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I ended up having the worst night sleep ever; I didn't drop off till about 12 after having to move the car, then at 3:30am the lorry I had hid behind drove off waking me up, then just incase the local wasn't lying to me (and I can't afford the $100 fine) I got up and moved off at 5:30am to avoid the rangers.
I went down to the beach carpark at the lifesaving club at the front, so I could check the surf and decide what to do today. Simularly to yesterday the surf was tidy and small, although marginally bigger than the day before, so I may get a wave later. Also having looked at the forecast with one of the blokes last night, there is a 90% chance it will rain today, so we'll see.
I went back up the beach to the quiet little car I had been the day before, and was surprised to find 4 guys out surfing. It was about 2ft and just a barrelling shore break, but I just wanted to get in the water. I surfed for about an hour, but it just got progressively smaller so in the end I had to get out.
By then the weather has really cleared up and was bright sunshine, and surprisingly warm for about 9am. I lead on the beach reading my book till what felt like mid afternoon, but was actually only lunch time.
This book I am reading now is based in Mauritius, and it mentions some of the places we went on holiday. Although it is fictional, it's quite cool to read about them talking about places we went on holiday!
I chatted for a couple of locals for about half an hour, finding out a bit about the area. One thing they told me didn't seem to phase them, but I found quite unnerving; about 3/4km up the other end of beach I was surfing was actually a 'White Pointer's' breeding ground!
Despite l my newly discovered beach info I went for another short surf later than afternoon, but stuck near 2 other blokes and found myself checking around me a lot.
About 3pm I decided to make a move south, as the surf wouldn't be any better there tomorrow. I drove past all the coal processing area on the Newcastle River (they were coal tankers I had watched not oil) where they fill the ships up, before sending them off to China. Then I crossed the river into the main city.
Despite being regarded as a 'big city', I don't think it is actually much bigger than Swindon ( but could be wrong)! I checked out the 2 main town beaches, which were nice but had nothing on Boomerang etc where I had come from up the coast. There wasn't much surf there either really, so Havnt taken some photos I went on down the coast.
Having dropped into a Macca's I came across I then went down to 'Redhead beach', and crickey was I surprised by the surf! At the north end shielded by the headland it was 3ft+, and really peaky waves just barrelling along the sandbank. I will be down here again first thing tomorrow after where ever I stay tonight, hopefully it'll be just as good then!
For dinner I had a combination of the best, and worst, food I've had since being on the road. For 'starters' I had the 2 Flathead fillets one of the guys gave me last night. Although only fried with oil and absolutely nothing else (none to had funnily enough..) it was really really nice. I then had a can of 'Steak and Onion' stew/soup(?), I bought for when I really couldn't be bothered to make an effort...or simply ran out, like today. Now I'm travelling and eating people simple food, and am certainly not being picky. However this can of awfulness managed to both be tasteless and horrible at once. Quite an achievement I thought. To make matters worse I felt compelled to eat every last bit, as 1) I was starving and 2) anything I didn't eat caused more washing up!
After dinner I just wrote this blog while watching the still really good surf, and even better kids ripping it to pieces. Soon I'll have to go and find somewhere discrete to hide for the night, before hopefully a good surf tomorrow!
(Photo - Stockton Beach where I surfed this morning.)
P.s. a bit of minor bad news car wise - the hinge thing (technical term of course) which allows the drivers door to open and hold in different positions broke, and I had to unbolt it to be able to close the door. Not a disaster, but I'll definitely have to be careful opening it next to other cards and in the wind from now on..)
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