I awoke at 06:00, but there was no chance of going for a run this morning with the rain stotting down. After speaking to Becky, I got myself ready & checked out.
As it saved me $4 I had booked the return journey to the airport with the Con-X-ion shuttle. What an error. In hindsight since my hostel was over the road from the AirTran I should have got to the airport on the train. I stood waiting for the shuttle for 30mins before it arrived, & then went around the city collecting others. In the end I made it to the airport for just before ten. Then I had to call the car rental company to come collect me.
As a cheap skate I hadn't booked a sat nav, & by hook or crook I made it back into Brisbane. Then I got distracted trying to find wi fi so drove over a toll bridge that I had to then drive back over to get back to the motorway. This took me past the hostel I had been staying in. It was now 10:45, in almost 3hrs I was back to where I started. As you can imagine I was less than pleased.
Anyhow the journey started well, & having not had breakfast I stopped 30mins down the road at Yalata. Debbie had told me before coming out that this part of the world was renowned for its pies. Therefore the Pie Shop just off the motorway could not be ignored. I was tempted to try the version of a steak & kidney, but in the end the BBQ pork special could not be passed up.
It was a good job I had stopped for sustenance as the drive was pretty scary in parts. The torrential rain reduced visibility to almost zero. I had no faith in the Yaris' handling in the wet. Much like Florida last year, the weather doesn't favour me on holiday. When I got over the border to New South Wales things cleared up marginally and a normal speed could be reached. I was happy to get out of the car in Byron, where once again I found where I was staying but guessing at roundabouts and junctions.
Arts factory lodge hostel is such a well organised fun place. The weather sadly scuppers much of what it's geared up for. It's only a 15 minute walk into town but they a shuttle bus service. It has beach volleyball court, swimming pool, hot tub, & is across the car park from a brewery as well as a day spa.
After checking in via the Tipi app, I got changed and walked into Byron for lunch and explore. Having forgotten about the time zone change it was now 15:00 by the time I got lunch. I asked the staff of a fun pub & the Railway bar it was. This converted station now serves top notch food and drink. My fish burger was extremely good.
I took the time to walk around Byron and down to the beach. There is so much to do here, you could stay here for months. People in Brisbane had mentioned that's it's less touristy than the Gold Coast. What they meant by that in their loveable Aussie way was that there are hardly any Asians here compared to other parts of the country.
Since it was now happy hour at the brewery I dropped in for a pint, & was in a bit of a funk about what to do with the evening. I was tired & a bit fed up from the journey. After speaking to Laura, I went in the pool in the rain, something I had been procrastinating about. This rejuvenated me, as it was proper Baltic, plus with rain coming down it was well tropical like. (Sidebar - local friends, you know who you are, does this make me sound like I'm from Newcastle?)
Shower, change, charge phone, brewery pint then I headed out. Earlier I had spotted a happy hour sports bar called Slick that sold $5 beer/wine & $1 wings between 4 & 7. One lucky chap would had a large table to himself and his wings, ended up with five girls sharing his table. This amused myself and the lads I was sat next too. Wonder how his night went. Anyhoo I meandered back up to the water. The bar part of the Beach Hotel seems the place to be at all times. With two bars, big screen, huge outdoor area over looking the ocean you can see why. When I was there you got the feeling they were getting ready for a massive night. There must have already been over a hundred people in the place, to go with the seven door staff, at 18:30 that's not bad.
After deciding I would return there on Saturday I set off for my early bird hostel special at Cheeky Monkeys. This great establishment finds itself between Baja, Buffalo Joes and the old Bar M. I got my VIP stamp for staying at one of the hostels they are linked with. This meant $5 drinks. Despite being the oldest patron in here it wasn't going to stop me from having fun. That fun being for the record writing this blog while drinking cheap drinks listening to some classic beats. Tonight is paint party night. I have made sure there is no paint on me.
Before calling it a night I grabbed a couple of glasses of wine in the brewery.