Down the coast looking for sunshine so we went into Yamba a beautiful little town at the mouth of the Clarence River.
The Clarence River is a huge river system that flows through Grafton and has many small islands, on one side of the mouth is Illuka with Yamba the other. This entrance also has a coast guard tower with warning on the dangers, because of the huge flow of water that goes out with the tide it causes very large pressure waves accross the entrance, coast guard recommends to go out on the incoming tide but they say if in doubt don't go out.
We went into town after setting up to see what is available then we went for a walk along the break wall which was approx 2 kms, we were half way along when one of the afternoon storms that we have been getting hit, it didn't rain so we kept going but the thunder and lightning really set in it was right overhead I decided it was time to sit down by a big rock for safety I didn't want to be a lightning rod on the wall, Merv kept going then the storm passed as quick as it came I rejoined Merv and continued walking to the end.
The water condition at the river mouth was pretty awesome, there was a big swell coming in with strong wind and the tide rushing out, I am not going out of that. We went back to camp the storm came again, it rained very heavy for most of the night.
Next morning it wasn't raining so we took the boat out in the river, we did see a photo of a flathead that was caught in the river that weighed 61/2 kg, they are dusky flathead apparently the biggest breed, but I also think that the big ones are few and far between, the size for them is 37cm and for whiting 27cm we caught an awful lot none of which were size Merv caught a small pink snapper and we got a couple of small cod, the estuary cod are protected in NSW. We got back to camp just before another storm, I am starting to miss the sunshine even when it's not raining there is heavy cloud and a lot of wind.
The rain had stopped by morning but the wind was still very strong so we decided to go into town up to the lighthouse lookout to see what the ocean looked like, while we were on top of the cliff we could see a swimming pool down near the beach by the surf lifesaving club, these are popular as you can swim in the saltwater without being in the ocean. There was a trail that led down around the cliff to a lookout area when we got to it we were both horrified, we saw why so many parents loose there sons young. There was a young guy approx 15 climbed down the cliff with another boy approx 12, the older boy walked back and forward then suddenly jumped into the water, the waves were huge and he was pushed up onto a rock ledge only to have another wave knock him over and drag him when he stood up when he did stand he dived back into another big wave coming in so he could be pushed around on the ledge, while doing this he was enticing the younger boy to join him, he did jump in, we didn't know if we should contact authorities as if they got into trouble there wasn't any way we could get to help. It wasn't long before another young guy approx 18 came up to us and ask us if they were our kids, he was also upset watching it, thn another boy approx came up to us and we watched as 3 more boys walked to the top of the cliff which was approx 10 metres, they jumped in to join the others all being washed about as though they were in a washing mashine, the last 3 were climbing another cliff only to have the waves wash them back in. The last boy that joined us said that they were his school freinds and they wanted him to join them but he wouldn't, he told us they do it every weekend, we had to walk away it made us feel physically sick watching wondering if someone would be mourning their child over Christmas. I think we often have to protect young men from themselves till they reach a reasonable age.
From there we went down to Angourie, once again beautiful beaches with one side protected from the wind and the other great waves. There are 2 holes that was made by removing stone to make the breakwater, 1 they call the blue hole the others the green hole, they are both very deep popular swimming holes that the locals climb up the rocks and jump in, the holes are right near the beach.
On the way back to camp we went to one of tbe many beaches Merv had a body surf I just cooled off a bit.
The wind was stronger this morning so we headed off to do a bit more exploring down to Broom Head via Maclean.
Maclean is a lovely little town set on the banks of the Clarence River, it has a big Scottish background and all the different tartans are painted up the bottom of power poles, they are all named and go up the pole for approx 180cm. The hotel has been well restored and looked after, the building is great and the atmosphere inside is even better.
We went out to Brooms Head and need I say it beaches that seem to go forever, we went up to a lookout so I could try to get a photo, the wind was blowing so hard I was trying to hold the camera steady and hold a railing so I wouldn't be blown away then my t-shirt got blown up around my neck, the wind had to be seen to be believed, Merv asked where the blue for the ocean was as it was all white, the waves were spectacular I never get sick of looking at the ocean when it is like that. We noticed that the people in the caravan park was having a hard time keeping things tied down, the parks were in the most fabulous locations.
While there we went down through the northern end of Yuraygir national park, there is camping allowed at the Sandon end but what we saw I would never stay there the place looked as though it was full of long term campers most of them looked ferral, the camp area was cramped and dirty it would appear a lot of people who go there are chasing the mud crabs. As we went back through the park we stopped off at another camp area it was near the beach on grass beautiful and clean and full of huge big kangaroos.
On the way back to camp we stopped at the Maclean Hotel had a couple of beers and their fish and chips for dinner.
The next day still wasn't the greatest so we decided to go to the town of Grafton. We caught the ferry across the river and went the back way through the hills. The country side up around Grafton is very pretty and the town itself is very nice, they have new shopping complexes and everything is neat and tidy, we drove around checking out the housing and the streets, which are lined with Jacaranda trees, South Grafton turned out to be the lower social economic side, very poor housing with nothing looked after, very old and dirty.
The weather was a bit better the next morning so we decided to go down to Minnie Waters and Wooli Wooli.
Once again the drive down was through lovely country, some of the most amazing pasture land with beautiful fat cattle. We went to Wooli Wooli first, they have a sizable river there with breakwater to get in and out but because of the bad weather we had been having it was pretty spectacular coming in there, we walked out to the end of the wall and watched dolphins playing in the waves, therenwas some people trying to fish with not a lot of success, there is also a big beach at Wooli Wooli. Just up the road is Minnie Waters a nice little town houses on the banks with veiws to die for, they have a natual lagoon that boats can be launched in when the weather is ok, great place to swim as well. We went for a walk along the beach to a headland and watched the nippers lifeguard training. After leaving the town we drove down tnrough the national park which had great camping areas and it surprised us that all the caravan parks were virtually full but the national park had heaps of space. There are some great areas in the national park with walks around beaches and headlands, there are some camp areas that you have to carry your gear quite a distance, designed for people who really want to be by themselves.
Yeah nice weather so we grab the canoes and hit the river, we were out approx 31/2 hours Merv caughr 2 flathead that we could keep so we headed back to have lunch and put the fish in the fridge. After lunch we took the boat out as the wind had come up a bit too much for the canoes with the boat we could go a bit further over the other side near Illuka. We were on a pretty fast drift but was being hit by small whiting constantly, it was frustrating trying to hook them, bite bite bite, I had large hooks on hoping to catch a flathead Merv had smaller hooks he caught quite a loti but they were all just undersized, I caught 1 and in the process broke the tip of my lightweight rod, I had a very small sinker but just striking at the whiting it snapped, it is the second one we have broken I reckon they are useless unless its for squid, no doubt they are made with the light tip to work plastic lures but what is the point if you get a decent fish on it would break anyway, I would never have another one.
We had a nice dinner of battered flathead.
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