After our ten hour drive had turned into fifteen, we finally arrived in Glenworth Valley, Peats Ridge. Because we had been taking it in turns to drive and sleep, we were relatively refreshed, but we were also three hours late for Ash’s six hour volunteer shift. We were introduced to a few other volunteers before Ash managed to get half a shift in. Everyone seemed friendly and welcoming, but I have never seen so much tie-dye, dreadlocks, or female body hair in one place. We had been told about the type of music and atmosphere at the festival, but for some reason were not expecting hippies. Not that I’m judging, it was just a bit of a shock to the system after Byron Bay. While Ash and Toby worked I drove to the nearest Woolworths for supplies, got lost, and arrived back in the dead of night.

I was due to start work at 9am the next morning, and when I awoke at 10.30, decided it was time to stop pretending I was going to work at this festival. Instead I conceded the deposit, then began to relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Glenworth Valley. Not that there was much else to do, in fact the most interesting event of our day was being offered home made space cookies by a hairy, dreadlocked woman in a top hat.

The next day actually saw us attend the opening ceremony of the festival, which showcased some Aboriginal dances and traditions from the area, as Glenworth Valley was once inhabited by Aboriginal people. Toby also entered a raffle to win a car.

On the evening we swung by the Bohemian Love Theatre, where people were getting naked before entering. This aroused our interest. However the sight of an aging, rotund woman at the entrance, wearing a very see-trough dress dampened our enthusiasm. We decided more drinks were needed and went to Absinthe hour instead.

Before long we were in the Love Theatre, but most of the nakedness had finished. The bizarre experience ended with everyone dancing and throwing cushions in the air. All good fun, until Ash launched a cushion across the theatre towards the lead singer. For a second it looked like disaster, but luckily the cushion just missed him. Instead it absolutely nailed the backing signer stood next him, in the face. We quickly left to go and see a few bands.

A proper festival day followed, as we slowly drank the afternoon away, saw some bands, and made friends with our neighbors. We had been told to see The Jezabels in the evening, which was actually pretty sweet. Not sweet enough to stop Toby and I leaving half way through to get some more drinks though. We also met Kate, who would later be putting us up for a few nights in Sydney, and ended the night dancing to 70’s tunes in Vic’s Disco Tent.

The next day we were at the van, sipping wine in the sun, when we heard Toby’s bristol accent shouting “I won the car! I won the car!”. Unbelievably he had won the raffle and bagged himself a Toyota Camry. A go faster stripe, and spoiler made from a fence post were included.

New Years Eve night was pretty typical in the sense that it involved lots of drinking, dressing up and partying. However we were getting dressed up for a masquerade ball and partying with Australians we had met the day before. We all planned to meet up at the main stage for midnight, but I’m not sure whether or not that happened. The Absinthe was all too tempting for me, and all I remember is waking up in the Bohemian Love Theatre. Apparently you’re not supposed to sleep in there.

New Years Day involved a morning visit to the swimming hole and the closing ceremony. I watched from the back while Toby and Nadine, our German neighbor, went up and got involved in the Aboriginal dance.

After saying goodbye to everyone we set about scavenging the campsite. Ash and I got a new tent, 2 tarps, a chair, and a hammock for the van, but stayed away from perishables or clothing. Toby on the other hand got a full kitchen set, orange juice, wine, snacks, chairs, a sarong… and the list goes on!

We headed for Shelly Beach to recover. This meant us sleeping by the side of the road in the van, but meant we could wake up, have breakfast by the beach and go for a swim and shower. A short recovery period that meant we were ready to hit Sydney.