Day 4... Murwillumbah

Day 4... Murwillumbah...

I started my day feeling soooooo tired! I really must, SOMEHOW, train myself to go to sleep earlier...

Murwillumbah is an interesting town... it reminded me of a patchwork quilt... there were so many different elements at play... it was quite overwhelming for me. The buildings on the main street were a mixture of beautiful and old and cheaply built new ones... I loved the shape and lines of the old buildings. The sidewalks were busy and the shops even busier. I went into one shop only... it was a little 'antique' shop filled with lots of interesting things - rusty old farm equipment, furniture, dolls, old kids books (they were great!) and a nice selection of old cameras and lenses... I must admit I really liked that section. :)

My favourite part of the town was the legal graffiti wall. It was so colourful and dynamic and it stretched along the bank of the tweed river for about 2kms. I am in awe and am amazed by the talent and the grit that goes into a good piece of graffiti art... the lines so fluid and the colours pop and bang out at you... Exploring the muddy, soggy, drizzly river bank was fun.

On the way home I made a short detour out towards Springbrook National Park... I didn't have enough time to get all the way out there... but I did have time to have a peaceful and winding drive through the the lovely trees... there were so many interesting places that I wish I had have had time to explore... a herb farm, a spice farm/shop, cute little farm houses, churches and cafes nestled amongst the trees... each bend in the road exposed something new. I was driving past one of the many meadows when I saw a car down in a ditch next to the road... it was burnt out and rusted and... it excited me. The colours on the car were so beautiful and the cars position and the state that it was in clashed with the greens of the encroaching natural world... it made me happy. And...  I think (surprisingly) it was the best part of my day...

All in all today was weird... I felt a bit introverted and lack lustre and struggled for clarity... I am, however, glad that BEAUTY was able to reach out its flirtatious tendrils and grab my attention regardless of my grey and dreary outlook...

18,219kms on the dash... 1,274kms down...

xo

Day 3... Montville

Day 3... Montville...

Montville is definitely one of the cleanest and prettiest towns that I have ever visited... I walked up and down the main street, wandered through parks and drove around the surrounding neighbourhood... and everything was so pristine. Usually there is always some grunge... somewhere in a town... but if there is any in Montville... they hide it very well!

Such a charming main street... a nice balance between new and old... there was lots to look at. I couldn't help but remember when I visited there as a kid... I thought it was so magical! The shops were full of lovely things that delighted my senses... colourful toys (how charming is the toy soldier?!), aromatic candles, wood, tin, chocolate, liqueur, clothing, art... sigh... the list goes on and on. My favourite shop that I went into was a specialty liqueur shop... so pretty!! There were shelves and shelves of different shaped bottles, filled with so many different coloured and flavoured liqueurs... my favourite was a bright pink, musk flavoured liqueur that had flecks of sparkly gold through it... it was so girly and I loved it!! :)

I must say.. that while I was walking around taking photos... I found myself becoming frustrated... Why?? Because everything was so pretty and perfect and although I was looking and looking ... I couldn't find anything that was unsightly or out of place... and it was annoying me! But... then that got me thinking... why was it so important to me to find a 'dark mark'? Why couldn't I just enjoy the untarnished environment, that is Montville? The answer... I don't know... ?? Maybe I have unlearned how to just stop and smell the roses? Maybe things appearing so perfect and unsullied just doesn't feel real to me? (The most out of place thing that I saw, was a loose paling on a fence... ha!) Regardless... it made me stop and appreciate what I WAS seeing... not what I couldn't... and that was a good thing.

17,952kms on the dash... 1,007kms down...

xo

Day 2... Eumundi

Day 2... Eumundi...

I had such a great day today!! :) The road was wet and the sky was grey... My favourite kind of weather..and I had the music blasting in my car with some of my favourite tunes... ahh! BLISS!!

Eumundi is just a short trip off the Bruce Highway... yet when I drove into town... I felt like I was a million miles away from the busy road. It was so peaceful. The main street was full of character... from it's local watering hole JOE'S to the splattering of art galleries and cafes...
 The locals were going about their usual business unaware that a very excite-able me had just arrived in town. I jumped out of my car and immediately started snapping away with my camera... so much to see... so many locals to make feel awkward with my over zealous photo taking! ha! One of the places I wanted to visit whilst in Eumundi was a chocolate factory that I had heard good things about... unfortunately when I reached the doors it had closed... for good. Darn! So I walked down some stairs into a little alley way of shops and stumbled across a real delight... FIONA'S FANCIES... a gorgeous little patisserie full of colour and texture and delicious aromas! The owner was behind the counter and graciously let me take some photos so that I could preserve my moment of glee! The food was delish! Absolutely the best chocolate mousse I have ever had... AMAZING!!! 

After leaving Fiona's Fancies... I jumped back in my car having decided that I wanted to explore the town outside the confines of the main street. I wanted to find something interesting and I didn't have to go far! I got about 200 meters off the main street and discovered what a appeared to be a vacant/abandoned lot... soooo... of course... I drove in. To my delight it was an old Butter Factory... ripped to pieces, burnt out and covered in graffiti... IT... WAS.... SPECTACULAR! What I liked about it was that it hinted at the dark side of the community... away from the comfort of the main street, away from what the local council wants Eumundi to be remembered for... was this eye sore... a scar on the face of the pretty streets... it was so REAL and TRUE. It made me think about humanity... and the humans that I love... Not unlike the town of Eumundi... People like to present themselves in their best light, show only the things that they think will help them to be liked and loved and even admired...which is fine of course... I mean, we all do it... but that is never the whole picture... every person has scars and flaws and bumps and blips and pain and, for me, it is those hidden parts of a person that make them interesting and unique and lovable. Just like finding the broken down Butter Factory (and marveling in it)... I look forward to finding out the deep, sometimes dark and hidden parts of the people in my life.... and loving them for it!

17,558kms on the dash... 613kms down...

xo

Day 1... Byron Bay

.... and so it begins! :)

 Day 1... Byron Bay... 16,945kms on the dash...

I started my day with the usual frantic 'get Immy to school on time' routine... always fun... HA! I then eagerly jumped in my car and started my drive to Byron Bay. I LOVE THIS STRETCH OF ROAD!!! It is so beautiful... the rolling green hills, the flat stretching valleys... the COWS! It served my soul well to witness so much beauty and peace... When I got into Byron Bay I immediately noticed the far reaching mix of people... hippies, surfers, the young and trendy, the old and wealthy, the transients, those there like me... just visiting for the day... I guess I would describe it like a LOST AND FOUND kinda town... I think people are drawn to the beauty and culture of Byron Bay... people who are searching for something... freedom, change, escape, new beginnings...(the lost)... People who know exactly what they are looking for... surf, culture, lifestyle, a home.... (the found)... I think Byron Bay attracts them all... and it inspires through the conflict of its tranquility, its hustle and bustle, rolling waves, green surrounds and urban tones... Overall I think it is a happy place, full of colour and light and excitement. I enjoyed my day trip to this stunning part of northern NSW... and I made it back in time to pick up my little darling from school... woot!

17,253kms on the dash... 313kms down..

xo