On Saturday October 24th, late in the morning after I had finished both my sessions at Personal Best Leichhardt and Shazzas Boot Camps, Hayden and I set off for a few days in Byron Bay.
I had planned on going to Byron for my first time in order to run the 10km lighthouse race, however my injuries from the half marathon had still not yet adequately recovered to allow me to cover the distance. So Hayden registered as well and we agreed to walk the course together.
We caught the regional bus from Ballina Airport and checked into our accommodation (Ruskin House) which was just lovely, and then set out to find Mongers for fish and chips. We ate them on main beach, which was super super gusty! We nearly got blown away :) We then rented 3 Colours Blue and later ventured out for late night ice cream and were again nearly blown away - but this time by the sheer quantities of raucous trash and bogans that descend on Byron Bay of a Saturday evening!
We were up before 6am on Sunday morning, in order to head in early and register for the Lighthouse Walk. After we collected our bibs and timing chips, we milled about the start line with about 500 people, then at 7am it was off - and for many - running! We had completed the strenuous, hilly and very picturesque walk by 830am. We collected out commemorative drink bottles, ate some watermelon and headed to The Balcony for breakfast. I had hot chocolate and brioche with lemon macadamia butter. Hayden had coffee and the big brekky. It was fab! Later, Hayden's sister (Mel), her partner (Dan) and their children dogs, collected us and took us to ocean shores beach. It was the middle of the day, though, and scorching hot, so we didn't last long. Then it was off for lunch at Yami's in Brunswick Heads. Delicious felafels, hummus and baba ganoush were plentiful and we left absolutely stuffed.
Later, we went bushwalking around tallows head beach and had beautiful sunset cocktails at The Balcony. We picked up some gelato for the road and caught some live music at The Buddha Bar. Later we ate noodles from Noodle Box... Some things I shouldn't bother mentioning :P
Monday was chillout day... Kind of... After another early start for scuba diving, we got massages at Osho's House and saw UP! at the cinema. Later we went to Dish for their degustation dinner. They even did a special menu for me, as I'm pescetarian, with specially matched wines. It was AMAZING.
On Tuesday morning, I left Hayden sleeping in bed and donned my backpack. There were bushtrails I longed to walk (I hadn't seen the most easterly point of Australia yet!) and a swim in the ocean was in order, to cleanse me of the sins of the night before. I saw a man set out on his jog and sighed to myself wistfully "that sure looks like fun..." and I gave it a shot. I ran. It felt incredible. I cried with joy. I gleefully greeted everyone I passed with a chirpy "good morning!" and beaming smile. I didn't run the whole time, but whenever I felt I could, I did, and as I ran I listened to The Runners Round Table on my phone, which featured the amazing Kristen Armstrong... It was the best morning of my life. I felt connected, whole, stable, safe and FREE.
At the end of my run I cooled off in the water at Main Beach and trudged home in my towel and thongs. Breakfast at Bohemia concluded our visit to Byron... you can see what we ordered on facebook!
I can't WAIT to go back next year... I loved Byron. It was easily and by far the very best holiday I have ever had. In three days.
Check out the photos.
Xx Debzillah
