Friday 17^th February, 2012

Dark clouds covered the sky as I drove to the end of the Bay of Fires. It started to rain when I reach Binalong Bay. I still walked along the beach. As I reached the end, the rain got stronger. I got soaking wet until I reached the car. I went back to the motel. But of course as I reached it the rain stopped. With fresh and dry clothes I make did a short sightseeing in St. Helens. This village is not really big. As I was still dry, I drove to St. Helens Point. It is the outermost point of St. Helens. But the rain started again and it did not want to improve. So I just made a picture and went back as I did not want to get soaking wet again. As the weather than improved again, I walked along the shore at Georges Bay. I was observing sea birds as suddenly two giant birds approached. As they got closer, I realized they were pelicans. At 4 pm it started raining again. At the reception I got the key for the swimming pool and swam a few rounds.

Thursday 16^th February, 2012

Yesterday I somehow noticed that today is “Dirty Thursday” and the carnival starts in Switzerland. I am missing the feeling for time here in Australia. The sky was clouded as I started driving towards Scottsdale. Here I stopped to buy food. Then I drove over the interior towards the sea. At Weldborough Pass I made a short stop and walked through the rain forest. There was much farming in this area and I saw many cattle herds. One was even escaped and stood directly on the road. My way led to St. Columa Falls. To watch the 90 m high waterfall closer, I walked to the viewpoint. At one spot there was a snake laying on the path. As I do not like snakes that much, to be precise I fear them, I stood still. The snake did not show any insight that it should get away. So I had to stamp hard on the ground to say: “Attention, enemy approaching!” After I took some pictures, it moved away. I then enjoyed a nice view to the falls. On the way back I met again an animal, but this time a wallaby. After this adventure I drive directly to St. Helens and informed me about the accommodation. The kind lady from the tourist information gave me a hint and I found immediately a room. As it was just past noon, I decided to drive to the Bay of Fires. The bay is 35 km long and has a white beach. From time to time there are also rocks covered with red lichen. Together with the turquoise sea it looked very interesting. I got the feeling of south sea holidays. I walked for an hour along the beach and went back as the tide was coming in. Then I enjoyed just sitting on the rocks and watch the waves breaking. In the evening I sat a bit at George Bay in St. Helens. Here I could observe rose grey parrots flying like mad through the air. There were also sea birds to watch.