Cotton Tree - Dawn

Well all things even out over time. Pottsville to Cotton Tree about 250km, lifted my daily average.

Don't know what I was thinking leaving Pottsville at first light to be just in time to catch the peak into Brisbane. Stopped at Beerwah SG dump point as Dora needed to go. Then on to Cotton Tree. Unloaded what needed to be unloaded and off to Diddillibah and a 10km bike ride back again.

Plenty of photographic opportunities here. Out walking early this morning and snapped this with my Samsung Note 4. As well as everything else you get an amazing camera, nice. Tempted MGB?

click the image to enlarge

Maroochydore surf beach on a quiet early morning.
No surf today. Good day to get a tradie in?

Northward - Ballina and Burringbar.

Now heading north, back to Qld, things to do. Things backing up. Commitments *spit*

Along the way I could not resist the opportunity and stopped some more nights in Ballina. The town is up there with the best when it comes to walking and riding paths of any in Oz. As far as commerce, all the big chain and franchised stores are represented as well.

This time I chose to stay at Shaws Bay, East Ballina, just across the bridge and still on the Richmond River. Quiet and a little bit farther from the CBD. But that's what legs are for. Right?

More north driving and checked out Burringbar. Considered free camping for the night but there was no breeze and it was hot and sticky. Now I'm complaining about no wind, I hear you say? Burringbar its a nice camp spot. Right in the middle of town but also off the road and quiet. Ticked it as a favourite but drove on to Pottsville for the night.

Damn very windy here, but cooler.

Early morning Richmond river Ballina.

Bike paths Ballina.

Burringbar free camp.

Brooms Head

Barely got into the rhythm of driving and here we are. Just 24km. 

Brooms Head on a sunny windless day would be a nice beach destination. Its easy to envisage the place packed out over summer holidays. A really large two section CP right on the beach. A bowling club, general store, lots and lots of holiday rental properties, but not much more.

Windy one day, not so bad the next. But the old girl is covered in salt and it will take some serious cleaning unless we get heavy rain sometime soon.

According to wikipedia Northern Rivers NSW ends about here, tapering away from the coast toward Grafton. Timely as I'm finished with this windy coast. Tick another box or should that be turn the page on Northern Rivers NSW.

Looking south from the headland.

The headland.

Brooms Head beach in front of the CP.

Iluka to Maclean

Sunset at the CP.

Iluka certainly turned on a spectacular sunset the night before departure.

Next morning did a last walk around town along the foreshore path to the marina and then via the Iluka National Reserve to the beach lookout.

Packed the Escape Module and headed out of town to Maclean another big drive 36km.

Decided to stop for the night at the show grounds in Maclean. Right on the river with a view of the old bridge. Cane trucks again! Bouncing across the bridge through the night this time.

It's a shame that the bridge doesn't still work, originality built to lift and open, for cane carrying barges to pass upstream to the mill.

Walked into town, interesting, unusual building, unusual layout, nice.

Before heading out of town next day I did my morning walk to The Lookout.

Fairly steep walk on paved roads but it

was good exercise and the view was

worth the effort.

Iluka Beach lookout.

Maclean Lookout early morning.

The view walking down Clarence St.

Maclean part of the main street.

Iluka

Thought for today: You have 2 lives. Your first life ends when you realize you only have one life.

Iluka on the Clarence River could be a good place to drop out for the rest of your life and go fishing, if fishing means that much to you. But for the rest of us its a great place to stop for a few days.

A caravan park and pub right on the river. An IGA (open 7 days) and non essential businesses within a short distance. And walking paths along the river, bike tracks to the surf beach and National Park nearby.

click on an image to enlarge

You may be over the panoramic shots but I'm not! 

Sedgers Reef Hotel Iluka.