So a lot has happened...

So as many of you know I left the chicken farm on October 15 and headed out to a rural cattle farm called Hill's Creek - more towards the north of NSW. I was very sad to leave Papanui - I had an amazing chicken-filled experience there, but it was time to move on.

I was lucky enough to actually hitch a ride with Bastiaan who was on his way to Bryon Bay to spend his last couple of weeks in Australia lounging on the beach and hitting on girls.  ;)  It worked out that he could drop me off right at my new farm on his way - well it was a bit of a detour, but what are friends for if not to drop you off in rural NSW and make sure you haven't landed in some kind of Deliverance scenario (apparently, Deliverance is some scary Aussie movie about backpacking-killing hicks in rural Australia).

After leaving Papanui, and realizing I would be the lone wwoofer on the new farm, you could say I had a bit of a freak out in the car as we approaching the driveway of my next farm.

Bastiaan: "So, I think the farm is coming up! Next driveway I think...excited?"
Me: "WHAT!!! ALREADY!? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO???? DROP ME OFF RIGHT NOW!!!?? YOU CAN'T DROP ME OFF NOW!!!"
Bastiaan: "ahhhh...I could drive past if you want...."
ME: "YES! YES! YES!" *hyperventilating*



And so he drove past. I just wanted to see the next town alright? I just wanted to see the nearest civilization...

...well the 'town' of Jackadgery did nothing to calm my nerves.

It's a gas station and shitty eatery.

Anyways...after learning how to breathe normally again while standing in the Mann River in the lovely, bustling town of Jackadgery, Bastiaan did drive me back to Hill's Creek Farm. Boo.


Oh, how I wish I had just decided to scrap that farm and never look back...


Turns out that Hill Creek Farm was nothing like I thought it would be. I pictured something like:

 
Instead, Hill's Creek Farm turned out to be more like:

I could go on and on about how much of a misogynistic douche the farmer was, or that the only tone he used while explaining things to me was yelling, or that he made me work 8 hours a day...but instead I think you get the idea from the picture above and probably figure I was not having a good time of it at Hill's Creek. God the farmer was such an asshat.

OH! and I have to mention that I also conveniently left both my wallet and phone in Bastiaan's car and now I couldn't escape even if I wanted too. Just excellent! What an excellent thing for me to do! Why don't I just throw my passport into the sea for kicks!

Well, about 3 days into my stay at Hill's Creek I began to plan my escape (as I waited for my phone and wallet to arrive via snail mail)...because I honestly feared I would become so depressed at this farm of infinite unhappiness that I would be a shell of a person by the end of November.


Funny enough, Bastiaan was also not having an excellent time at Byron Bay and, to my overwhelming happiness, was quite open to suggestions.



Me: "I WILL PAY YOU TO COME GET ME OFF THIS FARM."
Bastiaan: "Hmmm, just so you know, a rental car is kinda expensive..."
Me: "I DO NOT GIVE TWO CRAPS HOW MUCH THE CAR COSTS!"
Bastiaan: "and I would have to get up at 6am to catch the bus to the car rental place..."
Me: "BAHHHHH!!!"
Bastiaan: "bahhh?"

Anyways, of course Bastiaan agree to come get me and I was so happy when he finally arrived at Hill's Creek Farm to rescue me that I literally danced up the stairs to get my stuff and burst out screaming in happiness as we drove away. (and of course he did come to get me completely out of his own free will and overwhelming desire to help out a friend in need)  :)


So, we left Hill's Creek behind and we headed for Mystic Tree Organics, just 15 minutes from Nimbin - the 'alternative lifestyle' capital of Australia...and it is exactly the hippy farm I was hoping for. I live in a caravan surrounded by jungle, wash in an outdoor shower, and learning about permaculture and how to live off the land.

Bastiaan joined me for a week and then it was time for him to head homeward, so now it is just me. We did have some pretty good times before he left though...



Like getting a python out of the kitchen.

Visiting Nimbin and taking advantage of its...well...alternative lifestyle.

And of course, turning into hippies!

So, I will be at Mystic Tree Organic until November 25th...and then I am done with my farm work!

It will be over before I know it...

Also, I've officially seen spiders the size of your head.


Elise.