Beaches and forests

Staying so close to a beach I just had to make the effort to get at least one sunrise over the sea. Back home I am surrounded by tall trees so although I do see colour in the sky it is short lived and unsuited to a photograph. This was my opportunity!

It was cold! Further south they are having snow and blizzards and the chill reached up to us this morning! Brrr! However I resisted the urge to snuggle down into the bedclothes and dressed in warm fleece and waterproof jacket to sheild from the wind I lugged my heavy tripod and my trusty Nikon across the sand dunes to the beach. The dune ground cover didn't offer an interesting foreground interest so I had to let the sky take centre stage. What looked as though it would be a spectacular display turned out to be a disappointment with clouds racing in and denying me a sight of the sun rising. However I did get quite a few pretty shots, thanks to my 200mm lens.

It was great to return to a hot shower and breakfast! An invigorating start to the day!

On the way out for our day's exploration, we stopped briefly to take a couple of pictures of the smallest Post Office in NSW. It looks as if one of the veranda railings has been broken and temporary plastic fencing put up to stop customers falling off !

This is the Empire Vale post Office on the Richmond River a few kilometers from Wardell. Empire Vale is a tiny little town – a “blink and you'll miss it” town. Colin and I drive through Empire Vale every day either on the way out or on the way back to the caravan park when we choose not to use the ferry across the river.

Our car trip took us first to Evans Head where we first visited a small sandy bay that even on this cool morning attracted a couple of young boys who, when we were leaving, were splashing happily in the waters edge.

Driving up the hill above this beach we were able to look down on the attractive coastline. Evans Head is a very popular (quiet) holiday destination. I can see why.

On the way to see another holiday destination I took a turn into what was signed as Shark Bay Picnic Grounds and when we left the car we were surprised to hear the sound of many young children. We did not intrude on the groups of children and their teachers but it appeared that an entire school was being conducted here in on the lawns of the picnic area or on the beach and the subject was evidently Aboriginal culture. One group was playing rhythm sticks and chanting and another group were busy painting on sheets of paper spread on the ground using sticks and fingers, The Aboriginal flag was suspended between the branches of one of the low trees.

When we arrived in Iluka, Colin and I walked into the Heritage Listed Rainforest which is right against the beach. Voluteers have spent many hours removing domestic plants from the rainforest that had threatened to smother everything. Asparagus fern is one of those plants – it spreads rapidly and has wicked thorns on it too.

As we drove in to the town of Iluka we drove through patches of rainforest, eucalypt forest and maleluca forest, it was amazing how the pattern of trees kept changing. I could not understand why the little patch of rainforest that was in the township should have been heritage listed and not the forest on the drive in to the town (that did not appear to be filled with feral plants). There must be a reason.

Iluka has a fishing fleet of trawlers and after taking a couple of pictures I amused myself by trying to catch a shot of the terns as they dived for fish in the adjacent yacht harbour. I only caught the splash!

AJ

From forest to sea

What a variety of activities we have had today. I set out this morning with one aim in mind - that of taking a closer look at the Sikh temple at Woolgoolga, but we did so much more.

I spotted a sign that said simply "Flora Reserve", hand written on a wooden sign. So the car was pointed in that direction and off we went - I am fortunate to have a husband who has no objections to any detour I want to take! Since I am the driver there are never any arguments! The road became narrower and narrower and the bush thicker and thicker but on we drove. It was too beautiful to turn back now! At a fork in the road the bitumen stopped but a small sign pointed to a picnic area to the left.

We took the left fork and only a hundred metres in the forest opened out and we found ourselves in a glorious grassy picnic spot with tables that had shelters over them so with no further ado the flask of hot water and the picnic box was removed from the car and we had our morning "cuppa" in wonderful isolation with the most amazing bird sounds you have ever heard. I did turn on the HD camera but since I haven't loaded it to this laptop yet you will have to wait to hear what we heard!

We walked into the forest with the camera and tossed stones into a small creek to get across but when we came across a wide deep stream we had to turn back. I was not willing to take of my shoes and socks - it was too muddy on the other side to sit down to put them on again.

On the way back to the car I had to flick off a leech from my leg, just above my sock. The another that was on my hand. Once back at the car I told Colin that I was going to take off my shoes to make sure there were no leeches inside. I found two very large ones attached to my socks - they had not bitten me, they were gorging on the wetness that had seeped through my sneakers and into my socks! Colin discovered he had two leeches too! Gosh, every part of you starts to itch after such a discovery! However neither of us lost any blood to the horrible creatures!

From the forest - it is called Sherwood Reserve and is a remnant of lowland rainforest that has never been logged, so is very special - we drove to the coast and found some delightful bays and small hamlets and spoke to one of the residents who told us that the place was idyllic until Easter weekend and the Christmas school holidays, then it was filled with families, fishermen and surfies! Easter starts tomorrow so we have seen it at its quiet time! The place? Arrawarra Headland. Never heard of it? Nor have most people! But is it lovely.

Finally I was able to stop in Woolgoolga and walk over to the Sikh temple and take a couple of shots. Woolgoolga has the largest Indian population of any country town and there are two temples but this one is the most impressive and the newest looking of the two. It has an excellent position in the town too - it is on a hill and can be seen easily from the main Pacific Highway.

Our holiday in Coffs Harbour has come to an end. After cooking our evening meal I shall be packing the cases for a morning departure. We have had a good time exploring all around the district, all our holiday has cost us has been petrol! But I have so many photos that I can now go home and create yet another photo-book of memories!

AJ