Yesterday (Day 60, Saturday 30 August) was a truly great day. The day dawned still and fair. After some last minute washing we drove up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse. This lighthouse has a particular place in my life. It was here that I discovered that I had a fear of heights (this is your research question for today, what is the clinical name for a fear of heights?). About 60 years ago I and my family visited the lighthouse and did the tour which included going up to the parapet. At this point I should show you a picture of the lighthouse so that you know what I am talking about. The parapet is the grey part. I vividly remember walking out through the door onto the parapet and being so overwhelmed by the height that I stood with my back pressed against the lighthouse wall and not being able to move. That feeling has never left me.
So I was determined to lay this particular ghost to rest. Once again I did the tour, climbed the spiral stair case, waited while the tour guide opened the outer door and stepped out; to no fear whatsoever. I found the view to be breathtaking certainly but in an exhilarating way. I had no difficulty at all in walking around the balcony. I even looked over the edge and was surprised to find that we were not at all that far up. So I can safely cross this one off the bucket list.
For those who are interested, the platform on which the lighthouse sits is 100 metres above sea level. The light is another 18 metres above. The light is powerful enough to be seen from 50 kms away and the horizon from to parapet is 44 kms away. The lighthouse light was originally fueled by kerosene and switched to electricity in 1956. It ceased to be a manned light in the early 1980's. The cape on which the lighthouse sits is the most easterly place in mainland Australia.
After this liberating experience, we returned to Lennox Head and enjoyed a very nice pizza at our favourite restaurant. We washed this down with an equally delicious italian Pino Grigio.
Over lunch, I remember saying to Bev that it been a really beautiful day and it would be really topped off if the Richmond Tigers could achieve a most unlikely win over the Sydney Swans. And guess what, they did. Talk about picking the trifecta!
We said goodbye to Lennox Head today and made the short trip to Arrawarra which is north of Coffs Harbour and close to Woolgoolga. We are staying at the Darlington Beach Caravan Park. This is an NRMA owned park which is part of the Big 4 park. It is a seriously good park. It is very large, over 100 acres. The roads are well paved. It is a very shady park with many large trees and beautiful sub-tropical gardens. The sites are easily accessed and are huge. Plenty of room for car caravan annex and tent if necessary. The park has very good amenities although getting a bit tired now. It has two very attractive conjoined swimming pools, plentiful attractions for the kids including two jumping pillows. Unusual for a caravan park, it has a licensed cafe with a very attractive outdoor dining area that overlooks an artificial grass bowling green. It also comes with a golf course and access to a great beach. It has many ensuite powered sites and, of course, it has a full range of cabin accommodation. It also supports its own mob of kangaroos. They just lay around the park soaking up the sun and taking absolutely no notice of all the caravans and people who move among them. It is a good park for a long stay.
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Mount Warning, the craggy mountain left of centre is the
first place in mainland Australia to receive the morning
sun (on sunny mornings anyway)
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| Me on the parapet |
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| Bev on the parapet |
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The parapet was a good place from which to see the
big surf that was running |
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There are actually two people on this hang glider.
They were getting the best view in Byron! |
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| Site comes with its own kangaroo residents! |
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| This bloke is really big |
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| The caravan park golf course |
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| The local beach, not sure how safe it is |
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| Lunch time |
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