A week in northern NSW.

 An early start saw me heading north on the road to Kurri Kurri - a small town a few hours from Sydney. It's sad to see the way these towns are dying. The reason I stopped here was because it is known for it's murals and the kookaburra seems to be rather popular. 

I managed to find one cafe open so fueled up before the next few hours of driving.

My overnight stop was at Taree. I had a very pleasant dinner at the Aquatic Club. I was sitting overlooking the river and that is when the rain started! 

The weather the next day was absolutely horrendous the further north I drove! I did stop for a couple of breaks, one was at Woolgoolga to see the painted watertower.

 The weather was even worse and the ocean swells were quite big. I finally reached my destination mid afternoon and the rain was still coming down!

Monday dawned very wet but we decided to have a drive to see the damage the floods had caused in Byron Bay and managed to get up to the lighthouse without getting too wet!

 

With the weather still wet and miserable we drove to Murwillumbah to a really interesting Art gallery - in fact it is the best gallery I've ever been to! Inside the gallery is the recreation of the house/studio of one of Australia's most celebrated painter of still life and interiors - Margaret Olley. There was hardly a space to sit as every spare inch was covered with art supplies, flowers and other items that she would have used in her painting. Some of the art works in the gallery were facinating and it was set in a beautiful area.

We have been very relaxed with plenty of reading and swimming in the pool. Lazy really!

On Friday  we went to the market at Mullumbimby - anti vaxa 'country' - it's obviously very expensive there because the women couldn't 'afford' bras and most people couldn't 'afford' shoes. It was a very interesting 'people watching' place. 

We had brunch in Lennox Head on Saturday before my friends went to a wedding.

Today we went to Ballina - saw the Big Prawn and bought prawns for lunch.

The sun has shone for three days but it is very muggy!

Start heading back tomorrow. Spending tomorrow night with kitty's sister in Coffs Harbour and then a very long drive back on Tuesday.

I hope that everyone has a great Christmas - Covid allowing!