Isn't it Great to Have Friends to "Do Life" With?

Byron Bay, Whales Waving at Us, and Beaumont Road Holds Morning Tea for Robyn and Andy!

Can you imagine life without friends?  I can't or won't!  Don't get me wrong, family is wonderful, and I love mine dearly, but you do not get to choose your family.  You are assigned your family.  Friends, however, are chosen - by you and by them!  There is a lovely degree of freedom in that choice that is fascinating to me, and I believe that friends are a gift - to be cherished and protected!

We have spent the last 10 days with our friends, Robyn and Andy Smith from Seguin, Texas and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute!  Now - you need to know that our space here in Australia is small, and we have been in rather close quarters with each other, but that has not gotten in our way of a great time together.  Some creative timing of the use of the one bathroom proved not as problematic as it seemed like it might be.  Even though they were here a short time, we packed in quite a few sights and experiences for them!  They certainly got a taste of the Aussie way of doing things, and what our lives are like for our time here in 2016.

Last Friday the four of us traveled by air to Ballina, NSW which is about 45 minutes from Byron Bay.  We had a bit of excitement upon our arrival.  The winds were very strong upon landing.  The plane was nearly on the ground when a gust caught the wing and whipped the plane to the left a bit!  The pilot raised the nose of the plane and took us back around over the water and then back in for a second attempt at the landing. When we landed, the passengers erupted in applause for the pilot!

After then getting lost a bit finding our Air BnB, we settled in for an incredible weekend!  Here are some photos of our stay at Byron Bay: 

Our house is the one second from the right!

The Humpbacks Put on a Show for Us!

Saturday afternoon led us to Brunswick Heads for a whale watching expedition!  We were in hopes of seeing one whale, so when we saw over 20 of them, we were elated!

Here is some information about the whale migration along the eastern coast of Australia each year:

Whale migration east coast Australia, usually takes place during the Antarctic winter, when whales from the south head north along Australia’s eastern coastline. This is usually in response to the cold conditions in the sea, causing them to escape to warmer waters. This lasts until the spring season begins, when they return to the south for feeding.

As the cold weather grows in these southern waters from March, these warm-blooded animals find the region uncomfortable for three reasons; First, food becomes very scarce since the fishes that the whales feed on also migrate, leading to certain hunger and probable death. Second, the warm northern waters provide the perfect breeding ground for whales and this guarantees their survival since May to September is the breeding season. Lastly, the cold waters are potentially fatal for their calves which are usually born in the warmer waters in the second half of the year.

Most of these whales are of the humpback species and usually hurry north as early as May when the waters of Australia’s east coast are much more pleasant. They are visible from Sydney harbor where a robust whale watching culture prevails at this time of the year. Humpback adults range in length from 12–16 meters and weigh about 80,000 pounds. Their name derives from their very long pectoral fins and knobby head that make them look like they have a hump.

The northern whale migration of east coast Australia often has the water giants moving farther offshore then their southern return. This makes whale spotting from land or close to the shore much easier when they swim south on their return trip. On the Australian east coast, some of the best places of participating in whale spotting include the Gold Coast, Hervey bay, Stradbroke Island, Cape Byron, Sapphire coast, point hicks and storm bay. For those who want to spot them during the northern march, there are whale watch cruises around some of the bays.

The Gold Coast is becoming know as the one of the premier whale watching locations in Australia with whales generally coming within a kilometer or two of the beach off the shore, and because of its geographical location, the Gold Coast has whales passing through all season and it is one of the rare points on the East Coast where, from the middle of August, whale traffic heads in both directions past the Gold Coast.

Cape Byron also provides a great opportunity since it is at Australia’s easternmost point, and the whales have to go around it on their southern march as they avoid the landmass.

Here are photos of our whale watching success story!

Here is my friend - giving me a wave!

Click on this link for a short video of the whale waving at us!

A Humpback Wave!

Beaumont Road Holds Morning Tea in Honor of Robyn and Andy!

One of the extraordinary facets of Beaumont Road Public School is its welcoming environment!  Every day at 11:00 the school holds a Morning Tea where the students have a snack and recess, and the adults go into the staff room for tea or coffee and conversation.  This has been an adjustment (for the positive) for me because I have never been one to take a break other than perhaps a short lunch break.  My staff at Mortensen would confirm that I hardly spend any time in the staff "lounge."  Since I have been here, I have slowly come around to realizing the value of the break in a day - to connect with colleagues for conversation that may or may not revolve around students.  It has taken me a while, but I now look forward to both Morning Tea and Lunch!  

On Monday, the staff honored Robyn and Andy with Morning Tea where several brought scones, cake, fruit, etc along with tea, of course!  Malcolm welcomed them to Australia and to Beaumont Road.  He then took them for a drive around the neighborhood and dropped them off in the city for a visit with an old friend, Patty, who was an exchange student with Andy's parents in 1980.  All in all, it was a perfect day for Robyn and Andy.  They exclaimed about the hospitality of which we continue to be amazed!

So - this morning with a few tears, I said good-bye with gratitude.   Godspeed Andy and Robyn!

Tomorrow is the last day of Term Two.  Then, on Saturday Mitch and I are throwing a 4th of July party, and next week we are traveling to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef!  Here is a Bingo Game that we will be playing!

So, I have plenty of diversions to keep me focused!

And I have to remember one of my favorite sayings...

Take care, dear friends!