Purple Rain

We had visited Ballina in the past, but had never managed to visit all the op shops there, because there are so many.  I had made a list of opening and closing times so we could optimise access, so as soon as we hit town, we headed for our second visit to the Anglican one, because it closed at 3.30.  We were already too late for the ADRA one.  

Time was running out to complete the next day's outfits, the theme of which was The Colour Purple, for reasons that will later become obvious.  Between the Anglican and Vinnies, which closed at 4, we just got there.  Jan was looking for a flat pancake pan for her brother Gary who lost most of his belongings in a fire earlier in the year. At Vinnies, we found one. 

The Helicopter shop over the road had already closed, and we were tired, so it was off to cabin number two, at Shaws Bay Caravan Park, well away from the flight path.  We were in a nest of cabins with our own private barbecue area, and in front of the mini-golf course, complete with watercourses, fountains and our very own crocodile. We were surrounded by palm trees, so there was a nice private feel to our cabin, which had the correct bed arrangement.

It was my turn to cook dinner, so we sat on the deck watching out for flying golf balls, while eating a curry enhanced by free zucchini, and then crashed. We don't have the stamina for post-dinner games that we used to have.

However, Jo and I did have the energy for a morning walk.  We did the nice new walking track out along the breakwater as the sun rose, and then a loop around Shaws Bay. I even managed to find a geocache in the park where the old cemetery used to be.

We could have waited for the local shops to open before heading off to Grafton, but decided to go early, which was just as well. I had taken the girls there on a previous trip, where I forgot that the jacarandas bloom later there than in Brisbane, and we had only seen one tree in flower that year. I was determined that this time they would see Grafton is her full October glory. 

I took the girls into the city centre via the historic old bridge, where the trains cross the river below the cars, then aimed for the Anglican oppy right next to the cathedral.  I drove into the cathedral grounds just as a car was leaving and took that spot. We found out later that it was the last parking spot in Grafton.  I had thought we would be in town the day before Jacaranda Day, which is the biggie during the annual Jacaranda festival, but nope, we were right in the thick of it.

In the Anglican, we also discovered that all the shops in Grafton close at noon on Jacaranda Day, so the focus is then fully on the market right down the middle of Princes Street (the main street, closed for the day) and in Market Square nearby.  I knew that the shops had a window decorating competition, but in the Anglican op shop, the purple decor continued inside. None of the purple clothing was available for sale until after Jacaranda Day.  

The shop assistant was dressed in black from top to toe, in protest, she said. The male staff member was playing a guitar, going through his full range of "purple songs" which seemed to consist of four: Purple Rain, Deep Purple, the Flying Purple People Eater, and Lavender's Blue. I think he was looking forward to midday.

We paid for out purchases and shoved our way through the crowd to the Hospital Auxilliary Op Shop, who had done themselves proud with their window display.  In there I found a new pair of black jeans for Michael to replace his beloved old pair which are falling apart. They cost me $4. Jo found an identical pair of pants to the ones she was wearing as part of her Colour Purple Outfit.

We inspected Market Square, nobly ignoring most of the stalls, and making a beeline for the giant kewpie doll that is a feature of the festival, as this was the perfect place to pose in our purple outfits.

Next stop, purple ice cream which you just have to eat on Jacaranda Day.  I am pleased to report that it is berry flavoured and still delicious. I had my last one with Mum about 45 years ago.  For those who don't know, Mum was an old Grafton girl.

While we were scoffing our ice creams, we spotted the Lifeline across the road, which still hadn't closed its doors.  So that made three shops ticked off the Grafton list. The woman in the Anglican had already told us that the Salvos was closed for renovations, so that saved us from a wasted trek. We had coffee and munchies instead.  

While we were sitting there, we watched various teenagers smearing each other with shaving cream - another Jacaranda Day tradition. There was also a very happy group of young blokes whose matching jackets were a mixture of hi-viz yellow and purple aboriginal dot painting designs. We found out later they were on day release from the nearby Clarence Correctional Centre, to help with erecting and puling down stalls etc.

Back at the cathedral to retrieve the car, we went inside so I could show the gals the beautiful angel-shaped font where I was christened a long time ago.  The angel did not seem impressed by my presence. We also spotted a beautiful white jacaranda tree in the grounds. Not too many of those around.

I then took the girls for a drive around town to show them one jacaranda-lined street after another, plus the fig-tree avenue which is less widely known about.

Then it was off to South Grafton in the forlorn hope that the three ops shops there might still be open.  South Grafton was completely dead, but what else is new? 

I had meant to then drive straight back out of town but was tricked by a certain roundabout and we ended up on the new bridge headed towards town.. This is a McBurney tradition, because Michael and I have done that in the past as well.  It is definitely less picturesque than the old bridge, but is gives you a good look at it as you head for the Villiers Street roundabout to go back for a second viewing en route to the main drag back north to Maclean.