Friday

There is no St James in Surfers Paradise, instead I visit the Anglican Church on the Isle of Capri, called Church of the Holy Spirit. It’s raining a little this morning, when I arrive there is no one about but the doors are open. I slip inside and take a seat for a breather. A lady comes passed and asks if I’m ok? “Yes fine thank you is it ok to sit” I responded “oh yes of course come and have a cupa with us I’m just getting more tea towels” On her return she stops and we chat a while, turns out this church which is round used to be a revolving restaurant and was converted to a church about 30 years ago. It’s modern inside and very simple it has a nice feel about it and some reprieve from the tall buildings and bright lights of Surfers Paradise.

From here I Uber to my next stop, it’s now pouring down. I arrive at Palazzo Versace looking very damp and not quite like the other visitors to this icon of fashion, I have been here a couple of times and love to come and have a coffee and be immersed in a world so different from mine, every bit of this hotel is Versace, “Pure Glamour” it’s wonderful to visit, the staff look after you like royalty even if your decked out in Kathmandu walking gear from top to bottom!

I walked back into town to catch my bus to Ballina it’s not a long trip and I really enjoyed seeing the outskirts of Surfers, Coolangatta and The Tweed. We are late getting into Ballina with the rain and Friday night traffic my family are waiting for me, it’s been too long since my last visit and much has happened since we last actually saw each other. It’s good to be here.

Distance Traveled 130KM

Distance Walked 11KM

Saturday

Oh my gosh! It was such a wet a day, perfect for some R&R.

Distance Traveled Zero KM

Distance Walked (Umm….bedroom to kitchen to lounge and repeat)

Sunday

Very wet again, we attended a fundraiser for the Farmers at a local Bowling Club, excellent music and great fun watching the kids slide over the green which was fast becoming a lake.

At home more family visit, there’s cooking and laughter and wine and love, a precious time to add to a my list of memories to treasure.

Distance Traveled 10KM

Distance Walked 4KM

Monday

First a walk out to the North Wall at Ballina with my Aunt. Then a visit to the Naval and Maritime Museum where you can see and read about one of the three rafts that journeyed from Ecuador in 1973 as part of the Las Balsas expedition to Ballina, how brave these blokes were and what a journey they must of had travelling 14 000KM over 179 days.

Distance Traveled 10KM

Distance Walked 6KM

Tuesday

A walk around the Byron Bay Lighthouse which now also has an excellent cafe, the views are stunning, the most eastern point in Australia.

From here we head into town to try out the Byron Solar Train it’s the first of its kind. The ride is smooth and unfortunately short.

We alight at North Beach and have lunch at an excellent restaurant in Habitat Lifestyle Precinct , this is a new way of living and working and definitely worth checking out if your in Byron.

Distance Traveled 70KM

Distance Walked 3KM

Wednesday

Today my Uncle hired a pushbike for me and I got my first ride on an ebike, WOW!! fantastic you still have to pedal but the power you get is exhilarating we take a short ride before the rain started again, a fantastic experience I look forward to having another (faster and longer) ride sometime.

Next a trip up to Brunswick Heads a river side town North of Ballina for lunch a great spot and really pretty place to lunch.

Distance Traveled 82KM

Distance Walked 2KM

Distance Biked 5KM

Thursday

I get the bus into Byron Bay, the rain is threatening as we head into this Mecca of beach towns. Over 2million people visit here every year, for many a coming of age destination post exams at the end of high school and for overseas visitors the ultimate seaside destination. Today people defy the grey sky and lay on the grass as if sunbathing, while the rough ocean and high tide thrash about and only a few brave surfers ride the waves.

For lunch and to escape a downpour I find an interesting looking cafe, it’s Vegan with a water fountain at the front where you can fill your drink bottle, this is actually a Seventh Day Adventist cafe, I had no idea being Vegetarian was such a part of their thing, they opened their first cafe in Australia in Maitland NSW in the 1890’s, I knew they had hospitals and about the famous Mr Kellogg, who invented cornflakes but that was about it!

There is no St James here and when I visit St Paul’s a Yoga class is in full swing so I don’t interrupt. I did find this scallop shell in the footpath in Byron, the symbolic shell has special meaning to pilgrims the world over.

I also learned this is Arakwal Country and part of the Bundjalung Nation.

Distance Traveled 70KM

Distance Walked 7KM

Friday

Morning Tea with the girls a ritual the world over, I meet my Aunts beautiful friendship group and enjoy an hour of chatting and and laughter.

Then we visit Bangalow and The Farm a must see enterprise on the outskirts of Byron.

We finish the day with another ritual, fish and chips by the beach, the rain has stopped we enjoy dinner outside and watch the world go past.

Distance Traveled 80KM

Distance Walked 3KM

Rain: Over the 7 days I have been in Ballina 260mm (10inch)

I have had a wonderful stay with my Uncle and Aunt and spent some precious time with my cousins. I haven’t done much walking but most importantly I have spent time with family, who I have been blessed to have in my life for ever. Which I am really very grateful for. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️