Byron Bay
8/27/00
Sunday, 8:00 AM, DST
Cape Byron Lighthouse
That’s Daylight Savings Time. Lost an hour last night. And “Byron Bay” reads Oxford, OH and beach – Miami. Anyhow, I was up late, none of the coffee shops are open early, so let’s just get this started.
Ricky Martin
Where to begin? I sit now on the beach….. in a jacket and pants. Still cold. Went through a lot to get here. The train ride was uneventful and on time. I spent almost the entire time watching New South Wales go by the window. And the birds. Saw lots of new birds. Other sites: the Great Dividing Range (reminds me of Blue Ridge Mtns), banana plantations in Coffs Harbour, brush fires (well, smoldering), not one Asian on the train, cemeteries with large concrete slabs (?), and plenty of weirdos in my car. One woman was wearing a pink Barbie hat, leopard print coat, and doing some sort of punching-arm exercises. Another guy thought he was Ricky Martin and decided to share his voice and “moves” with the rest of us every now and again, and I had to listen to this stupid mystic-healer type most the way.
Oooh. My first male speedo sighting.
Well, the train rolled in at 8:00. I helped some girl get her bag to the street, then walked with mine to the Aquarius Backpackers. In a room with men and women, including Simon from the UK. Got a shower, had a couple beers at the on-site bar, got bored and went to eat. Had a crepe. I don’t know. I’m in hippie-ville. Afterwards I dropped into Colomangas. It’s a club right out of Oxford or another college town and into Byron.