Australia part II

 Well, the world has stopped as everyone probably noticed. My flight back to the promiseland NZ has been cancelled due to the virus. The rumor has it international flights will be cancelled soon and even inland borders are to be closed. 

I had no intention going back home any day sooner than planned, but keep hopping islands through the pacific was no option anymore. Time for plan b and a standstill. 

I decided to not stay in Queensland for the reminder of my stay although it was very uncertain for how long this will last and if I'm able to come back. But the area is too busy, too inhabitated. 

 

I Ihoose to drive all the way down to Port Kembla and hang with Skye. Soon a heavy lockdown was installed and I felt welcomed and almost home Burgess' house. Surfed every day and really settled mentally for that period of time. After a bit of a downer as some crackheads broke into my car and stole all my few valuable items I was looking into going up north as soon as restrictions lifted.

I took the chance to go to warmer weather and water since winter was at the doorstep. Switched cars to a bigger van to be able to stay warm when the temperature dropped to single digits at night. 

First stop was Avoca and Copacabana with Skye to surf a few nuggets of that very big swell pushing up the coast. I felt comfy at the Central Coast and stayed in Norah Heads for a while where I met the only stranded backpacker south of the border. My good friend William from Chile. We surfed, talked and laughed a lot while keeping us warm with Chilenian Tea a.k.a. Whiskey. 

We drove up the coast to Cresent Head and into warm water after beeing cold in the van for a few days. Surfed Arrawata and puming Yamba. I had my first countable but very decent barrel on actually a way overhead powerful swell. Scary at times with the rocks popping up, but fun and a good feeling beeing able to catch a few among those harsh locals. 

Byron Bay and most importantly the incomparable and unique pointbreak in Lennox Head. Sharky as shit, full of locals, but insanely good and some lucky days for me catching 3 very long rides all the way with 100+ guys in the water. That on lunchtime session even 15+ waves until my arms weakened. Fee days of easy double overhead waves crawling down that rocky headland. Two more successful barrelsections included and a lot of time practising turns. So good. Best days ever.