
The story so far…
Setting Forth
Wendy set off for Sydney in a camper van relocation, giving Jurek the time he needed to tie up the loose ends of his Melbourne existence. After a 14 hour bus journey, the two reunited in Sydney, making the most of the thriving metropolis with the wonderful Effy as guide and Pavel, a visiting fellow Cuddler.
Polish/Czech vodka night comes to North Sydney
Vodka shots are best chased with pickles, sausage and friends
Adventures in the ‘Rainbow Region‘
Then commenced the hitch-hiking adventure on which the two quickly became three, joined by the wonderful Finnish Tommi. The friends explored the NSW coast.
Swimming with dolphins Forster
Some friends came to celebrate Tommi\'s first dip in the Pacific Ocean
You can never be too sun safe
Our Finn get\'s ready for the day. After our 4 days of hitching up the coast, we slept on the beach together at Brunswick Heads on Byron Bay. Their was a lightening storm out at sea and the Cape Byron lighthouse flashing. We woke at dawn for a swim to welcome the new day.
Wendy and Jurek farm-sat for a family friends who were told to go to Murwillumbah to start a pecan nut farm by their Indian guru back in the ’90s.
The two investigate what all the fuss is about in Byron Bay, to find one night is plenty.
They retreat to greener pastures, to investigate the contribution system of the young Ponyland commune, outside of Nimbin.
Yurt interior
We slept in a yurt during our stay at Ponyland. The yurt was constructed by Ponyland founder Frank. Frank, Phoebe and their son Hannibal lived in the yurt for a year as they travelled around Australia. Hannibal was just 1 at the time. The yurt packs down small enough to fit into the back of a ute tray.
The two become farmers WWOOFing with a family in Wallaby Creek, near Urbenville.
Before a peaceful time in 30 year old The Black Horse Creek Community, outside of Kyogle.
Earthship
We helped Tori, our wwoofing host, weave the external bamboo frame for her earthship. Tori plans to use the earthship as her bedroom, lounge room and meditation temple.
Earthship interior
Inside each white bag is a mixture of soil, sand and cement, making the earthship extremely thermal efficient. It was beautifully cool inside the dome, despite being a hot day outside.
Adventuring at Blackhorse
Blackhorse Creek Community was formed 30 years ago when a group of people bought the 1000 hectares of farmland. Today, through their reforestation efforts, you'd never know it had once been paddocks. It was like staying in a nature reserve.
Jurek's first koala
After some rough bush-bashing uphill, this guy waiting for us made it all worthwhile!
“Everything’s better in Queensland”
The pair land in Brisvegas in full swing of preparations for the G20 summit.
Then return Home to be reunited with a family they never knew they were apart of at the Imbil Rainbow Gathering.
They've been here
This was all we found at the original sight of the gathering. On our way out we found a small note with a rainbow ribbon saying the family had moved to a nearby place.
The long walk out
We had been driven 13km down gravel roads to reach the original gathering sight. When we foung the gathering had moved, we had no option but to walk to a near by farm house and ask for a lift back into town. We had limited water and food, so the experience taught us to be more cautious in the future. We ended up walking 8kms before we were able to get a lift.
Onwards to try their luck in the Central Queensland Outback at Comet and The Gemfeilds.
Before, continuing the animal theme, studying the eating behaviour of road-train drivers in Dingo.
Another endless coal train
These trains go past hourly and at 1.6kms long. The coal is extracted from mines surrounding Blackwater and almost all goes to the coastal Gladstone for exportation.
Tropical lightening
We arrived at the start of the rainy season. Big rain can cause flood that cut roads, isolating towns from each other. This storm cause our power to be out on & off for 2 days; a bit of a worry as our electric water pump stopped working too... No power and no water isn't so much fun in the outback.
More adventures coming soon!