So, today has gotten a bit washed out unfortunately.
I got up early so I could find out whether the surfing lesson was going ahead and they were having a lesson at 12:30pm - yay! The guy yesterday said they normally go out at about 10am or so, so I was prepared for a surf lesson and then trying to sort out my Byron situation. However, the surf lesson being a bit later meant I could sort out Byron before going - yay!
Asked a different guy at the desk about the Blues and Jazz festival and he said it was probably, for him, the worst time to go to Byron. It's a small place, that is already really popular with tourists, then add the Easter holidays (I had completely forgotten about those), add the festival, and add thousands of extra people to Byron and it's just mayhem. He said that places get booked up ultra early and ultra quickly and so he would avoid it like a plague.
Oh.
He did check the Byron YHA for me though, which was good of him, and they did have places left. Hmmmm. What do I do? Stay in Byron when it might be so crowded that I might actually want to run away, or stay in Byron for one night and then go somewhere else, or just avoid Byron altogether?
I thought I'd have a look at the festival on the net, and a few other places that I thought might be nice to stop off at before making my decision. Apparently it's the biggest Blues and Jazz festival and thousands of people turn up. Camping is still available and so are day tickets. Oh dear.
I had a look at a place called Murwillumbah (just pronounce it like it's written, though the 'will' bit is more pronounced like 'wool' though you might sound like you're mumbling, I do) and it looks quite nice. There's Mount Warning there with nice walks. Hmmm.
So, I've decided to stay one night in Byron to see what it's like, and then move onto Murwillumbah for two nights. Apparently Murwool is a very quiet little place though, so I might get bored. I might get a little bored, but I'm sure I'll be ok for two nights! I don't get there until about 9:30pm on the first night in any case, and then if I do a day trip up the moutain, then I'll be too tired out to be bored, won't I? Yes!
So, that's my plan for after here
.
However, whilst I was on the internet, I found out the surf lesson had been cancelled. Bummer. The council had closed the beach for water sports as it wasn't safe enough yet. I can try again tomorrow if I feel like it, as I'm not getting the train to Byron until about 4pm.
Unfortunately, as I type, it's is hammering it down and has been since about 2pm. Great. I got a wee bit soaked whilst out this morning having a walk (and finding lots of parks that still have a lot of water in them, squelch), and I had an afternoon nap, faffed about somewhat, and it's still raining! I never thought I'd be on the other side of the world and thinking that it rained more here than at home!! It's almost ridiculous, but I have to laugh as well. I heard a few people getting upset at the front desk this morning, when they found out that most activities were cancelled. I think I've just gotten used to activities being ruined by the weather over here and just to get on with something else!! I guess it must be a bummer if you haven't got long of your holiday left, and you can't get to do what you want. I could be complaining about that in a few weeks time, so watch out :D
There is one attraction that I can do tomorrow if it's still pouring with rain and no surfing can go ahead, as there's this Pet Poirpoise Pool just down the road from here. It looks pretty twee, but could also be quite funny. You can swim with the resident dolphins there, though they charge and arm and a leg and you only get half an hour so I won't be doing that, and you can even get dolphin and seal kisses! Could be just the silly sort of thing to while away a really rainy day tomorrow if it's anything like this one or just a silly sort of thing to do if I just feel in the mood! I hope it's not going to be quite worrying for me, if the animals are in really small enclosures and so on, because I imagine it might be a bit like that but I guess I won't know if I don't check it out. Student discount comes in handy again, otherwise I wouldn't be going as it would cost about $30 or something like that!! Daylight robbery as it looks like quite a small place!
It has won the best attraction in NSW (New South Wales) for 2007 and 2008....so it can't be that bad, can it?