There was less rip current and sidshore drift from the wrapping around function I mentioned above. However, sitting in the water or watching perched from a bluff....it is amazing to see a wave and its energy get bent around a point, pulled back around and unleashed like the casting lead of a fly fishermen's line. It just keeps bending with the curvature of the beach/bay and its sandbars which are held in place by the underlying rock from the mainland. I saw some of the longest rides and biggest smiles I have ever seen in my life. Even the reform waves an portions that keep going inward are amazing...and since there were so many people out, sometimes this is an irresistable option versus the harsh paddle out beyond the line up.
So after a few days of nonstop paddling, Beautiful Wednesday was my big Wednesday and my fitness and spagetti arms would not be tested further. Thus I was able to stay out 3 hours or so and take everything in as well as have some phenominal rides myself. Also much thanks to Dan at Demo Hire where I got my board and suit, his knowledge of what the swell and winds were doing was also instrumental in me having fun and alway spot on with what would be breaking where....especially on this day, he had me in the perfect spot amoung Byron's various breaks waves and people out enjoying them all.
With the swell directions changing up a bit, I was able to find a nice section where Lefts would come in and afford my goofy footed riding stance some front side fun. This is more natural to me and easier, but I have enjoyed as well as gotten better at backside drop ins and manuvering over the past week....which is something I wanted to accomplish on this trip.
Paddling back out to the line up and waiting for the next set waves to roll in was equally fun as i continually looked back at the sun drenced light house or the smoky haze that hung around the mountains points further to the north. I knew my riding days were coming to an end and I wanted to enjoy and make mental notes of memory for another time. I only hope I can squeeze in a day or two of surfing in NZ...because I know I will be certainly missing these waves, views and general nostalgia of hey i'm freaking surfing in Australia!!!
As the tide came in and the water made conditions to mushy...I decided to get in and grab some Brecky, relax and figure out what to do with the rest of the day. So thats what I did... instead of fixing breakfast or eating in...I treated myself to a big brecky and a fresh fruit juice smoothy. Big Brecky's consist of Two Eggs, sausage links and Bacon...but the bacon is more like canadian style so...def a bit more meat than usual, along with some toast of sorts and some fruit. Needless to say I was stuffed and ready for a nap in the warm sand and sun. Ahhh Pura Vida....the good life!
Later on some volleyball was welcomed as the runner high set in from the morning I had enjoyed. The day flew by and the night brought some dinner around the courtyard as there was a bbq for all at the bargain cost of $2 Everyone was fired up as it seemed a night that would be a send off for the group of sorts. The next day would be the last in town for most and the rest were taking out on friday noon. We all enjoyed some music at Woody's, the local surf bar and Theo and I watched some old surf movies that were streaming along on the TV's...its always fun to see or witness others getting hooked on surfing....as you remember it as well. I think there will be some renunion of sorts in the future where some of the guys meet up for a surf vacation... I think that would be cool as well. The happenings that night were strange because it seemed like everyone in the whole town was on the same runner's high as us and their weeks of fun coming to an end....because this bar absolutely went crazy. One of the guys from the surf tour (on a different route, but who had met us / hung out in Coeff's harbor) had showed up into town on his way north to Cairns. Nikko, is fun at the word go...so between him, myself and Theo...I laughed as hard as I have at any sober memory point in the past year or two. Its rather hard to explain but everyone was in such good spirits and just having fun...it was amazing. SO much so....that three of the German Girls that had split from the group earlier in the week to work and live in Byron....were suddenly in the bar and talking to us....very different from the surf tour and earlier in the week when we first arrived in Byron.
Jason, seemed to think it was because they weren't as comfortable talking english as the others in the group were....and this only added to any other insecurities they may have.... Theo quickly added that it didn't seem to affect them keeping their cloths on!!! A funny joke pointed at one, who seemed to hook up with a different guy at every stop along the way! Ahhh Theo, a great friend with the same pointed sense of humor as I...we had named one of the other german girls the "mute possum" because she never responded when you said hi or waved to her...and most the time her face had an expression like a hissing possum! Not really but the anti-social behavior made the analogy believable.... Altogether mean, but mostly accurate. She was talking at a rate which would make a valley girl from CA jealous. The sad thing was the music was so loud barely any of the talk was understood....she did say that she missed the group and all the activities....Theo puzzled then asked me...if she even really knew our names!! As you can see, I was laughing from start to end on this night.
"Jeepers Bro', I can't sleep, Byron Bay....I'm so excited I can't sleep" the funny quote from South African Steve was used quite a bit during the week and especially on this night because this definitely would have been a night for him to enjoy...and Im sure once he hears the stories, he'll say the same.
Everyone was dancing drinking and having a blast. Even Nikko the kid from Finland that had caught up with the group from Coeff's Harbour....had just one a great deal on travel up to Cairns worth about 650 bucks...so he was stoked since that was his plan anyway...now it was funded! He found a marker laying around in one of the booths or something, then the next thing you know fake mustaches were coming out as well as some other facial drawings....normally odd and childish, but on this night it seemed anything went and did...with great laughter, again just one of those nights. Even the antisocial German girls got in on the act. Quite funny since Theo had a hitler mustache which normally would be bad but you really can't take anything serious from an innocent fun guy like him...later that night even a girl who was adamently claiming her Jewish Ancestry was talking to him for quite a long time which just furthered the non serious nature of the fun had that night. I only got a couple pics off that night, so I will be eagerly awaiting some emails with photos shared from the group in the future.
The next day was the same....except for the weather and the swell....both of which had degraded but not to the point where either couldn't be enjoyed. I decided to head out and see some sites like Kirra Point and Snapper Rocks which are two legendary surf spots up the gold coast just south of the Surfer's Paradise which is like the Miami of the Australian East coast, with all the Sky High condos and massive build up along the coast its quite the opposite of the tranquil and majestic coastline views leading up to that area. It was some good time spent wandering around. I think I found my dream board as well... a Takayama, I think in this case Art Imitates Life. Just a beautiful shape, lines and cool color.
That night was a bit more mellow as just some food and drink in the courtyard. We hung out with the last two of the Norwegian girls as they hadn't really been up much of the day...mostly sleeping and recovering from the big party...they hung out for a bit, but quickly retired later on. That would be the last time we saw them as we didn't catch up with them the next day while gathering our things to catch the bus out of town.
This was it for the surf tour and Byron Bay as well. Myself, the 3 dutch Jason, Merrium, and Andrea as well as a couple other guys who were on a different surf group...would all be heading to Brisbane...them to continue their journey...me to fly back to Auckland for the rest of the world cup. Jana, one of the fun gernmans had left the day before as well...heading back to Melbourne. She was a classic and always provided some humor on the dance floor or late night when she was further "confussed" by the nights spirits. I think the best being ... showering with all her cloths on, only realizing later when she tried to get back in her room, but couldn't because she lost her key!! Good stuff.
Theo, and the Two German guys Thomas and David would be staying in Byron a few more days before starting their jobs that had recently landed. Theo seemed excited to settle down and do some work on a local farm...where by he might be able to continue his surfing progression when not working. The Germans would be working for a municipality...I think water works type thing... lots of hours for three weeks, then back to traveling.
I look forward to getting updates from all along the way and following them while Im back in the states.
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