BIG SURF, PESTO PASTA AND ANOTHER HITCHER

There is something about hitch-hikers that we identify with, it might be their nomadic, gypsy like nature. I find their stories, backgrounds, outlooks and circumstances very interesting, often sad, sometimes uplifting. I am sorry but I find it hard to resist writing about them. We picked up Michael in the bus yesterday just outside Woolgoolga, he had 80 cents to his name (but a new pack of fags in his denim jacket pocket), his loud booming voice kept Jarra awake just as he was about to fall asleep. He is 43 years old, from NZ, a grandfather who hasn’t met his grand daughter yet and is heading north to Mackay to find some work. We dropped him off when we turned off the Pacific Highway 45 km north, on our way to Minnie Water, which turns out to be quite the opposite. The surf here is big and loud, rolling in off the ocean and pounding the shore, it comes right up to the campsite leaving very little beach for us to play on, what beach is left is scattered with smooth stones. We built a little fire last night and had our pasta with creamy pesto and mushroom sauce on the wooden table next to the beach, when the fire died down enough we had some toasted marshmallows which we do enjoy. It is school holidays here so there are a few people about. Not only am I the world’s second worst gambler, I am proving to be just as successful at fishing. I caught a tiny little fish today in the surf and when I got it in I discovered that I had hooked it through its side, how unlucky was it to be swimming past my hook and impaling itself on it….?? We left Yuraygir National Park this morning and headed north through the Scottish town of Maclean where all the bottoms of the street posts are painted in tartan colours and we hade a nice lunch. Arrived in Yamba at the Blue Dolphin Resort which is a massive place with two pools, two kids playgrounds, a centre for under 5 yr olds, an internet café and all sorts of entertainment for the kids, treasure hunts, boat/ canoe hire and movies etc.. As we were leaving Maclean a car in front was making a right hand turn, leaving a bit of space to pass on its left. “Come on”, I said, “You could drive a bus through there”………. And I did! The weather here is sub tropical, quite warm and sunny at this time of year. Rennie has been making some great things lately, she is very artistic and creative. She just goes to the trailer and gets what she needs from the Usefull Box and goes and cuts, sticks and creates wonderful crafty things, which we are decorating the bus with.