A few more days at the beach

we are currently in Iluka having walked over 200 km in two weeks. We are now calling ourselves the Footsore Feisty Five - all nursing a blister or two and each night rubbing tender parts of feet, ankles and legs. Today and yesterday we walked through Bandjalang National Park. It starts just south of Evans Head and goes all the way to Iluka.

Last night we camped at Black Rocks and this morning I managed to explore some of the area. One of the frustrating parts for me is that we are walking across some amazing natural places and are too tired, or too hurried to stop and appreciate where we are and what we are experiencing. But I have a list of places i now wish to come back to and sit and breathe the  natural wonders. I drove today so after the girls left i went back to black rocks and danced in the waves. An amazing coastline of "black and coffee coloured rock"about as high as a two story building above our heads and the waves lapping the base of the rocks. Under the rocks were caves and archways which would take a week to explore, only accessible at low tide. The rocks were topped with sand dunes with low growing coastal banksias beyond the dunes. Behind the dunes was a ti-tree river which wound its way for miles into the hinterland where we saw canoeists silently gliding through the dark water. We wanted to hitch a lift on the canoes but no such luck. Beautiful scenery worth a come back!! A couple of days ago two of the walkers did hitch a lift when they were walking in extreme heat through the Richmond River cane fields south of Ballina. A local Mum picked them up and was so impressed with the effort that she delivered them well out of her way to the nearest lunch stop. We continue to be encouraged by cars honking and people wanting to know more. I learnt today that to chuck your compostible rubbish into the bush subtly changes the nutrients in the soil. Aboriginals ate food from the local area and so all there rubbish was put back into the soil from where it came but we spread different nutrients , changing soil types from their original. How much more is the environment damaged and the intricate harmony of the land changed forever by mining.............

We have another community event tomorrow with media presence. Will write again soon, Sue