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Up early, packed up damp, and got on the bikes at 7 and into town to Blueberries Smoothies and Health bar for coffee and breakfast before our 70ish mile ride to Ballina. Projected temps today were going to be in the 80s, so another reason to get out early. The coffee was a good start, and after a stop at the public restrooms on the way out, we bid Maclean “Taing” (Thanks) and “Slat gun robh ur dhiobrgainn” (Straight be your path)!
We followed the beautiful Clarence River again for about three miles and crossed over the river on an old drawbridge that was in the shadow of the M1 bridge right next to it, another 20′ further up. Great views down the river from our vantage point. It wasn’t long until we were back on the M1, where we stayed for the next 25 miles. At this point along the coast, there weren’t any roads through the national parks that dominate the areas near the coast — meaning, not developed and saved for recreation and natural habitats. Go Australia. Even if it meant a longer and not-so-scenic trip on the highway.
We stopped for lunch at a park in Broadwater where we hung the tent and fly out to dry and had a nice chat with some folks in a camper. Post lunch, we were following a river, this time the Richmond River for a good 8 miles passing by cane sugar fields (and one sugar cane processing plant) before the highway again became the only path north. We exited the highway at mile 55 and turned east to Ballina, a cool little coastal town with great bike paths.
We hung around Ballina a while, riding the paths, grabbing a couple of beers near the river, and walking the downtown streets and window shopping. Our hosts, Laurie & Kerry were about 10 miles north and we rode there mostly on paths through some very picturesque parks. There were also a lot of ups and downs on this route, and it took us a good hour to finally get to Laurie’s and Kerry’s. Laurie met us on the street and guided us in to a covered porch where we parked the bikes — then right inside to our room. After going upstairs to meet Kerry, they left us to get showers, and offered a load of laundry if needed (it was!).
Laurie and Kerry were both retired teachers, and Laurie was still occasionally working as a sub. Over a delicious dinner, we talked for hours about ours and their travels — they had spent months in India and in the indigenous areas of northern Australia teaching and touring, and, of course, the current state of world affairs. Another amazing Warmshowers experience.
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