After what felt like 100 road works, we reached Ballina and the farm
where we would be staying for the next two weeks. Instantly we met their dog,
Boofi, and the horses, King and Jimmy, as soon as I saw the horses I knew I
didn’t want anything to do with them but Sophie and Judith were all over them
so I knew they would be kept entertained on any day we didn’t have anything
planned. During the two weeks we were there we went to Bryon Bay which was
about a 30 minute drive from where we were staying, we went to the St Paddy day
races in Ballina and then went to Bryon Bay in the evening thinking it would be
a good place to celebrate, but apparently everything shuts at midnight even on
St Paddy’s day, which was very disappointing. We went on a few trips to the
surrounding towns, but there wasn’t really much around so most of the time we
would just be at the farm looking after the animals, and surprisingly I
actually ended up helping out with the horses every day, and Judith even
managed to ride Jimmy bare back and get his saddle on him which no one has done
for a while. Unfortunately just before we were going to be leaving Sophie
decided that she wanted to move on and do some travelling in other countries in
the time she had off, so one morning I took her on a four hour round trip to
Brisbane where she stayed the night until she got on a plane the next day to go
to Airlie Beach and catch up with a family friend. It was sad to see her go but
it’s good for her. So that just leaves Judith and Me to finish the journey to
Alice Springs. When Gerry and Corinne got back home they offered us to stay a
few days and so some work around the farm for cash, so naturally we agreed.
Gerry taught us how to chainsaw, and I was cutting down trees and chopping them
up into smaller pieces, not sure the English health and safety would approve
but I’m still here so it can’t have been that bad, and he also taught us how to
use and the front end loader tractor. Judith and I had great fun over those few
days and we got paid for it, even better! Then it was time to leave and head on
up to Surfers Paradise.
