On the road again

Well, Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.

Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.

We’re going to the Bluesfest, gonna have a reeeeeeaaaaaaaal good time!

Thanks Jim!.

An Aussie road trip presents the opportunity for participants to savor a vast range of antipodean delights. From too close encounters with cash-up'd bogans to a thorough enjoyment of upgrades to the Pacific Highway ~ all 1500 kilometres of it!. That old perennial favourite, spotting Big Aussie Things, also remains ~ the big bee hive, the big banana and the big oyster just near Taree, home of the Clam’s rugby club. Thankfully tales of the demise of the big prawn at Ballina proved unfounded.

Spending Easter on an Aussie highway ~ how patriotic is that! Hordes of similar minded patriots had the same idea: from the chauffeur of God’s hire car, it’s gleaming black flanks festooned with Christian signs, to swarms of blueprinted Morris Minors heading south to a Nirvana of trials and technical banter. Standards, Travellers, utes and an upstart Morris Elite persistently puttered by. As the bumper sticker proclaims Keep on Morrying.

Throughout our trip Madame GPS warned us of upcoming traffic calming devices. Unfortunately her prophetic abilities were unable to overcome the 105 minute crawl along the 60 kilometers between Port Macquarie and Kempsey. Scheduling road works during Easter is another Aussie tradition.

To break our journey, various accommodation options were considered. We could have stayed at the Matador Motel at Coffs Harbour, the home of Australian bullfighting, but instead opted for the Aquajet Motel, named after a discontinued Dunlop tyre. Dinner was taken at the Hoey Moey Hotel at Park Beach where whole families attired in hoodies and boardshorts availed themselves of the $7 steak special. If only we could have been there two days earlier ~ BarraMonday!

Once past Grafton, and its' main-street Jacaranda Queen fundraisers, you begin to believe Byron Bay and the far north coast are finally within reach. An outbreak of real estate signs lined the banks of the adjacent Clarence River, however, notwithstanding their verdant surroundings, homes with riverside frontages were proving difficult to dispose of. Last summer's record floods probably had something to do with it. To get us in the mood for Bluesfest, we sampled Cream, the Doors and Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here in its' entirety! None of whom are appearing at Bluesfest, but you get the idea.

Despite it being Easter Thursday, we had to visit gridlocked Ballina to purchase seafood. A quick in and out and we exited the Pacific Highway in the direction of Byron Bay. What a brilliant diversion!. Soon we were motoring along obscure C and D class roads enjoying spectacular views to Lennox Head and the Pacific. A photo opportunity and a chance encounter with a chatty horsewoman momentarily broke our trip before we arrived at Ruskin Street, our accommodation for the next week. Spookily, access to our off-street parking is via Dylan Lane!.

Following a repast of too many oysters and hors d'oeuvres, we exited in search of Blanche's Busline and it's $4 fare that guaranteed easy access to Tyagarah Tea Tree, home of the blues. No energetic renditions of Hail to the busdriver as yet, however it is early. Gumboots sparkling, we initially feasted on an entree of Ernest Ranglin's roots and a soulful Ruthie Foster before heading off for a big night. Not too big, as it is the first day and we've gotta lotta music to enjoy.

The Mojo, Jambalaya and a couple of smaller stages were offering some tasty treats, but we headed for the Crossroads where followers of Robert Johnson could get their fill. First up were Los Lobos who, despite a too obvious diet of tacos and fajitas, rocked out East LA style finishing their set with La Bamba a'la the Rascals Good Lovin'. Next up were a slick ZZ Top with footwork as snappy as their threads and custom axes. Beards to the forefront, they pleased a large crowd intent on having a good time. The long road trip, however, began to have its' effect and we headed for the exit sampling a little Toots on the way. The Maytals are on again tomorrow so no Pressure (Drop).

According to James and Rhys, Ben Harper performing an energetic and genuinely entertaining show. Two cousins dancing to Sexual Healing was a little strange, but hey! this is Bluesfest. Added entertainment was provided by the chair-in-the-middle-of-the-crowd people who slowly sank into the soggy ground. Bloody Festival Fascisti!