After returning from Jabiru I had the good fortune to pick up a full time client who wanted me to attend the office. While this was great for my newly formed business it did mean that I could not join Al up in the North of Queensland and Northern Territory. As it turned out it would have been pretty tough for me up there so I think things worked out for the better. And with Christmas and the New Year period upon us I stayed in Sydney over that time but it did take the opportunity to spend a week in Dee Why right near the beach. It was a great time down there and would easily do that again.
The next “adventure” so to speak was going to be Crescent Head (Al worked in Kempsey). And to say that it was tough is a sarcastic over statement. The place we stayed in was simple but very nice. It was only an easy few minutes walk to the town and to the beach. In town there was a Bakery that always had a massive line outside, a cool café run by young ladies, a supermarket, a pub and a club, a bottle shop that doubles as a pizza joint and a few other shops. Typical mid-north NSW town.
I’m pretty confident in saying that the Bakery is a significant landmark and business in the town but I would like to suggest that the creek leading to the beach is the real artery of Crescent Head. The creek I speak of is Killick Creek which starts it’s life not too far up the coast just in land from Killick Beach. It heads south and just north west of Crescent Head it splits, chucking a left to head to the coast and the other branch continues on south to hook up with Maria River and eventually into the Hastings and out to sea at Port Macquarie. Why I mentioned all of that is to say that it is not a huge creek or river and there is not a huge amount of water running down it making it a beautiful size of creek to spend hours lolling, floating, swimming, drinking beers and chatting with friends and family. And it’s size makes it perfect for the kiddies as well. Everyday there are meet ups and catch ups both regular and occasional. It’s also the place that people bump into someone that they haven’t seen for ages and they get up to date with what is happening. It’s not quite the Town Hall but it could be seen as the Town Hall steps, the place where kids born up to the eighties organised to meet to catch up. Of course, if it wasn’t the creek then it’d be the Bakery or the Supermarket or the café but it wouldn’t be as nice though, don’t you think. It wouldn’t make the locals who they are today. There’s a serenity to it. There’s a calmness. There’s a slowness to it, they all want to be there and they’re not going anywhere fast. They have unencumbered time on their hands making for a perfect opportunity to build relationships and stay in touch.
One thing I was a little bit surprised about was the “type” of person lives in Crescent. There are, of course, many types of people but I was interested to see that the beige wearing group of the Northern Beaches were not there. Instead it was a bohemian, second hand clothing wearing mob that were very cool and very much into a simpler, quieter lifestyle on the amazing mid-north coast. For a long time I felt that I would like to live on one of these small coastal towns, felt like I would fit in, be relaxed and enjoy the life up there. But now I am not so sure. I never thought of myself as one of these people. I am not saying that is a bad thing, it is just that I thought we are too different. I thought I knew who my mob was but after being in Crescent Head I am not entirely sure now. I liked these people though really it was only through observation more than anything else. But am I really one of them? And I like the beige wearing Mona Vale people but am I really one of them. I think I might need to stay in more towns around the country to see if I can find my tribe.
In saying that Crescent Head is not a place I could permanently live in. I do realise that a small town is not for me. But the thing that I did discover that if a town is not for you, just drive up and down the coast and even out to the west a bit and you will find any number of towns that might just suit you. If you come to Bellbrook it may not be for you so then go back, chuck a left and get to Taylors Arms and that may be the place for you. If Kempsey is not for you then head north and check out Macksville. And on the coast if Scotts Head is not your spot then try Stuarts Point, South West Rocks, Hat Head or even Port Macquarie. This coast, this part of the world is absolutely amazing. Every corner you turn around there is another marvel of God’s wonder. I’m sure there are many stretches of the world that are like this but I am very glad that I live so close to this one.
The Pandanus is a small tree which can reach 5-6 metres in height with leaves that are linear to about 1 metre in length. They emerge from the branches in a screw-like arrangement which gives rise to the common name. The plants are supported at the base by prop roots which help to anchor the plant in sandy soil. They produce large pineapple-like fruits comprised, when ripe, of yellow, red or orange segments containing the individual seeds.
When you ask ChatGPT why the waves at Crescent Head are so smooth and symmetrical they point out that it is a classic right hand point break, the seabed slopes gradually helping waves maintain their shape and speed, the refraction of the waves as they hit the headline and a few other reasons. What all of that means is when you’re standing there in the morning having your coffee from the surf club and you look out to the ocean you see these beautiful linear, symmetrical lines of waves rolling in most with a surfer on them riding these perfect sets endlessly.
So why do I mention the Pandanus tree and the linear waves? Because when you put those two things together I think you get one of the most quintessential beach scenes ever and every morning I had this view while drinking my morning coffee. You really feel that you’re in an AI scene. It’s just perfect. There is something very relaxing and mesmerising about watching those lines roll in and the longboarders floating in hanging 5 and 10. Pure beauty. It is a perfect start to the day, one which I could get very used to.
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