Coffs Harbour

I didn't like to mention my dates fishy breath.
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I'm back on the coast in a bigger town with nice beaches. It's warm enough to use them too , despite being in the middle of Winter. It's just the nights that get cold but I can live with that.

The first evening I bumped into Mark again , the Kiwi riding up the coast. We had a nice evening putting the world to rights in another spotlessly clean Y.H.A. I've been amazed at the standard of them. They've all been excellent with showers that work and bedbug free ; a welcome change from the very variable standards in Asia.

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The next day I wandered off to the the Pet Porpoise Pool to see dolphins and sealions up close.

Unusually for these attractions, there  is a lot of interaction between visitors and animals and I got to take part in the show when I  fed a dolphin from a platform over the pool. As each of us went up in turn we were asked how we danced in our countries and to give a little demonstration. When it was my turn i told her 'we don't dance in England , we're far too reserved'

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As well as photo opportunities getting ' kisses' from them,  they give an opportunity to get in the water with the dolphins and I just couldn't let a chance like that slip by. Swimming with dolphins seems to reguarly top the ' things to do before you die ' lists and it's always been near the top on mine.

The next day I was in my very snug wetsuit itching to get in the water. There was just me and a young girl getting in the pool with the trainers so we were lucky - they often have 5 people at a time.

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Well , what can I say. The experience didn't disappoint. We got to stroke them , play ball, and generally interact over the next half an hour. At the end of the session a huge bullseal was brought in to join in the fun. A real gentle giant. It was an amazing experience that i'm not likely to forget for a while.  I've kept far too many pics of course , but it's hard to delete them! See the attached gallery  for more very similar pictures - and thers a few more to download yet!