Seeing an add in Cairns:
Food and accommodation in exchange for light work on a farm -
You can hike, snorkel, horse ride, swim!!
I decided to take a look and give it a go.
(It later turned out the light work wasnt light work... and the snorkelling was in a river which was 2 metres deep at most and the only way to see your hands under water was to put them on your face... so much for snorkeling...)
The coastal drive from Cairns to the north was beautiful; you drive with rain forest right on your left side and the sea right on your right side; right. Lots of beaches with huge boulders and palm trees around it, little waterfalls and more. After about 100 k`s I went inland to go to Lakeland. Went over a couple of mountains, across a lot of hills and then finally after about 200 k you end up in the middle of nowhere; Lakeland. A really small town if you realize it`s got nothing close to a town 80 k`s next to it. The only 3 shops are a bar, a fuel station and a internet cafe... eerie.
Croc farm
Half on the way I visited a crocodile farm... they farm altogether over 3000 crocs. The place is divided into the farm and the zoo where they keep crocs you can watch and other animals as well. I saw... lots of animals that day and a show where they feed a croc and toy around with it, telling some of its features and reply questions (If a dolphin would fight with a crocodile, who would win?) and later on a snake show. Was goooood.
Soda Springs
So after driving for a long while I arrive at the farm called Soda Springs, meeting aaaaallll the people there: Nena, Kevin and Noel, with Nena being the only other backpacker and Kevin and Noel living there permanently.
The location is awesome, from the house you have a view over a few mountains, allways lots of cattle in sight and at the moment everything is blue, ehr... i mean green. Though that changes a lot if you arrive in the other season. The house itself... lets say it is good I lived on my own for a few years to prepare me... A lot of small vermin (I`ve never seen so much flies clustered together), everything is unclean, the towels used to dry the dishes with I wouldn`t use to clean my car, and for the rest just general mess lying everywhere. Too bad they misuse such a beautifull place to live.
I wont tell too much about working there, because... well, it sucked. What a world of difference compared to the Hare Krishna`s... I was working (at least) 5 hours per day, and doing definately not light work. And the Hare Krishna belief that you look like and act the animals you eat... I still don`t believe it completely, but after seeing Noel eat so much pig... huhm... (Meeeeaaaannnn!)
And then you would think or hope that you would learn something when you work at a place like that; something about animals, trees, machinery, or whatever. But I dont think i learned that much there, at least not while working. I think it might have something to do with the kind of work I did...
- Picking weeds
- Moving hay from one of the paddocks to the garden
- Hammering on one piece of oiled gear for over an hour, really
- Picking up metal parts, left there like 2 years ago
- Rockpicking... really, rockpicking...
Even that kind of work can be worth doing sometimes, but at least 50% of it could have been avoided if they either clean up their mess after they`re done with it (I sound like my mother... huhm) or if they actually plan something in advance. The other thing; I dont think I`ve heard a "please" or "thank you" in any sentence uttered by Noel, ever. I could write a lot more of those niceties, but I`ll write the fun parts instead ;-)
Horse riding
So after doing about 5 hours of work Nina and I got the whole afternoon free to do whatever. so after a few days there I had my first day of horseback riding. After one afternoon in the paddocks to test my ribs out we went into the open fields. Riding around there is great; you got a view over the mountain range and riding around trees, cows, sheep and roos; ducking below branches and crossing creeks.
The creek crossing was pretty exciting; the horse wants to get over it as soon as possible and starts moving pretty quick when its almost over. I mean; how would you feel when you cross a small river walking through sand and water with 80 kilos on your back urging you to hurry?
On the last day she told me that at a riding school it usually takes 6 months before they let you cant (gallop). Eep.
Guitar playing
So to "trade" for the horse riding lessons I taught a little guitar; actually a farm is a bad place for that... the only positive comments were from me; cows booing; chickens chuckling, sheep meckering... But still a lot of fun.
Cooktown
After a couple of days work we took a day off, went to Cooktown. Alltough it was Australia Day (National holiday, all shops are closed...) it was still very good. Did some walking through the town into the rainforest and across the beaches and visited Hilly Grass Lookout, a 360 degrees lookout over the ocean, Cooktown itself and a lighthouse.
After that went to look for a swimming spot; the days are hot here; it can be over 35 celcius in the shade... swimming isnt a bad idea with those temparatures... After some driving we came across the Lions Den, so we went for a feed instead. And... they had a piano... I couldnt resist :) After playing (and getting compliments, positive ones! (Is that a pleonasm?)) we found a good place for some swimming and rockhopping; Anna`s Gorge.
And another plus side: Nina had a camera, so if all goes well I`ll upload some pictures soon.
Christmas stories
So far I only wrote my own stories (makes sense, doesnt it?), but this one is too good not to mention;
While Nina was there for a good 6 weeks, Christmas was getting closer, and because Kevin was celebrating with his family she and Noel were the only two on the farm.
So when the day finally arrives:
Nina: "Merry christmas Noel".
Noel: "Christmas is just another fucking day".
Sweeeeeeeeeeet.
Mossman`s gorge
After saying goodbye I was off south again... going slowly back to Brisbane where my plane leaves the end of march to Thailand where I stay for about a month.
Arriving at Mossman I went to visit Mossman`s Gorge; World Heritage National Park.
Did the walking track there and a lot of swimming. The water is perfect for swimming on hot days; alltough it comes from the mountains it isn`t ice cold, it`s nice cold.