Here’s the birthday boy showing off his favourite gift:
To paraphrase his reaction: “Thanks little brother; I’ll wear this ring every day!”
We saw a movie and went out for dinner for his birthday….
And aside from this it was another lazy holi-day.
Here’s some Australian wildlife I spotted as I went on a walk around Hamilton in the AM:
The cat was wary of me. I reckon it could learn a thing or two from Yossie!
Yesterday we had a food photography contest. Here’s the two entries, presented without identifying the photographers. Which is best?
On the way out of Port Macquarie we stopped at Tacking Point lighthouse.
This was in use for over a hundred years to guide ships up the coast. The views from the point out to sea and up and down the coast are incredible.
After a lunch stop in Forster (check your mailboxes!) we finished the drive to Newcastle to meet with these guys.
All is good 🙂
Before we left Coffs this morning we went and climbed Muttonbird Island.
This smallish island, just offshore and connected by a jetty, is the breeding home of Muttonbirds (Shearwaters), which nest here in underground nests.
There aren’t any birds now, but the nests are everywhere and I imagine the sound when birds are here is deafening. The island itself is high and rocky and the wind on top is cyclonic! Here’s the view eastwards from the far lookout:
That silhouette you see is a fisherman braving the rocks far below.
After an epic lunch stop in Kempsey (check your mailboxes…) we continued only to lovely Port Macquarie. This sums up the place nicely I feel:
It’s a coastal tourist town with loads to see and do. Our comfy hotel is located right in the middle of it all and I’d like to spend more than one night here.
We did the usual eating and boulevarding and eating and wandering and eating and some shopping. It was relaxing and great.
Today we end our road trip in Newcastle, with a stop or two on the way. I wonder what we’ll see?
That’s ‘The Big Prawn’ which we briefly stopped at on the way out of Ballina today. About two hours later we arrived at this…
Which is called ‘The Big Banana’ and is in Coffs Harbour, where we’re staying the night.
This is another coastal town, very popular with tourists, that seems to have a lot to see and do. Shortly after we arrived the rains came in and we both had lethargy attacks so we didn’t see much at all today. But we hope to remedy that first thing tomorrow.
On the topic of food we may not be eating well but I can assure you we’re eating a lot! At least B is. I’m struggling everyday to not eat everything I see, and somewhat succeeding, in part because I may have a slight cold coming on.
The motel is comfy and this bed I’m in lulls me to sleep. Cell signal is flaky here, so apologies if you’ve been trying to contact me and heard no response. Until tomorrow…