We’re on our way to the third border that won’t let us in, so fortunately for us we don’t need to get in, there’s plenty for us to see in NSW. We took as many backroads as we could to Byron Bay for glimpses of beaches and headlands.
Byron was bigger than we imagined. The downside, especially now, is the large amount of people that you have to avoid – the upside is the greater array of food and coffee outlets.
I was also amazed at the multitude of parking meters, not just on the beach but up to a kilometre away. The downside here that I see is the concern of having to remember to get back on time, or it may stop you extending your time when you find other things to do – the upside is locals have more access to parking in their own town and this extra income would limit future rates increases.
Oh….and the Byron Bay toilets…firstly a voice tells you how to open the door, how to close it, and then given a 10 minute time limit, inferring that you should put your book away. If you don’t move, the voice assumes the toilet is vacant and the door opens.
We spent our time walking south along the great expanse of grassy areas where there were few people. We continued in a circle around Byron, grabbed a coffee, then back to our car which was in ‘no meter territory’, therefore we could walk and enjoy it greatly as well.
Mullumbimby was next, and the first thing that we saw as we approached was a mountain range with a standout mountain that had me reaching for my camera. What a spectacle is Mount Chincogan as it looks down not just on this town but many others that also stand in its vast shadow. It was back to a one (primarily) street town situated on the muddy (today) narrow hidden Brunswick river (which starts here by the way), very accessible to the public so a great place for lunch and a long walk.
We nearly touched the Queensland border as we hugged the edges of the very congested and built up town of Tweed Heads. We stayed on the edges and moved on to Murwillumbah, our home for tonight. The Tweed river here is mostly privately owned (ie houses front the river) so we made the most of the small amount of public access to stretch our busy legs once more. Tomorrow we will investigate Mount Warning.
Pandemic has revealed exquisitely
A contradiction that exposes all,
A tiny microbe waiting silently
Deciding who will live and who will fail.
But while we live our education thrives
We learn of certain strengths and frailties,
The teacher is the virus which arrives
Its lessons they are surely mandatory.
Work together when your life’s at stake
Consider others – raise your empathy,
Open up your mind and give and take
The danger is destructive apathy.
So when you’re not allowed to go to school
Create your own – it’s really very cool.
