There's a lot I haven't written about that I've been meaning to get around to. I'll start with the hot, hot, hot mid-December day I decided to hitch to Nimbin.

I left Brisbane a little too late in the morning on the 14th or 15th and went in search of a good spot to hitch. Along the way I popped into a small bookshop/cafe to try and find some cardboard to make a good sign.

In the shop I met Dave. Dave has been hiding out in Australia, albeit somewhat illegally, for over 25 years. He came here from California in the 70s and hasn't ever left. After he found something for me to write on and then did me one better. Dave became my first ride on the long road to Nimbin.

My first ride didn't take me all that far. He dropped me off just outside Brisbane on a decent spot to catch the next lift. I'm always amazed when single women pick me up - especially when they have a child in the car. I come from a culture, as most people I know, where you're supposed to be too scared to pick up strangers standing on the motorway. A woman alone or especially a woman with a child in the car would seem to be an irregular site on the road to hitching. Nevertheless I didn't wait long before a single monther and her 9 year old boy screeched to a stop in the middle of the road in front of me. I was on my way again.

Mary dropped me not far down the road where she was turning off in Logan. While I was grateful for the ride and conversation with this interesting woman Logan isn't far at all from Brisbane. I this case I thought I may never make it to Nimbin. It turned out I was partly right.

After trying for well over an hour in Logan to find anything close to a decent hitching spot I got a quick ride from a truck driver. He took me down the road a few miles to a much better spot. This time I started hitching directly from the motorway. This is supposedly illegal but even the police waved at me when they passed by. Most Australians are VERY friendly.

My fourth ride scared more than a few other drivers when he veered across three lanes of traffic to stop and pick me up. After I happily accepted his ride he explained to me that he almost always stops for hitchers. He often hitches himself and wants to "keep the hitching kharma going". Good for me!

Like the three lifts before Kharma Man wasn't able to take me more than a few miles down the road. At this pace I might see Nimbin by the time my 3 month visa expired. Maybe.

My fifth ride of the day picked me up almost immediately. Sean quickly proved to be one of the nicest guys I'd ever met when within the first ten minutes of the ride he invited me to spend Christmas on the beach with his wife and four children. More immediately he tempted me to chuck out my plans to reach Nimbin for the day and end my journey for the night at his home at Ocean Shores. I happily accepted and my body burned from the long day's sun thanked me for it.

Sean took me out to his favorite local pub in a tiny Australian town. As I remember it the pub was the only real business of the village of Billingungel. Maybe I'm wrong but I like to remember it that way.

Sean and his family were spectacularly hospitable. His wife Louise cooked us up some great grub and I got a much needed shower. I enjoyed visiting with them all.

After saying goodbye the next day I had four more ride that took me through beautiful and lively Byron Bay, the most eastern point in Australia, and eventually to Nimbin. The 8th ride was in the backseat with a loving dog driven by a guy who looked almost identical to Ozzy Osbourne. But I could understand this man far too well so it couldn't be him:)

Although it took me MUCH longer than expected I eventually made it to Doug's Rainbow Retreat in Nimbin. While it was long and hot I had the best time traveling. I love hitching!

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Posted December 30, 2004 06:09 PM @ (GMT - 6)