Newcastle

Howdy,

Everybody knows that driving in Australia can be fun, but if you never did it before and you decide to rent a car in downtown Sydney for the first time ….well, maybe “fun” is not quite the right term to use, if you catch my drift!!!
After 30 minutes, lost in the intricate urban system, sweating like a pig, and on the verge of a nervous break-down, I miraculously made it out in one piece. The constant feeling of being on the wrong side of the road was not easy to shed. I admit I hit the windshield wipers like a maniac one too many times when I tried to signal my left or right turns...but other than that, I guess things went all right after all.

The Coast Highway is only a 2-lane road, sometimes getting to only one lane; it has been a very long drive. You just have to relax, chill, and not think too much about how long it's gonna take to get to the final destination or you will go bananas!!!

I got lost a few times since the roads are not well marked, but finally I made it. I stopped in Newcastle at Richards Surf Shop. I was not expecting to see him but there he was, still looking healthy like in the old days. He came out from the shaping room and we had a brief conversation. Mark Richards is a true legend and his surfing at Sunset Beach is still considered phenomenal for modern standards. http://www.surfhistory.com/html/profiles/richards.html
I wish everybody could be as humble as he is.
I spent the night in Newcastle, and the day after I made it to Byron Bay.
Air temp is 80 f. with 70% humidity.

Cheers from OZ