Day 17: Life with the Stonies

The time difference foxed us a bit and we didn't make it out until 11am, but we didn't fare too badly seeing as Miss Sarah declared her bed uncomfortable at 3am and wanted to park ourselves in ours. It was very hot and muggy so we decided it was a good idea to have a walk and go see the Lighthouse on Cape Byron. Tom got redder and redder but didn't complain, Sarah protested nearly every step but it was very humid. There were massive butterflies flitting and darting about. Just before we reached the lighthouse a small kangaroo jumped across the path, he nearly went over the cliff. Down below, there were dolphins, turtles and stingrays to be spotted in the blue water. The kids only interest was getting to the lighthouse so Rob stayed behind to capture the marine life (from afar, so not too impressive).


















The black dot it a turtle. There were also rays, but they looked odd in the pictures through the distortion of the water.









Sarah was desperate to look out the telescope but meany mummy told her it was broken!









Rob went off to the pick up the car as we'd underestimated how long the walk would take and the parking wardens were out in force. The kids and I visited the Light house museum. I smelt some whale oil and it was just like linseed. We saw some whale 'teeth', looked just like a brush.









Tom got talking to one of the lighthouse volunteers and he opened up the door especially for him to see the staircase. the kids also got to crank the handle that winds a weight up that spins the lens as it drops back again overnight.


















before electricity the weight would be winched up.









The Museum also housed a display on the local Aborigine people. The White settlers came in 1881 and took their land away. It makes very uncomfortable reading to hear how badly they were treated.

In the loo, I overheard two English women talking about the hostel in YHA and that it was full of stoners, so just as well we didn't stay there. Sarah saw a Palm tree and shouted out "look a willy tree!" (see earlier pic).

Once Rob pitched up, we headed to town for lunch and to get the Byron Bay vibe. Tom spotted a giant Beaver. Some poor sod was dressed upon a costume in the sweltering heat, advertising Brazillian waxes!

----Rob edit---- Sitting outside eating lunch watching the world go by was a perfect way to spend an hour. Principally due to the hordes of half dressed (or less) women walking about, but my attention soon snapped back to the table when I hear Cait say "I need to get a picture of that beaver". --/Rob edit---.



A spot of retail therapy. Sarah is a born shopper, so not like her mother ;)



























By now, the sky is looking dark again so we decide to head back to our pad with the intention of coming back for the evening Market. The rain came but nothing like we have seen before. By 5, we are on the beach and it is a glorious evening. It's called Tallow Beach (I assume they melted whales here).

Tom talked some other mother on the beach into lending him this doohicky.






































Which they have a wild time with.





































This is Tom after taking a mouthful of ocean!









After about 2 hours, time to head back and get ready to go to the market, but call it a night as Sarah crashes on the sofa.

---Rob--- I took some video on the panasonic, but it uses a codec the iOS can't cope with. I had a little on the iPhone, so had a play with iMovie on it...

----there was an attempted to add a video here---------

This upload is more of a test than anything.

Ok test failed. I can't use this app to upload. I'll have to do it the old fashioned way. It'll be here soon ish.

Arrgh. Can't get it to link properly. Here's something to click on to get it, but it's been compressed to hell so was never really worth the effort!! Video

---/Rob---


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Location:Byron Bay