Driving to Byron Bay

After the roach ordeal we are now somewhat paranoid about roaches.  We drove to Opal Cove resort (5 hours, Johan did it all) which did not have very good reviews on tripadvisor (thanks again trailfinders), but upon arriving it looked bigger and much better in the reception/restaurant area than our previous Ibis ordeal.  The room however was quite manky, being not too clean and the air con put white dusty stuff everywhere.  It also smelt as I imagine Faulty Towers would smell.  Anyhow, we gave it a chance and we quite happy until we saw a roach on the step on the way back from the restaurant through reception.  This of course set us into panic mode once again, although it was not in our room, so we decided we would try and sleep in the room with the light on.  This had limited success.

Johan drove another 3 hours this time to Byron Bay, to a hotel that had excellent reviews, specifically for being clean.  We were convinced there would be no roaches here as it is very very clean.  However, whilst watching the DVD last night Johan spotted one climbing up the wooden TV stand.  After some more spectacular roach tracking, Johan managed to get a bowl over the said roach.  We haven't seen any more yet.  We have come to the conclusion that it must have come out of Johan's bag of clothes that was sitting right next to where we found it.  This bag of clothes had been lying unzipped on the floor at the Ibis all night until we left, so we are horrified to think that it might have been in our bag all along.  And so the full effect of the awful Ibis continues!

Muchos windos!

There were numerous warnings about the various rip currents, you can see how choppy it is here from the brown colour in the waves.

The force of the waves was very impressive!

There was loads of sea scum... as Johan had the window down taking photos a MASSIVE bit of sea scum foam headed for his open window, most bounced of but this small amount tried to get him!

On a more positive note, the drive to Byron Bay was amazing, it rained A LOT the whole way, and has stormed and rained since we got here.  It looks like there should be some kind of cyclone, but there isn't.  I always thought England got a lot of rain, but we don't know what rain is back in the UK!  It rains so hard here that you end up with the visibility you get in really bad fog.  I guess they are similar to monsoon rains.  Very impressive...unless you get caught in them ;)

All the food we got from the supermarket.  Doesn't sound that fun, but when we've been away from home and cooking your own meals for a month, then the prospect of cooking and eating what you want is pleasing!!