Ballina here we are……

Left home yesterday at about 10am, leaving Leah and Corrie to baby sit the house and the dog.  There was a little traffic on the M1 but nothing that didn’t clear fairly quickly.

Stopped in at Brunswick Heads for a stroll and some lunch.  We checked out the caravan park where Greg and Jordan stayed at over the last holidays, there were no vacancies for these holidays, but we did a reccie for the Christmas break, and chose a site for our van and booked ourselves a week in December.

Onwards to Ballina and our cabin.  Very ‘cosy’ and oh so hot until we worked out how to operate the air-con! Just in time for Greg to watch the motor racing on the TV, Jordan to investigate his surroundings and me to take a nanny nap!  Ah, my idea of the perfect holiday.

Dinner was at one of the local fishing co-op’s, not the best we’ve eaten, but ok.  The potato scallops were very nice, although not at all what I was expecting as I had ordered crumbed calamari?

As we needed some tea, coffee, milk and cereal, we called in to the local supermarket. We now have all the food groups covered, soft drink, cashew nuts, chips, lollies, chocolates, biscuits and oh let’s not forget the tea, coffee, milk and cereal.

Today the local markets were being held, I do love a market!  We strolled around checking out the local produce, everything looked so fresh.  I tried my first cumquat, and found them to be delicious. The strawberries were perfect, large red and juicy. I even managed to find some affordable bananas.

It was time to eat again, and just in time I found the Fishmonger, where I bought 1/2 kg of King Prawns. Jordan and Greg opted for the Dutch Profitjes (mini pancakes), we sat in the shade to eat our lunch and watch the market parade.

  

Photographs courtesy of Jordan’s IPod, my camera battery was flat!

One of the stalls had a whole load of pre-loved baby clothes is perfect condition, and I found them irresistible, at just 20c an item.  Five little tops, six pair of shorts and a darling little dress!

Shortly after that we left, although I wasn’t able to leave behind my prawn smelling fingers…. thank goodness for wipes and hand sanitiser I had squirreled away in the console of the car! Although it took real soap and water to get the last vestiges from under my fingernails???Ewww! Well worth it though I have to say.

    

We then checked out the local sites, stopping to buy some fishing gear and bait. Jordan and Greg are now off looking for somewhere to scare the fish! I will join them later when it cools down a little. I’m waiting for my camera battery to recharge!

  

They had a successful afternoon, Jordan caught a reasonable sized flathead and a couple of little brim, Greg has some luck too but nothing big enough to cut up and eat.

I took a walk to the end of the rock wall and took a few photographs.

 

The surf beach on one side and the mouth of the Richmond River on the other.

 

This Water Dragon was catching the last few rays of the sun before it set for the evening.

This was the view from our side of the lake.

Thanks for visiting,

Julie xxx