Homeward bound

Saturday

Saturday dawned still windy but dry so we walked in to town again to meet local couple Jim and Joan for a coffee at their usual Saturday morning venue. Jim gave Michael a few tips re fishing spots and as one of them was across the road from Boyters Lane that was our next stop. We each spent a couple of hours at our respective hobbies with varying degrees of success.

After lunch we took the drive out to Smoky Cape. As the highest lighthouse in Australia it has spectacular views in all directions.


Our afternoon drinks were again spoiled by the arrival of the golfers but this time there were more of them plus kids and onlookers. I felt I had to say something so approached a member of the group who was taking photos. I suggested it wasn’t a great example for the kids to be putting rubbish in to the waterway. I was told that was just my opinion, they were good people and to go away. Even though my actions made no difference I felt better about having spoken up...maybe they’ll reconsider next timešŸ„“.  This lovely little creek now has somewhere between 40-50 golf balls floating around in it!


Sunday
We woke to a much calmer morning so before we set out we spent another hour Birding/fishing. Michael wanted to try one of the spots along the river and there is plenty of trees opposite to occupy me. After a few nibbles and a fish he deemed too small we moved on to our last stop.
Alan had recommended Urunga because of its proximity to the boardwalk so we pulled in there for what was the most expensive site of our trip. It was very pleasant but I think they may be jumping on the Grey Nomad bandwagon. At $59/night it was as much as 3 nights in some of our other stops.
Urunga has a lovely, well-protected beach in the river and a long boardwalk along the rivers edge out to the sea. As the tide was out we saw a swarm of soldier crabs and another type with one large yellow claw. There were plenty of birds around including Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel and huge flocks of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo. I think we were parked on the Masked Lapwing nesting spot but the chick just ignored us.

Monday
After warding off the various lorikeets and pigeons so we could eat our breakfast we were ready for home. I wish people wouldn’t feed our native birds as it does make it uncomfortable for those of us who don’t want to share our food with them.
This week would normally be Jacaranda Festival in Grafton so we detoured through the town. Although the festival was cancelled the townsfolk still had the shops decorated and off course the trees bloomed despite Covid!




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