BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA
January 4, 2002
We drove up much of the coast yesterday, stopping at Hawkes Point for a good overlook of the ocean (and short hike for our "training"), as well as taking a scenic drive from Hunter Valley further up north. Kim and I drove through a smoky area, with small fires on the side of the road, and blackened forests as well. There were firemen out on the roads and we later found out on the radio that the PCH had been closed off in the area we drove through a few hours after we passed. The bush fires are mostly further out and have not curtailed any of our trip, however, it was very sad to see all those trees dying so close by!

We stopped in charming Coffs Harbour for some fish & chips, and caught the sun setting over the harbour but unfortunately, all hotels and motels were booked solid so we drove onward toward Grafton where we stayed the night and have just duly arrived in Byron Bay - major beach town. We'll hang out at the beach for the morning & afternoon, then head to Mt. Warning - a volcanic plug - where we'll hike up to the first spot where the sun hits the Australian Coast. Cool, huh?

By evening, we'll be in Brisbane (where dad tells me there's the bluest sky he ever saw - of course, that was back in the 60's) to spend a couple of days there before we fly to Cairns for our rainforest adventure. Off to the BEACH!