The bus St.Monans

This morning I woke up and went about my normal routine. But after I had finished breakfast and feeding the chickens, I went back to my room to pack. It was another totally wonderful spring day, so I opened up the windows and let the breeze come in as I changed my sheets. I packed my bag, shifting and re shifting the contents several times. The shirt folding trick that I learned from my fellow American WWOOFer, Mike, really helped me get all my stuff organized. Soon enough both my rolling back and backpack were ready to go. By this time, Diana had lunch ready and we ate. Afterwards, I went for a small walk around the farm, really trying to soak in its beauty and appreciate my last afternoon there. It was another quintessential spring day. So great.

Hugo!

At 3 o'clock Diana drove me to the Kirkcaldy bus station where I caught the X60 bus towards St.Andrews. It was only supposed to take about an hour, but because of a crash near Leven, the buses had to re arrange their routes. Instead of going along the coast, we ended up going way in land, along country roads past farm after farm. It was actually quite enjoyable. I really liked seeing all the old farm buildings and how they differed from where I just was. Some of the roads were so narrow, that the bus had to go up on the grass and the cars coming the other way had to back up and out of the way. It was quite entertaining and I applaud the bus driver.

Then finally it was the stop for St.Monans. I got off, grabbed my bag and went to the cottage. Once I found it, I unlocked the lock box and got they key. Then I was inside! Success. I made it there and into the cottage without any issues. Woo! I unpacked and walked up to the corner market to get a few more groceries. The selection wasn't great, but it was just enough for tonight. Then I went for a small walk around the town, just to take a few pictures and get the lay of the land. 

This cottage is totally amazing. It has everything one could need and it is about 100 steps away from the ocean. The whole village is looks great, just from my first look around. 

The Iceberg Cottage!

Look at these buildings!!

This little fishing village is so beautiful, I can't wait to explore it in the week to come!
 

My last official day on Craigencalt Farm

 So today was my last official day working on the farm. It hard to believe that my time here is already done. It feels like I have been here forever (mostly because I feel so at home) but the weeks have also just FLEW by. 

Anyway, today was Hella's last day, so after we had breakfast, I went out to work and she began to pack up. As usual, I went down to feed the chickens and gather the eggs. This morning routine has become so familiar, it's hard fathom this was my last day of doing it. 

The bins of chicken feed. That the chickens like to poop on top of...

Top view of the chicken house. Still think it would make a cool cafe.

Craigencalt :)

Then Richard sent me out to put more bamboo sticks in the plastic tubes in which some baby pine trees are growing. It was another windy day and they were being blown about, so they needed some extra support.
 

View of the farmhouse with the Binn in the background.

The baby pines in the pink tubes (helps them get started growing)

The hill with the baby pines.

I then patched up the last few holes in the netting, and after I finished, Richard and I made another trip to the recycling center. I have been there more times than I have  been to anywhere else in Scotland. It's really quite wonderful. Remember that folks; the Kirkcaldy recycling center is a must see when you come to Scotland! 
 

Last time working on the netting :)

Here are some photos of the farm that I took when I was walking inside for lunch. I was getting all nostalgic and sentimental today, so I took a butt ton of photos...
 

Over lunch, Diana, Hella and I had a really fun conversation. As it turns out Hella too had a baseball cap she never took off when she was little... It was kind of a bummer that she was leaving today because we were becoming such good friends. We had quite a lot of fun together in such a short amount of time and I feel very lucky to have met her. I wish her luck with her further travels and university. So spielt das Leben...

After lunch Diana took Hella to the train station in Kirkcaldy so she could catch her  2 o'clock train to Inverness. I went along, but Diana dropped me off in Kinghorn so I could buy some groceries for my time in St.Monans. So we said our goodbyes, promising to stay in touch. I hope we do. I had a blast meeting yet another cool WWOOFing companion. :)

I mulled around the little co-op for a while, trying to decide and realizing the only thing my brain could come up with to buy was bread and pasta... I finally made my choices and got a few essential things. Including an Irn Bru. Which is a Scottish soda that is described as "Scotland's other national drink" (the other being whiskey).  It was pretty good. Another cultural experience done :P
 

When I returned from shopping, I went over to the jewelry shop to help out. I did a bit of digging, then went inside to help with counting and weighing stock. Again it felt so strange to think that it was my last time doing so... It had become such a regular part of my day. Anyway, at the end of the day, I did all my gift buying for everyone back home. And myself... 

I came inside and Diana had me quickly mix up some muesli, which was pretty fun to do!
 

I began to organize my things, folding a few things and getting ready for my departure in the morning. 
 

Look how efficiently I've learned to pack. (thank you Mike!!)

I then went for a walk to enjoy my last proper evening on the farm. 
 

This bench I discovered the first day I got here...it became my favorite spot to come and sit.

I walked down the lane, then to the top of the hill and sat on the bench over looking the loch. It really is such a fantastic view and I count myself lucky to have had it as my surroundings for the past few weeks. 
 

The Scottish Green Marble ring I got!

A

 By the time I finished my walk, it was around time for dinner, so I headed up to the tree house. Adam made me a salad with smoked salmon, walnut bread and a veggie pizza. It was really really good. I will not be eating this good for a while, so I very much enjoyed it. Everyone here is so good at cooking...

Dinner!

My time here at Craigencalt has been beyond wonderful. I have met some incredible people and learned a lot about planting, jewelry making, fencing, and myself. This experience has been nothing but positive and I am so glad I did this. I truly feel I have found a home here and I hope some day to come back. 
When I was emailing with Adam before I came one of them he ended with this "p.s our farm is a magic place with magic people.we are looking forward to meeting you to help us contribute to the magic."

I can definitely say that this place really is magic.  

LESSONS LEARNED:
- Don't be afraid of new/different things, be open and see where it leads you.
-Just go with the flow.
-Enjoy every second.
-I don't like digging.
- And finally; Universal truths must be learned through experience to be truly understood. 

What I mean by that is, we all know that we should  "seize the day" or "be yourself", but those are just words until you experience something that makes you really believe it. For example, I have always tried to live by carpe diam, and have always understood why I should, but not until this trip have I actually started to do so. 

Anyway, thanks for reading about my time here are the farm and my philosophical ramblings. 

Pettycur Bay and a double rainbow

Neither Hella and I got out of bed until around 10:30 this morning. After all the walking of yesterday, today was slow to get started. But it was nice to just lie there, the sun streaming in through the window in our room, as it does in the mornings, and relax. So by the time we had breakfast it probably was more of a brunch...

After "breakfast" we just relaxed in our room, planning our next travels. Hella leaves on tomorrow for a farm up near the Isle of Skye. Jealous. And I leave on Tuesday for a cottage in the small fishing village of St.Monans thanks to a very generous friend of my moms. Thank you!

So we were both doing research and counting our money. I started to make a list of expenses because it will help me keep track of things. So far I have only spend money on public transport which is pretty good. Then I listened to a new band I've just discovered called The Head and the Heart and finished up my blog post on Edinburgh. Woo! 

At about 1, we went out to go for a walk down to a place called Pettycur Bay. It is a picturesque beach on the west side of Kinghorn. The wind picked up and it began to rain. Dark clouds spit rain and the wind whipped it in our faces as we walked. In spite of the weather, we continued on; hoods up, heads bent, and by the time we arrived at the beach, the sun was on its way out again.

Love my camera for that panorama feature. :)

We walked along the beach and it was wonderfully sunny again. One of my favorite things to do is scramble and clamber along the rocks on a beach. And that's exactly what I got to do. We slowly walked up the beach while taking plenty of pictures.

Hella on the beach taking a photo.

Looking back on the beach.

We had just arrived on the other end of the beach when dark clouds began to roll in again. It amazing how quickly weather can change the face of the sea. It went from a pleasant blue to a dark, foreboding gray that warned of turmoil. 
 

The dark rain clouds.

Saw this guy kite boarding, how cool!

As the cloud came closer and closer, we turned around trying to outrun the rain. Sure enough, we had just crossing the road to the farm when it caught up to us. We came inside and had a nice cup of tea. 
 

Kitchen window reflection.

I was doing some more research about travel plans, when I remembered that I had promised Adam I would water his plants in the poly tunnel for him. So I grabbed my camera, my jacket and put on my now very well worn in Wellies. I walked up the tire stairs, past the tree house, to the little poly tunnel where Adam grows all his vegetables.

Inside the party barn, which is right next to the poly tunnel.

After I finished watering all the plants, I took a wee walk around the grounds, thinking about how much I love it here. It began to rain again, but I just put up my hood and kept going. This farm is like some kind of nirvana or something. I feel so whole when I am here, it feels like home. I don't know whether or not I believe in fate, but if it's real than that's what brought me to this place. I feel as though I was meant to come here and experience this. In just a couple of weeks I have learned more about myself than I ever have before. So far this experience has been nothing but positive, and I cannot applaud myself more for choosing to take this gap year. 

Anyway, I was just thinking these things, when the sun appeared and rainbow began to form. At first barley noticeable, then strong and bold. The symbolism is killing me...
 

 

For what seemed like an eternity, although it was probably only thirty seconds, I watched with amazement and awe at the colors painted across the sky. It was such an incredible moment, I can't really put the feeling into words. It was sort of like every moment of the gap year and everything that went with it lead up to those thirty seconds. It seems ridiculous to say, but that's how it felt. 
 

Anyway, it was an incredible afternoon. I will miss this farm, but if there is anything that I've learned on this trip, it is to enjoy the moments you have in the present. So that's what I will do. Enjoy every second as it comes.