Byron Bay is a busy place with many surfers on the beach and tourists at the headland. John went down to the beach to look at the rocks
and Pat headed for the point.
We then went on together to find the sign (it had to be done)
and on up many steps to the lighthouse
where we met half of the group originally from Burnley, the other half having stopped for a rest. It was here, at the lighthouse that we saw whales 'blowing'.
This is the empty beach at the other side of the lighthouse
After lunch at the lighthouse, we left Byron Bay and took the Pacific Highway which goes to Sydney, our final destination. We will take several days to do this, stopping for a couple of hours for lunch and a walk and then for the night and seeing small towns as we go. As we left Byron Bay, the Highway was a two or three lane road with the third lane being assigned to one direction or the other for overtaking or turning right. As we go south we see evidence of major works to turn the Highway into dual carriageway. The further south we go, the more dual carriageway there is and the more traffic. The driving is easy as there is really not that much traffic. It might well be difficult in the summertime.
Our first overnight stop was at Yamba. This is a fishing port at the mouth of the Clarence River which seems to specialise in prawns. We arrived in the evening and found a motel which was very close to the main beach, so that we could sleep to the sound of the surf.
Surfing and rowing are popular with a large clubhouse on the beach and there is a sea water swimming pool.
We walked along the beach and then the longest pier imaginable and watched the fishing boats going out to sea for the night. Two large breakwaters protect the exit from the river to the sea through the surf. The stone came from the Yamba point, so there is now a steep cliff were the rock was quarried. The quarry yielded a variety of rock types which have weathered in interesting ways - something to keep you interested as you walk along the one mile breakwater.
We tasted the delicious Yamba prawns in a little Italian restaurant in the town over a nice bottle of sparkling red from O'Reilly's (it was a BYO restaurant).
Pat and John on tour