Day 256 - Sunday 10 September - Enjoying Ballina

Day 256

Sunday

10 September 2017 – Began “The Miniaturist” by Jessie Burton.  I am intrigued by this book set in Amsterdam in the 1600’s. I am expecting a good read woven through character interaction and relationships.

Well done to the West Coast Eagles, by all accounts a terrific win and one of those finals matches that will go down in the history books.

Ballina

We were super lazy this morning, waking just after 7am and reading before I put my book away and continued to snooze. I woke again just after 9am knowing it was time to get out and moving. 

We pottered about completing our morning routine before finally being organised enough to get out amongst it. We walked out to the groin where Paul checked the status of fishing within the lake. Satisfied the big fish were still swimming about, we returned to the van, packed the car with the fishing gear and then returned to the closest car park where we unloaded the rods and walked back to the “spot”. 

I watched Paul scale the three-wire fence and slide down the steep bank to his chosen spot. The fish were quite easy to spot from this higher vantage point and Paul began casting his bait in amongst them. 

I left him to it for a bit, walking to the end of the groin to watch the agitated surf roll in, crashing with ferocity against the rocks and throwing white spray into the air. It was not surprising that there were no dolphins to be spotted today.

I returned to Paul, who had had no success with the big fish and was happy to pack it in and return to the van. We made up lunch and ate before heading out again. This time it was off for more beer. We passed the Rugby oval where hundreds of cars were parked up ready for the grand final between Ballina and another team.

After completing our shopping, we returned towards the van, but continued on to the surf club on the hill where we stopped to take in the view back over the churning waters of the beach. We walked along the beachside footpath passing an interesting looking house that made us raise our eyebrows. 

As we made our way back to the car, Brad rang and we had a chat as he pretended he was busy at work. The line wasn’t the best and eventually dropped out.  Once we were home in the van, we were able to continue the conversation.

I added some more of the beer reviews to the website before we gathered the fishing gear together once again and took off to sit in the afternoon sun and enjoy the blues music that was being pumped out across the lake from the beer garden. It was the perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday arvo. 

I rang Mum to see how she was doing and get the latest update on Yogi Bear. Hard to believe Dad will be home on Tuesday and would be heading to Heathrow today for his flight.

I continued to watch Paul cast his line. He brought a small bream that brought in a hungry pelican, but Paul wasn’t offering anything up to it. It hung around for the rest of the afternoon hopeful. 

The sun set leaving a lovely orange glow to the skyline, but once it disappeared it got cold and I returned to the van to begin dinner. Paul returned soon after and we completed the prep before sitting down to our oyster and prawn feast.

I continued to add beer reviews online, before going through the photos for the day and adding everything on line, so thankful for decent net coverage. Once I was all done, I joined Paul in bed to read before calling it a night.