The Kronikles of Tony and Ruth
Day 27 - Wednesday 27 July 2006
Consternation from Ruth (I wanna sleep in!!) K as I get up for an early shower at 7AM. I have an early date with Rex to take the bikes out for an early ride. At 8AM we don our helmets and mount our steeds pushing out into streets to arrive at the boardwalk/bike path that runs alongside the beach. It’s pretty deserted and we greet the occasional walkers, bikes, prams and dodge dogs. Rex is much disgusted with the dog-poo littering the path.
I’m struck by what seem to be wild rabbits. They are rabbits, but some have golden and some have black fur. Rex unveils his conspiracy theory: some local jealous types have resented the development on the beach and have released domestic bunnies into the wild, hoping they will multiply and burrow into foundations of the dwellings, undermining them and causing collapse, resulting in the exodus of the rich, intruding population. Noel beware!
We leave the boardwalk and take beach access down to the sand. What we find is a brilliant white beach stretching to the horizon in both north and south directions.
Back at Noel and Marion’s we pile into the 4WD, drive to Tweed Heads then walk past Coolangatta Beach, Greenmount, Rainbow Bay to Point Danger where we admire surfers tackling hair raising waves at Durambah Beach. Further north surfers are stretched out from Point Danger to Coolangatta beach, catching big, fast waves. It is very crowded in the water. The waves appear to have a surface of neoprene. Anne notices that there are knots of grey nomads along the promenade pointing to and discussing the surf. Old surfies like us.
Coffied up at the Coffee Club we arrive at the Armstrong Taj Mahal (it really is an impressive edifice) to disperse in differing directions. The Ladies go shopping, Rex has a nap, Noel has some business with his son Todd and I do some washing of underpants. After a short nap I consider going in for a swim in the pool but the water is far too cold.
When Noel comes back I meet Todd then go for a drive in Marion’s Porsche Boxter. Noel is very careful driving since when he took Rex for a spin they somehow lost the engine out of the car. Even with conservative handling the ride through the twisting mountain roads is thrilling. The car is very roomy and holds the road with grim determination.
A couple of pre dinner drinks and we all head off to Jimbos Seafood Palace.
Our orders:
- Marion: Chilli Plum Prawns with Jasmine Rice and Asian Veg
- Anne: Tweed Heads Prawns wrapped in Calamari with basil
- Rexie: Fish Basket & Chilli Plum
- Noel: ditto
- Ruth and I: share a Fish BBQ Basket
Lovely seafood on the Qld/NSW border.
That night we play Trivial Pursuit, having a fun filled time with lots of laughs and spontaneous interactions – what the Ruth’s parents would call Gemutlichkeit.
11.30 sees us curled up in the fleecy whites.
Greenmount |
at Jimbos, Tweed River |
