We spent the rest of the week around the caravan park, joining in happy hour and meeting other travellers, using the pool, going in and out of Lismore and Casino. We bought (ordered) 2 new chairs for the van. The ones currently in there aren’t very comfortable or stable (I’ve already gone A over T on one of them! Not a pretty sight, but David seemed to find it very amusing). Hopefully they will be delivered soon.
The following Sunday we went to Channons Market. About 20kms (I think) out of Lismore on the road to Nimbin, the Channons Market is held on the 2nd Sunday of the month. If you are in the Nimbin area and you like markets (and who doesn’t?) try to get to this one, it’s well worth it. This is great market, with lots of organic fruit and veg, specialist local produce, massage and spiritualist stands, alternative, new and second hand clothing, lotions, potions and soap stands, and heaps of food stalls – with quite a few of them being organic, vegetarian and vegan, but also lots with standard (i.e. non vegetarian) fare. We easily spent about 3 hours here and I could have spent a lot longer, but it was really hot and we were heading to Nimbin.
Nimbin – what a pretty town, and much as I thought it would be – very relaxed, laid back, and casual. Nimbin is located in the hills north of Lismore, on the edge of the Nightcap National Park.
There’s an interesting museum which is well worth a visit (gold coin donation), and the pub has a great deck out the back which makes for a cool spot to enjoy an ale. There are also plenty of places to eat, and the prices seem pretty good. The signage on the buildings in the main street took me straight back to the 60’s and 70’s (I do remember those years, I was too young/naive to do anything which would have made me forget them!) with their psychedelic colours and murals. It’s still cited as the most alternative town in Australia
The people here are very caring and considerate people too – every 3rd or 4th person you pass on the footpaths asks if there is anything they can get for you, or if there’s anything you need – how considerate is that?