Day 24 Byron Bay

When: Day 24 Byron Bay

 

Where: Byron Bay NSW

 

Weather: partly sunny, 20c. Breezy

 

What: beach day and walking.

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: Rock Ferry Sauvignon Blanc 2012

 

Whine: far too windy at the beach. Had to leave early.

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: following the signs to walk to the lighthouse took us in circles. We never did find our way. Tomorrow we'll try driving.

 

Wild: the artisan market. They had a full on 'drum in'. Drumming, dancing like it was the sixties.

 

Wildlife: this bird:

 

 

Water: Kings Beach. My recollection of Kings Beach from the last time I was there (1996) was that it was the most beautiful beach I'd ever been to in my life. Current reality isn't quite the same. Although it is really beautiful, I can imagine other beaches that are even more pretty. See what you think:

 

 

 

 

 

Wonderful: Brent is now completely enamoured with Byron.

 

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Day 23 Byron Bay

When: Day 23 Byron Bay

 

Where: Byron Bay, NSW

 

Weather: big thunderstorm last night. Mostly steady rain this morning. Cloudy and about 20c this afternoon. The first day of rain on the holiday.

 

What: Not much. Lazing around. Scoped out where the good beaches are. Did a bit of shopping.

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: Scrubby Rise Shiraz Cabernet Petit Verdot from Wirra Wirra in McLaren Vale, SA

 

Whine: the signal is so weak that we can only get internet in the living room and not out on the deck!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: I think Ogopogo escaped from the Okanagan!

 

 

Wild: within 30 min of the rain stopping, the sand on the beach is already dry.

 

Wildlife: a long nosed strange looking white water bird. He got away before I could take a pic.

 

Water: rain and lots of it.

 

Wonderful: Schoolies appears to be over. And the rain overnight kept the party noises to a minimum.

 

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Day 21 Noosa and Byron Bay

When: day 21 Noosa and Byron Bay

 

Where: Noosa, Queensland and Byron Bay, NSW

 

Weather: sunny and warm in Noosa. 26c in the morning. 35c inland. About 25c in Byron and Cloudy and muggy

 

What: travel day to Byron. About 3.5 hour drive thru Brisbane

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: Train Trak Pinot Noir 2011

 

Whine: we have to cross a street to get to the beach

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: discovered this morning that a 26 hand is not possible in cribbage. I thought only a 19 hand was impossible. John W pointed out this fact to me. So my cribbage hand was only 24, not 26. Brent figured if I had counted right, he'd have won the game. This despite the fact that I nearly skunked him. FYI, and again thanks to John, 25 and 27 are also not possible.

 

Wild: to get out of Noosa and to the freeway, we had to cross 12 roundabouts (yes, we counted). I did it cooly and calmly and without incident. I think I should get honorary citizenship now.

 

Wildlife: Schoolies. Bad timing. This is the time of year when students graduate from high school. The flock to Gold Coast and Byron Bay to party. The town is packed. And loud.

 

Water: The Bay at Byron! Here's our view. The picture does not do it justice.

 

 

Wonderful: the hotel. The nicest place we've stayed thus far. And there's a plunge pool!

 

 

 

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Day 21 Noosa

When: Day 21 Noosa

 

Where: Noosa, Queensland

 

Weather: 27c and gorgeous

 

What: beach day. Last full day in Noosa

 

Who: me, Brent, two Americans from Florida, and a flight attendant from Switzerland.

 

Wine: Demeter Robinvale Wines, Madeline Elizabeth Rose Family Series 2007 Reserve Shiraz.

 

Whine: had to walk an extra 3 min because I couldn't find parking closer to the beach.

 

Winery: none(maybe I should remove this category?)

 

Wtf: dying bird on the beach. Sad to see it suffer.

 

Wild: got a 26 hand in cribbage. My highest ever.

 

Wildlife: bush turkey

 

 

Water: Alexandria bay

 

Wonderful: my scratched cornea seems to have completely healed.

 

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Day 20 Noosa

When: Day 20 Noosa

 

Where: Noosa, Queensland

 

Weather: sunny 26 and gorgeous

 

What: beach day

 

Who: me and Brent

 

Wine: psyche smuggler petit Verdot from chateau Mildura

 

Whine: got something in my eye yesterday and have a scratched cornea (thanks for the diagnosis Jill). It's scratchy like crazy but not infected. Hope it heals up fast.

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: part 2 of the dead birds at the beach. We heard from a local what's going on. Apparently, these are migratory birds that come in from Asia. They have a long journey so they stop to rest and refeed on an island off the coast of Queensland. This island has been fully developed and the birds' habitat has been destroyed. So they no longer stop there and just get tuckered out before they reach their nesting grounds. This year was worse because they faced unusually strong headwinds which tired them out even more. They get to Noosa at the beach and die.

Goes to show that Australia can screw up the environment as well as Canada.

 

Wild: waves at the beach!

 

 

 

Wildlife: I saw a lot of these at the beach. They look like slices of cucumber. They are a hard shell and most have a spike at the end. I have no idea if they're alive or not.

 

 

Water: Alexandria Bay

 

Wonderful: just 3 days in the sun and my farmers tan is all gone!

 

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Day 19 Noosa

When: Day 19 Noosa

 

Where: Noosa, Queensland

 

Weather: partly cloudy, cooler, 25c, windy

 

What: beach then poolside

 

Who: me, Brent and Leo and Linda

 

Wine: Te Whare Ra, Truro, White Blend

 

Whine: we're covered in sand at the beach because it's too windy!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: I'm trying to upload a video. So far, I can't figure out how to do it on my iPad.

 

Wild: there were little crabs making patterns in the sand. But is it art?

 

 

Wildlife: a pelican sitting on a lamppost.

 

Water: Alexandria Beach

 

 

Wonderful: we got fresh farm eggs from Linda at the front desk. The cook in the restaurant made us eggs Benedict with them! They were awesome.

 

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Day 18 Noosa

When: day 18 Noosa

 

Where: Noosa, Queensland

 

Weather: sunny and gorgeous, 26c

 

What: beach!

 

Who: me and Brent

 

Wine: Saltram Sauvignon Blanc from the Yarra Valley. We had it on the beach!

 

Whine: Brent: how much further is it to the beach (after walking 20 min on the trail). dan: bloody sand sticks everywhere!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: there were at least 10 dead birds on the beach. No idea what's killing them.

 

Wild: there are very many young, hot mums and dads. They're beautiful!

 

Wildlife: surfer dudes everywhere!

 

Water: Alexandria bay!

 

Wonderful: Alexandria bay!

 

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Day 17 Auckland and Noosa

When: Day 17 Auckland and Noosa

 

Where: Auckland, New Zealand and Noosa Heads, Queensland

 

Weather: Auckland sunny and 18c. Noosa, cloudyish and 32c!

 

What: travel day from NZ back to Oz

 

Who: me, Brent

 

Wine: Kim Crawford, Small Parcels, Sauvignon Blanc, 2013

 

Whine: How many frikken roundabouts are there in this town?

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: this is an actual bar in Auckland. Note the name.

 

 

Wild: we stood in a queue for an hour at customs in Brisbane. And then neither of us were even asked where we were going!

 

Wildlife: Bush Turkey. Hope to eat one before we go.

 

Water: Main beach at Noosa. The sand is beautiful.

 

 

Wonderful: the view of Auckland at night (thanks Max and John for taking us there!)

 

 

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Day 16 Auckland

When: day 16 Auckland

 

Where: Blenheim then Auckland

 

Weather: Blenheim was cloudy then clearing. Auckland was sunny and 25c with an ocean breeze.

 

What: travel day to Auckland

 

Who: me, Brent, old friend Max and new friend John.

 

Wine: Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2012 After finding out that Kim Crawford sold out to a huge American conglomerate, Brent decided to research if Kim is still producing wine. Brent found an email address, contacted him, and they told us where to buy his new, experimental wines. This is one of them, and it's lovely!

 

Whine: the 1st or 3rd game is just as depressing in New Zealand as in Canada.

 

Winery: none today

 

Wtf: Santa Claus is just as commercial here.

 

 

Bonus WTF: Justin Bieber is performing in Auckland tonight. Two teenaged girls told us we were sooooooooo lucky to be Canadian!

 

Wild: these girls crawled around on all fours and barked while Maori drummers drummed. And they weren't wearing underwear.

 

 

Wildlife: just one of the rare down under loons. Or some other waterfowl.

 

 

Water: Auckland Harbour.

 

 

 

Wonderful: tattoo culture is fully a part of kiwi culture. Awesome.

 

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Day 16 Blenheim

When: Day 16 Blenheim

Where: Blenheim, South Island, New Zealand

Weather: cloudy and cool, 18c, but no rain

What: Last day of wine touring

Who: just us

Wine: 100% Organic and sustainable winery Seresin Pinot Noir 2010

Whine: Brent: I'm not drinking any more wine (after this glass of Pinot)

Winery: Te Whare Ra, Seresin, Fromm, Rocky Ferry. We went by Cloudy Bay and Wither Hills but decided they were too big.

Wtf: A couple from Switzerland decided to rent a 16 passenger bus to get around. Just the two of them.

Wild: The road to White's Bay was crazy curvy.

Wildlife: We don't ask sheep, we tell them. Sheep are stupid!

 

And a seagull

 

Water: Cloudy Bay

 

Wonderful: Vineyards by Cloudy Bay and the Marlborough Valley

 

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Day 15 Blenheim, NZ

When: Day 15 Blenheim

 

Where: Blenheim, Marlborough Valley, South Island, New Zealand

 

Weather: cloudy and drizzle in Auckland, sunny and warm in Blenheim. About 28c

 

What: travel day from Auckland to Marlborough Valley

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: Kim Crawford SP Sauvignon Blanc 2012

 

Whine: Kim Crawford was taken over by Drylands Winery. It's just a brand now.

 

Winery: Drylands Winery

 

Wtf: wtf? I can't think of a single thing. I also don't have a decent pic today.

 

Wild: I think the effect of too much sleep is catching up to me!

 

Wildlife: none

 

Water: the fjords around the South Island. Amazing!

 

Wonderful: the Marlborough Valley. Beautiful.

 

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Day 14 Melbourne and Aucklan

When: day 14 Melbourne and Auckland

 

Where: Auckland Airport

 

Weather: Melbourne: cloudy and cool. Auckland: partly cloudy and nice

 

What: travelling day from Melbourne to Auckland on Air New Zealand. Bloody lovely airline with great food.

 

Who: me and Brent.

 

Wine: Sauvignon Blanc! Rebecca, you'd have loved it!

 

Whine: Internet costs $22 at the Novotel Auckland airport!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: hook turns in Melbourne!

 

Wild: seeing all the A380s at the Melbourne Airport

 

Wildlife: none

 

Water: Tasman Sea.

 

Wonderful: customs was a breeze in New Zealand.

 

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Day 13 Melbourne

When: Day 13 Melbourne

Where: Melbourne and St Kilda Beach

Weather: sunny and warm then cloudy and cool

What: just a walking day. Around downtown and the beach

Who: me, Brent and we met Peter for lunch

Wine: Yulumba Botrytis affected Viognier. Thanks Andrew! (You'd love it Lia)

Whine: Brent: "there are too many shells on this beach. They hurt my feet!" I just wore my sandals.

Winery: none.

Wtf: they look a bit like Kinsey, but Kinsey has better fashion sense.

Wild: the temperature dropped from 31c at 3pm to about 21c by 3:30!

Wildlife: just these two guys at the beach

Water: St Kilda Beach

Wonderful: the breeze off the ocean (when it was 31c)

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Day 12 Melbourne

When: day 12 Melbourne

Where: Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and Sunnyside Beach

Weather: stunningly gorgeous. 28c, sunny and calm

What: wine tour and beach day

Who: me and Brent

Wine: Cape Schanck Pinot Grigio 2012

Whine: a bit of a sunburn. Both of us.

Winery: Tallant Winery and Pennon Hill winery

Wtf: the streets leading out of Melbourne are a cluster copulation of anarchy! And bloody hook-turns!

Wild: freeways in Melbourne have individual speed limits for each lane.

Wildlife: two squashed lizards near the beach

Water: Sunnyside Beach! The water was perfectly clear and calm. A bit cool, but not nearly as cold as Wreck.

Wonderful: Mornington Peninsula. Beautiful.

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