Sunday Markets (but not every Sunday). Now this was interesting. This really brought out a cross section which we don't normally see mixing. By the number of Queensland number plates in the car parks there were a lot of Kenmore cowboys/girls and other visitors from the classier parts of town, but they were here with the hairy armpit and everything, letting it all hang out, it's so cool but I do take American Express for my genuine hippie hand-crafted wooden furniture. And tourists from further afield, I witnessed a pair of young Japanese girl backpackers pointing the Canon and flashing the Fuji with much amusement. There were quite a few photographers capturing their personal record of the event (including one lass rolling along with her $9000 Sony digital video camera, a few seconds here, a few there.) Trust me, even though I had my camera I didn't capture anyone's souls, or anything else.
One highlight of the markets was the choice of food. so much choice of many different types to dribble down your front and all over your shoes. I had some type of chicken kebab, and very nice it was too (and I survived) but didn't face up to the freshly squeezed sugar cane juice.
Monday we discovered that, in spite of earlier information, many of the craft shops in the industrial estate didn't care and didn't want our money (not that we were spending much). So we only had a look at the offerings at the glass blowing factory, again there are a couple of items that I could give new homes to and across the road the foundry and metal sculptor also had a couple of very nice things to take home (if I'd bought it'd have been his highlight of the weekend so far, for he told us that, for the first time in history, he hadn't sold a thing the previous day at the Sunday markets!)
Ros and Felix had exited stage left and soon Leon and I were back on the piece of road they call Highway Number 1. We spent an interesting few minutes touring the Rainforest and Tourist Information Centre at Murwillumbah (I heartily endorse this as a place to visit whenever you're passing by.) before wending our way home after visiting some friends in Nerang and then up the mountain through Mount Tamborine and other places that I only followed Leon's instructions.
Yes, it was a very enjoyable weekend, we had some good chats, saw things that aren't part of normal life for most of us and I reckon that we should do it again next year. With more people.
