All this beach life hasn’t left us eager to find the next stretch of golden sands, so the detour this time is a bit larger than normal and taken us inland to explore the mountains and rainforests. The road weaved up the mountain into the approaching rain until we were in the cloud itself, and couldn’t see further than the next bend. Passing waterfalls in full flow (it is called the Waterfall Way after all), we arrived at the Dorrigo Rainforest, and it definitely had both components in abundance. The walkway out into the canopy promised views over the valley, but the cloud had other ideas. Heeding the warning of leeches at the walk entrance, sandals and shorts were changed to shoes and trousers in an attempt to keep yet another animal from taking our blood. (Fortunately there was only one little critter and it was confused by a sock, but did start heading down into my shoe before a quick flick!).
So tonight we’re at a slightly different campsite than normal, a field at the top of the hill in the rain, which was not expected this morning as we woke to blistering sunshine, but it’s good to have a change, and we’ll appreciate that beach more when our route takes us back. We’ve also learnt that pop-top canvas isn’t waterproof, and neither is the seal when it’s shut. The bolts have been tightened, so hopefully that trickling water I can hear as I type is on the outside…