Jen Russum

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Second Honeymoon?

We just spent two days in Byron Bay and wish we could have stayed longer. I highly recommend it for a honeymoon spot FYI! I took my surf lesson and survived. At first, it was rough because my instructor, Gaz {short for Gary here, isn’t that weird?}, made me go with my right foot back. Usually I am goofy foot {left foot back} when I snowboard and wake surf {neither of which I am good at and don’t do often, so don’t get any ideas that I am super athletic or coordinated… because that’s sadly not the case}, but Gaz insisted I would never reach my potential as a surfer if I insisted on going goofy foot.
My real question is: do I really have any potential as a surfer either way? I mean, I’m 30. Micah and I want to start a family in the somewhat near future {no comments from eager grandparents-to-be please}. And again, I’m not naturally that athletic. If I can go surfing on a long board a few times a year and get up at least 50% of the time, I’m happy. I don’t think going goofy foot is going to inhibit my future professional surfing career.
Nonetheless, Gaz insisted on changing my stance and my first few waves were rough and involved me falling awkwardly each time and possibly bruising my tailbone on the ocean floor. Finally, I started to get the hang of it {eyes on the beach to surf; eyes on the water to swim} and I will say I improved a little from my first surf lesson in Waikiki on our honeymoon.
Maybe I’ll give it a go again in a couple years.
Now we are in Surfer’s Paradise on Gold Coast. Rumor has it this place gets pretty crazy on weekend nights, but on a Tuesday during the day, it seems pretty tame and pleasant… just a big city with skyscrapers right up on the shore of the ocean. Today, Micah and I were walking back from breakfast {or brekkie as the locals would say} and we saw electric scooter rentals for super cheap – $20 for two hours. On a whim, we rented two of them and road them along the beach all the way north of town, where we arrived at a jetty called “The Spit.” From there we could look back and see they city skyline right along the beach a few miles south of us. It was pretty spectacular. And the bikes were really fun. I think I want one to keep…
This afternoon we have a long drive ahead of us to the Town of 1770. Tomorrow we are taking a ferry ride to Lady Musgrave Island where we will snorkel the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. The sad news is that we lost our underwater camera in Byron Bay. The wrist strap on it broke and it was swept out to sea. The good news is that we are about to see the Great Barrier Reef with the naked eye, which is so much better than through a camera lens.
Just enjoying a Tim Tam. Honeycomb is the best kind, in case you were wondering. // Port Stephens.
Byron Bay Lighthouse.
Tallow Beach {Byron Bay} at Sunset.
Main questions of the trip: 1) Is Hungry Jack’s more like a Burger King or a Jack in the Box? Answer: Burger King. We finally went there today and discovered a Whopper on the menu. 2) What is the best Australian candy bar? BOOST is the answer! We’ve had three so far, but I see a few more in our near future.
Cruising Gold Coast. Don’t worry, we wore our helmets when we weren’t posing for pictures…
I know some of you are adamantly against coffee Instagrams, but I need you to know that I am going strong on my daily vanilla flat white… in case you were worried about my caffeine intake down under. On the right you will see, not a burrito, but a big bundle of fish and chips. One of the best and most affordable meals we’ve had so far on our trip!

Comments

  2. I didn't realise Boost bars were unique to Australia- they're my favourite by far (but also the most unhealthy too 🙁 )… sucks about your camera- I've been wanting to get one, so maybe it will come floating down my end of Australia? 😉

  5. so glad you're having a good time! and please start a family in the near future so i can have a baby friend. 🙂 (you only said no comments from grandparents! 😉 )