Goon...

Yes I bought the T Shirt
see all photos »

Ok.  Before the update on our last few days at Byron Bay I want to discuss "Goon".  Now.. as travelers we are cheap and poor.  However, most want to indulge in some partying.  This presents a problem as liquor costs money.  Enter - Goon approx 10$.  Australia's answer to the Big Bear.  It is this wine.. sort of.. that comes in a 4 liter box.  Ingredients listed on the box include, but are not limited to.. fish.. eggs.. nuts.. It kind of tastes like wine.. but not really.  The most amazing thing about it, other than the price, is that the bag inside the box cannot be broken.  This leads me to my last topic... slapping the goon.  Because of its indestructibility... people make up games to try to break the bag by slapping it.  People slap it standing.. jumping off chairs... running full speed..  Trust me.. it cannot be broken.  To be honest... I have yet to buy goon because I'm not a hobo and I want to be able to think the next day.. but I have seen some people drink half a box.  Hilarity ensued.

Another..?
see all photos »

Now.. to Bryon Bay.  It rained our second day here.  We had the surf board all morning but never used it once.  Instead.. we updated our blog and walked up to the light house that overlooks the bay.  On the way you walk over Australia's most easternly point (on the mainland).  It poured on the way back and we got soaked yet again.  We really did nothing all day.. just hung around... ate food.. drank a beer and went to bed.  Krystal and I were disappointed about our lack of surfing so we rented a board again for 24 hours. Over the next two days, we went surfing three times and eventually we could both stand up. But, the surfing competition is out for this year.

Side Topic - Surfing.  For those who don't know the science behind it.  You swim out on the board to where the waves are breaking.  If you suck like me.. that is roughly waist deep.  You point your board towards the shore and paddle as the wave breaks... it pushes you forward and you try to stand up.  Now.. if you are new various things can go wrong.  1) The front of the board goes under the water because you are standing too far forward.  This leads to drinking/inhaling lots of salt water. 2) The wave is too big and you are going too slow.  The wave crashes on your back.  This leads to drinking/inhaling lots of salt water.  3)  You get up from 1 second only to have the board shoot out forward.  This leads to drinking/inhaling lots of salt water.

We both have bruises and cuts.. but I did stand up.  Trust me.. its hard.  One wave came on our last day in Byron that was 10 feet tall.  Krystal and I were just swimming and it crushed us.  Apparently she screamed.. but I was under the water so I never heard.

Our second last night we went out a little later that usual and hit the Cheeky Monkey.. which is at best.. Cheeky.  We met Charlie again from Ireland who's van must be getting a workout as she heads down the coast. This bar was ridiculous. There was a wet t-shirt contest that night, which is just an excuse for trampy girls to show off their chests. Which by the way its the girls who really shouldn't be showing theirs. Everybody at this bar dances on the tables...so we of course got up and danced on the tables. Crazy night....

Our last night saw yet another reunion with Meike and Tanja. There was a party at their hostel and they were sure they could handle an entire box of goon.  Let me tell you... it handled them.  Never.. ever... stand up to the goon.  You don't drink it.. it drinks you.  Needless to say hobo like stumbling and hour long ramblings followed.  They were not 100% in the morning.  Apparently the German Chancellor has sent out an order canceling their passports.. but that could just be a rumor :)

Unfortunately, Krystal missed the night of rambling Germans because she was too "tired" from the night at Cheeky Monkeys.