Rainforest magic

November 6, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ 3 Comments

Would you love to walk down a rain forest path shaded by tree ferns and ancient antarctic beech trees? Follow a cascading mountain steam to uncover a myriad of unique waterfalls? Reach a lookout where you can see the forest meet the sea? If so, then the Tooloona Creek Circuit at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the Lamington National Park, is the walk for you!

IMG_20150929_102552 (1) — Water cascading over rocks near Elabana Falls

Although our family has visited the Lamington National Park regularly over the past 20 years, we had never undertaken this particular walk. I had huffed and puffed my way around the 11km Box Tree Circuit, dragged myself achingly, slowly, one step at a time up the mountain from Stairway Falls and nearly had a snake induced heart attack at Python Rock, but I had baulked at the 18 kms Toolona Creek Circuit! It’s not that I’m against exercise per se, but the thought of climbing 1000 metres from Elabana Falls to the ridge line, with a further 9 kms to walk home seemed, well, a trifle excessive.

But Kenn and I are off to the south island of New Zealand in December to walk the Queen Charlotte Track and I knew that some serious training was needed.

So armed with my shiny, new walking boots, I tackled this walk accompanied by Kenn, my daughter, Lyndsay and her fiance Reece. I’m great at walking down hills so the first six kms were easy, We cruised down to Elabana Falls passing beautiful stands of tree ferns and listening to birdsong. We stopped for morning tea at the aptly named Picnic rock and refreshed, were ready to tackle the Toolona Creek section of the walk.

IMG_20150929_115614 — Cascades running over river rocks

Initially, we followed the creek and were delighted by fern encrusted cascades of water rippling over mossy rocks. Then, a couple of creek crossings later, we started to climb. To my surprise, this was much easier than I thought it would be. The track was quite rocky and damp, so we had to be careful and go slow. This suited me perfectly. I certainly haven’t inherited any mountain goat genes!

Around every second bend we encountered a new part of the creek cascading down a unique waterfall. Each one was different, each one was lovely! We counted 17 different waterfalls in total along this section ranging from cascades to the spectacular Toolona Falls.

IMG_20150929_110845 — This is so pretty!

IMG_20150929_113335 — Like a veil, covering the rocks.

Tooloona Falls reworked by google photos! — Tooloona Falls. photo by me, reworked by google photos! Nice…I think.

Not only were the waterfalls wonderful but the rain forest itself was spectacular. Along this section there were ferny tree gardens growing in the canopy. But all good things come to an end and before we knew it we were on the Border Track.

Near to the intersection of the Tooloona Creek and Border tracks, there is a wonderful lookout with a spectacular view, where we stopped for a well earned lunch.

View from the Border track to Mount Warning and the Pacific Ocean.

Although we still had to walk 9 kms to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, this was quite easy as it was mainly downhill. About halfway home, we encountered the Antarctic Beeches. These are amazing trees, remnants of when Australia was part of Gondwana! This is a wonderful part of the rain forest, so dark and so deep. All too soon, we were back. Ready to enjoy Happy Hour and watch the sun set over the ranges.

The Toolona Creek circuit is located in the Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland, about two and a half hours drive from Byron Bay. We stayed at O’Reilly’s Guest House in a Rainforest Villa which was a wonderful experience in itself. We didn’t have time luxuriate in the Lost World Spa, one of the many amenities at the resort, but next time it’s definitely on our list of things to do. Maybe you would like to join us some time?

Lady Golfers Rule!

October 21, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

I’ve discovered that lady golfers, to quote Lady Macbeth, “are full of the milk of human kindness.”

Over the past year, my golfing journey has had many ups and downs. There have been many days when my body just didn’t want to do what I was telling it to do. I thought I was following instructions but discovered that what I thought I was doing and what I was actually doing were poles apart. I was standing too far or too close to the ball and as a consequence was aerating grass that really didn’t want to be aerated. My grip was wrong ( I realise now that I was holding it in a manner reminiscent of Barney Rubble) and unbeknownst to me, I lifted my head. To make matters worse, my feet were always pointing in the wrong direction (no wonder so many of my balls seemed to have a love connection with the trees) and my weight was too far on the back foot. (Just as well that there aren’t any rabbits on the course because I would have wiped them out with my ground hugging torpedoes.) As well, far too often, my swing was too fast or my follow through was on the nose, literally!

We're all getting closer to the pin! Yay! — We’re all getting closer to the pin! Yay!

But someone once said that the first thing golf teaches you is humility and that’s so true. But I’ve also discovered that it’s the empathy and encouragement that a beginner receives from lady golfers in particular, that gives them the patience to keep practicing, the will to keep on going.

Nicky keeping a watchful eye on us all as the storm clouds gather.

Our Golf Pro, Nicky Dickon never gets impatient, never seems to mind repetition and always finds something positive in your game. The lady members, go out of their way to welcome us and share ‘secret lady golfers’ business’ with us. My golfing group is always supportive, never noticing the bad shots and always praising the good ones. Their company, as we enjoy our coffee after our lesson, is always fun and adds a wonderful social dimension to my week.

IMG_20150818_115850 — Annie and I remembered to park down the bottom this time! The hill to the club house is very, very steep.

The first hole at Teven Golf Course. Annie and I had such fun! Lunch at Lennox was good too.

Because of their support, I have ventured onto other courses, notably Teven and Byron Bay and participated in my first invitational. There have been increasingly more days when I seem to be one with the ball. Days when my drive goes straight down the fairway and not into a hazard, my iron shots see some airtime and my chip shots land within coo-ee of a pin, welcoming in my ball with open arms. Par at last!

Chair Workshop for Cancer Research

September 1, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

Like so many, my life has been touched by Cancer. I lost my mother far too soon to the effects of Lung Cancer. I miss her. She never had the opportunity to see her grandchildren grow up, graduate from university, attend their weddings or hold a great-grandchild as her mother did. So, my sisters and I have always supported fundraising efforts for Cancer research. To that end, like many others I have sold raffle tickets, attended concerts, volunteered my services as a washer upper at various functions and cut up oodles of onions for a sausage sizzle. But never before have I participated in a Chair workshop in an effort to raise money for Cancer research!

Why now, you might ask? Well because this year, the Cancer Council decided to hold a fundraiser in Byron Bay entitled:

starsofbyronshire2015.everydayhero.com

My good friend Helen Jarvis landed the pole dancing gig. Together with her tutor Candace, she has been mastering a pole dancing routine to present on Saturday night. As well, Helen and the other contestants have been raising money with various endeavours. Candace offered to run an all girls chair workshop, donating the proceeds and the rest, as they say is history.

I was told to wear gym gear and bring high heels. I donned my yoga pants, an over sized tshirt and collected my only pair of high heels, if shoes with a 4cm heel can be described as high. My friend Neroli had also agreed to support Helen and together, we headed off to Circus Arts at the Industrial Estate at Byron. We didn’t know what to expect but vaguely thought that we would be prancing around a chair, striking a few poses, while we giggled at our foolishness. But it was so, so much more! We were learning a proper dance routine!

IMG_20150826_191047 — Helen and the class hard at work

Initially, we had to stand beside our chairs with one foot on the seat. Yay, my leg could stretch that far. We had to bend and stretch in a provocative manner, slapping and rolling our bottoms. Well, my bottom was in need of cellulite removal, so no problem, I slapped away enthusiastically. We had to balance on our knees on the chair before raising one leg towards the ceiling in an elegant manner and swishing our heads around. I tried to swish, got vertigo, wobbled and nearly fell off. But worse was to follow. The beautiful Candace demonstrated the chair straddle. And we too tried to straddle …

IMG_20150826_200851 — My legs only just made it over the chair. There was absolutely no chance of me being able to do the splits in this position. I was simply hanging onto the chair for dear life.

We also tried to drape ourselves side wise over the chair and complete fan kicks. I invented a new move: the hobble as the fan was beyond me. To make matters worse, my shimmy was more of a shammy. In truth, I only excelled at standing still beside the chair rocking from one leg to the other.

IMG_20150826_200937-001 — This was how the shimmy was supposed to be executed.

Finally, it was time to put our moves together in a routine…to music! The only thing I can say is, I know I’m not suffering from Dementia. I could remember all the moves; it was their execution that was problematical.

My preconceptions about this being an easy activity were shattered, It was the most challenging thing that I’ve attempted for a long time. Muscles I had been unaware of, made their presence known. However, it was a lot of fun. Neroli and I laughed and giggled heaps and would do it again maybe … for Cancer Research.

IMG_20150826_191435-002 — On the chair again! check out Candace and her workshops aat http://www.polecatz,com.au

Whale Mugging

August 18, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

In winter, as you walk around the lighthouse in Byron Bay, you can see Humpback whales on their annual migration to the Great Barrier Reef. From numerous vantage points, as you peruse the ocean, you may catch sight of these magnificent creatures spouting and occasionally breaching. Although it is always a thrill, indeed I feel cheated if I walk and don’t see any whales, I am always aware that I’m on the land and they’re in the sea, a long way away.

A WHALE OF A TIME BEGINS

I longed to get up close and personal, so last week, Kenn and I embarked on a whale watching trip to Hervey Bay, approximately 450 kms north of Byron Bay. We traveled mid week, hoping to avoid the crowds and chose to stay at the Mantra hotel located on the Boat harbour at Urangan. Our room came complete with a very comfortable king size bed, a spa bath and a balcony with a view over the harbour. Perfect spot for admiring sunrise and sunset.

Sunset over the Harbour — Definitely a room with a view.

Having settled in, we explored our surroundings. We confirmed our booking for our Whale Watch on Quick Cat II. We selected the Day Away for Early Birds tour which included a half day whale watching adventure and an afternoon at Kingfisher Bay on Fraser Island. That sorted, Kenn and I chilled out for a couple of hours before salivating over a sensational seafood dinner at La Baelana Cafe on the boardwalk, just a few steps from our hotel. The Hervey Bay prawns and scallops were better than a Masterchef finale. I would recommend booking, as this cafe is very popular.

WHALE MUGGING!

Friday morning dawned calm and clear: perfect conditions for whale watching. The Quick Cat II was underway promptly at 7am and breakfast, consisting of fresh fruit, cereals, pancakes and muffins, was served as we made our way past Fraser Island into the bay. Soon, we were in Whale territory. Several pods were steaming towards us. The captain cut the engines and the magic began as they swam up to our boat.

I couldn’t believe it, they were right there and I was so close I could see rainbows in the spray as they swam past. Then they dived under the ship to the other side, coming up to look at us. “They re mugging us,” the captain exclaimed. “They can see and hear us, so wave your arms and yell!” Obediently, we waved frantically, yelled and whistled.

coming up — Stand still, I’m taking a mug shot!

The whales must have liked our response for they kept us company for the next hour or so. The sunlight filtered through the water and cast shifting patterns on their bodies as they cruised beside us, just below the surface.

underwater 1 — I’m so cool, just drifting along

Then, when you least expected it, they would breach. The most spectacular breach was right in front of the boat, but I was so awestruck, that I forgot that I had a camera in my hand. Alas I only caught the after splash.

They frolicked the morning away, rolling over to show us their tummies,

swimming away only to return and begin their performance again.

I've got my after burners on — I’ve got my after burners on

But all wonderful experiences come to an end. The sun was directly overhead and it was time to return to the harbour. Our friends of the deep, waved us farewell.

Everyone was quiet as we cruised to Kingfisher Bay, where some of us were finishing the cruise. I think we were all savouring the moment. I overheard a little six year old poppet exclaim to her grandparents, “This has been the bestest day ever!” Yes, some dreams do come true.

Winter Walks in the Bay

July 19, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

Matilda making her first snowman in her Grandmother’s garden in Woodstock.

As the weather man predicted, much of Eastern Australia is in the grip of an Antarctic vortex. It has snowed in places where it hasn’t snowed for fifty years! My family and friends down south have posted instagram pics of gardens and paddocks adrift with snow. I peruse fine details. Are those Jenny’s sunglasses on that snowman, I wonder? Mmm, it has been too long since I played in the snow. I would love to be there with Jenny and Monique, sloshing around the garden in gumboots and thick socks helping little Matilda to build her first snowman and … landing a snowball or two on unsuspecting victims! It would be a perfect winter walk.

But envy isn’t good for the soul. And Winter brings its own marvels to Byron Bay. It is usually delightfully warm and sunny during the day, around 22 degrees Celsius, with low humidity. Perfect walking weather. When the winter tides move the sand back around The Pass, it is possible to walk from Main Beach to Little Wategoes along the sand. The sky is winter blue as Kenn and I stroll along Main Beach.

IMG_20140626_123928 — Main beach at low tide, heading for The Pass

Soon, we’re at The Pass. I can’t believe that there is so much sand. Not a rock in sight on the path.

Walking through the Pass, no rocks to stop me! — Walking through The Pass, no rocks to stop me!

Rounding the headland, we negotiate the inlets. Who doesn’t love to run around a rocky outcrop, beating the waves? Occasionally, our feet get wet.

IMG_20140626_125932 — Can I make it? Yes I can!

Then we’re at Wategoes Beach and the going is easy. Strolling past the Pandanus palms, I follow the curve of the beach around to Little Wategoes. There are more rock canyons to negotiate. We feel like explorers. There is no one else here except the starfish in the rock pools and the whales in the bay.

IMG_20140626_130128 — More rocks to negotiate.

We make it and there is a treat in store!

At the end of the beach, we watch as the ocean puts on a spectacular show. We are so lucky to be here, at this time, for free! We sink onto the sand and rest awhile. Before the tide changes, we make our way back to Main Beach where a perfect scene awaits.

This warm winter walk has been memorable. But I have a confession to make: right at this moment, I’d rather be a’snowing with little Matilda and Jenny in Woodstock.

Jenny and Matilda snow it up! — Jenny and Albie snow it up!

Yoga in the Bay

June 24, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

My view across the bay from the Beachside Yoga Studio — My view across the bay from the Beach side Yoga Studio

June 21st was extra special this year. Not only was it my birthday and the winter or summer solstice depending on whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere but it was also International Yoga Day.

Not so long ago, I looked in the mirror and saw one too many lumps and bumps. Gazing at my reflection, I found it difficult to visualise myself doing cartwheels in the sand, something that had seemed so easy when I was younger. So, I decided to give yoga a go, as I’d been reliably informed that if you want to improve your flexibility while strengthening and nurturing your body and mind, then yoga is the go.

But, I encountered a problem. What kind of yoga should I attempt? Here in Byron Bay, you can practise downward facing dog in various styles including Vinyasa, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Hatha Flow, Yin Yoga, Power flow, Purna and Bikram just to name a few. Now I know my limitations: didn’t want to break anything nor did the thought of sweating myself into the perfect body shape appeal. My friend, Annie came to my rescue. “Join me at Beachside Yoga,” she urged.

The Daily Bulletin at the Surf Club — The Daily Bulletin

I check it out. Two words stand out: slow and gentle. Then there is the location. The Beachside Yoga studio. is upstairs in the Byron Bay Surf Club and all equipment is supplied. I decide to give it a go. Classes are 90 mins long and the cost is $18 per class. There are regular specials so check out their website. http://www.beachsideyogaandmassage.com.au/

The teachers are great especially Grace Benn. Under her guidance, Annie and I have traveled some way along our yoga journey. The view of the ocean seems to illuminate our practice.

view through the window — Salute to the sun!

I have had found that the body awareness relaxation or shavasana really does make you feel relaxed and stress free. (I fallen asleep during shavasana – lavender eye pillows and a soothing voice can have that effect. I only hope that I haven’t snored!) Afterwards, I seem to float my way to coffee at a nearby cafe.

Fishheads Cafe, just a stones throw away from the surf club

My yoga class has become a weekly ritual. I hate to miss a class! Have you given Yoga a go? If so, what has been your experience? I would love to hear from you.

Red Centre Treks

May 24, 2015April 29, 2018 ~ margaretsealey ~ 4 Comments

Nature’s big things are truly impressive. For instance, when my sister Jenny and I flew over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, we were struck by its enormous scale: Deep, long and rugged, it was surrounded by beige desert so different from the colours in Australia. It was awe inspiring but somehow remote. We were only able to get up close and personal with the canyon when we landed halfway down on a rocky outcrop. We admired the view, stretched our legs and scoffed a champagne lunch. It was an unforgettable, exciting experience, after all you don’t get to ride in a helicopter or a limousine every day. But, there wasn’t time to immerse ourselves in the colours, textures, scents and spiritual history of the the canyon itself. This is not the case when you visit Uluru, Kata Tjuta and King’s Canyon in the Red Centre. There your senses are saturated as you trek, stroll or saunter along paths that have that have been part of Aboriginal Dreaming for thousands of years.

All of the walks are around 10 kms in length, vary in difficulty and take a few hours to complete. I undertook these walks with my husband, Kenn and friends, Helen and Phil. Although capable of setting new land speed records and clambering up cliffs like mountain goats, these three intrepid trekkers slowed their pace to accommodate my more slothful saunter. I suspect the thought of having to carry me back to base, a victim of exhaustion or a premature heart attack might have been part of their motivation.

Our first walk was around the base of Uluru, the biggest monolith on Earth. It dominates the flat expanse of the desert for as far as the eye can see.

walk 2 — Setting a cracking pace. Sunset is not far off.

The path is well marked and the rock is there beside you, revealing different faces as the light moves.

I was surprised by the amount of vegetation and the sense of mystery you feel in the shadows.

We completed this relatively easy walk with enough time to get to the sunset viewing area. Nature puts on the most amazing light show as the rock lights up and the sky is smudged with many of the colours of the rainbow.

IMG_20150427_182154 — Smudgy colours soften the rock

Our second walk was far more challenging. We hired a 4WD and drove 300 kms to King’s Canyon. What I didn’t realise, until I reached the starting point of the walk, was that you have to climb 500 steps up a cliff face to begin!

Kenn appointed himself as my personal water boy and with his help I made it. This was definitely the hardest part of the walk. The views from the canyon’s rim were amazing and almost made the memory of the 500 steps melt away. Almost ..

We clambered over rock platforms and negotiated bridges onto sandstone spurs.

And … hidden away deep within the canyon was ‘The Garden of Eden’.

This place is significant for the Aboriginal people and it was easy to see why. In the midst of so much dryness, hidden from the unrelenting sun, the water is cool, sheltered by ferns and palms. It is very quiet there. Like all who went before us, we were refreshed and restored and finished this walk on a high.

Our third walk was also challenging and in my opinion, the most rewarding of all. This was the ‘Valley of the Winds’ at Kata Tjuta or the Olgas. We decided to do the whole walk, which is a loop, but you can do shorter sections if you wish. It’s only about 50 kms from Yulara, the Uluru township. The first part of the walk from the car park to the base of the Olgas is quite long and for a time, you could easily imagine that you were walking on the moon.

olga 2 — Kenn striding out in the moonscape

But then you turn a corner and find yourself walking in between the beehive domes of sandstone that are the Olgas. The wind whistles around you, an unusual experience as usually it is really quiet out here. In places there is enough water to support vegetation; we walked through a lovely avenue of ghost gums.

Winding in and out of the domes, down and up rock faces, we reached the lookout. Again, like everywhere around Uluru, there was an amazing vista.

We scrambled down a steep incline. It was at this point that I started having a few worries. It was so steep that I negotiated most of it on my bottom. As I was sliding from rock to rock, getting rid of my cellulite, I started thinking about how I was going to climb back up! It would be a tough ask at the end of a long walk. I felt totally knackered just thinking about it. But we had come so far! At the bottom we found ourselves inhaling the scents of the savanna surrounding the Olgas, that unforgettable, eucalyptus smell of the Australian bush. Tramping through mulga, spinifex and assorted grasslands we had wonderful views both of the desert stretching away in one direction and the Olgas standing guard in another.

panorama — View from the Savanna of the Olgas.

We didn’t have to retrace our steps. I was saved from the slippery cliff of hell. A relatively gentle climb found us back among the Olgas via a different route and eventually we made our way to the car park.

All the walks were special and were, for me, the most memorable part of my visit to Uluru. It is a very personal way to connect with this ancient landscape and its dreaming.

If you haven’t visited Uluru yet, I hope you are able to soon. It really is a very, very special part of the world.

One Hump or Two?

May 4, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ 4 Comments

Camels are big! Really big! I didn’t appreciate their size until we signed up for a morning camel ride in the shadow of the Rock. Upon arrival at the camel farm, I spied our beasts, sitting in a row, elegantly attired in colorful Afghan saddles.

Even sitting on the ground, they came up to my waist. Mounting the camel was to prove a challenge. I had to sit on the front side of the hump as Kenn, being heavier, had to take the rear seat. But how to get into the saddle? My leg just didn’t want to go up and over. I’ve never been very good at Can Can high kicks. I can’t do the splits either. I was also worried that my leg could connect the head of the beast in the attempt. As if it could read my thoughts, my camel turned its massive head and gave me a penetrating stare and a warning snort: I froze. Everyone waited. Eventually, the cameleer came to my rescue and gave me a hoist up. But worse was to come. Camels don’t get up evenly on all four legs. They straighten their rear legs first, then unfurl their front legs. At one point, you are perched in the saddle almost perpendicular to the ground. “You have to lean back and hang on as your camel gets up,” we were told. And lean I did. My lean would have made a bare back rodeo rider proud!

Soon, we were off on our ride through the red dirt. We kept up a sedate pace and all adjusted easily to the swaying gait of our ‘ships of the desert’. There were no dashes across the sand hills reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia but lots of interesting information about camels and our surroundings was imparted by our charming guides. For example, did you know that all camels think about, is food: finding food, eating food and bringing up food from one stomach to another. A highlight of the ride was the view from the sand hill. We could see both Uluru and Kata Tjuta!

Back at the farm, we explored an interesting collection of pioneer coaches and paraphernalia. There was an especially cute baby camel that had been abandoned in the desert and hand raised on the farm. Just had to say hello.

It was a great way to spend a morning. That afternoon, a close encounter with Uluru awaited. Will share it with you next time. Rock on!

‘Glamping’ in Evans Head

April 11, 2015March 27, 2018 ~ margaretsealey ~ 3 Comments

I am a relative newcomer to ‘Glamping’. Until recently, my camping experiences involved a tent, an airbed that hopefully would stay inflated and a sleeping bag. There were minimal extras: a little two burner stove, a gas lantern and a camping table. A lot of baked beans and tinned spaghetti was consumed. I have no champagne memories! But on a recent camping trip to Evans Head, my eyes were opened to a whole new world of camping realities, the world of ‘glamping’

Evans Head is only about 45 mins away from Byron Bay. The group we joined for a long weekend were seasoned glampers. We had waterfront sites at the Silver Sands Caravan Park and soon, remarkable hand crafted camper trailers were being unloaded, tents and tarps erected and kayaks and professional looking fishing gear stowed away.

campground by the river — Waterfront sites on the river at Evans

There was so much to explore and experience. First of all, we had to explore the track along the river, to the breakwater and the beach and test out the surf. The water was clear and very warm for this time of year.

Soon, it was time for Happy Hour and a gourmet barbecue as we watched the tide run out on the river and the pelicans playing. Next morning, I was up early enough to catch the sunrise. I didn’t have to forego my beauty sleep as daylight saving hadn’t ended and the sun was kindly rising at 7 am. The sun peeked through the clouds and then burst over the ocean in amazing colours!

Walking back to camp, I noticed that the riverside cafe was open. No need to forego creature comforts while glamping. I thought, as I appreciatively sipped a large takeaway cappuccino.

Later that day we tested out the 4WD on the sand. You can drive north along the beach for quite a few kms and you don’t need a permit to do so. It’s just you, the sea, the sand and the seagulls and pelicans. Oh and the occasional horse and rider.

We also explored the beautiful Chinaman’s Beach which is a little to the south of our campsite on the other side of the river. The beach is perfectly unspoiled and is fringed with amazing aubergine coloured rocks, tangerine, brown and cream striped cliffs and amazing rock pools. I love climbing over and through rock pools. It’s like there a new world just waiting to be discovered by you. What a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours!

Back at camp, the troops had been busy. A visit to the fishing co-op and Tiger Prawns were on the menu. My baked bean days were over!.

And so the weekend continued. The Kayakers ventured upstream, circumnavigated a small island and let the current bring them back to camp. The fishermen had some success in the surf gutters. Blessed with perfect sunny weather and balmy nights, we swam, ate, walked, ate, fished, ate and drank a …a little. What’s a bottle or two of Pinot Grigio between friends? And I took the time to catch up on some reading and day dream about the next glamping adventure.

Coffee Golf

April 7, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ 1 Comment

Secretly, for years, I have had a vision of myself as a lady golfer. Not the Kari Webb sort of golfer but the casual, carefree sort of golfer who happily swings away down a tree lined fairway, greets the local wildlife as they leisurely stroll by and tests their putt putt skills in the real world. A golfer who plays consistently enough not to feel intimidated in the presence of those who can really whack the ball and speak knowingly of hazards and back swings. But alas, while I was working, the vision never materialised, indeed at times it vaporised! While time always posed a problem: there was never a spare weekday morning where I could attempt to make my vision a reality, there was also my inner acknowledgement of my limited athletic ability. Although my legs and arms do work, my early experiences on the hockey field had left a dent in my self confidence – I vividly remember running for my life, as a mad teammate, hockey stick raised above her head, chased after me just because I had messed up her goal. Abandoning sport, I turned to the arts. However, even here my coordination was suss. My attempts at ballet resulted in a rendition of the Dance of the Dying Duck not Swan Lake

So, as you can imagine, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to join my friend Annie and participate in a beginners’ golf course. There we met our instructor, Nicole Dicken or Nicky to her friends. Nicky is a AAA rated coach but more importantly, she has the ability to see and appreciate the sometimes small improvements you are making and instill belief. Belief that you will improve, that you are a valuable member of the group and that Golf is a game that should be fun. Annie and I were hooked and we graduated to ‘Coffee Golf’.

Nicky runs a clinic most Tuesday mornings at Mullumbimby Golf Course and all are welcome. Just contact the Golf Club on 0266842273 for further details.

There, in a group setting, under her watchful eye, we practice hitting targets using different clubs, chipping and putting.

After slogging for an hour, we return to the club house for coffee. There, overlooking the garden, we relax and regroup.

Cannas in the garden leading to the 10th hole. — Canna lillies in the garden leading to the 10th hole.

Refreshed, it’s time for our game. We could play up to nine but usually call it a day after about five. There are many laughs, groans and mini triumphs as we make our way around the course. I take pleasure in little things – a drive off the tee that doesn’t hit the hazard or the trees, landing on the edge of the bunker and not in it, being able to spot my ball in the murky waters of the ponds and making a putt from the edge of the green. I tell myself., like Toad in Wind in the Willows, that,’ it’s all fun and excitement.’

A wonderful morning spent, Annie and I make our way home to Byron and dream of golfing adventures to come. Playing Teven, Byron, Ballina …. Augusta?