We headed off early in the morning, about 6:15am, to catch the early light on The Breakaways, a line of eroded hills about 20k out of town. Along the way we drove along the dog fence. Over 5,000k of wire fencing to keep the dingoes north and the sheep safe. And on the other side moon plain, nothing but rocks and wisps of grass as far as the eye can see. The Breakaways were stunning, unfortunately I had the camera on night settings so I will have to go back tomorrow. On our way back, we got held up by some people who were doing a photo shoot. Looked like a good eating ad fopr school kids. There was a bunch of young kids at a picnic table, with the backdrop of the first photo below, and a bunch of nice fruit in their bowls. We will have to eat healthy!
Yes our shadow from the top of the adjacent hill
We came back and did an early morning shop and had second breakfast. Then, because we had found God, we hit the local Anglican Church. The minister there was really friendly and pushed us around for his view on the best photo poses. The church has a mulga cross and a miner's rig for an altar. Of course it is underground.
The air vents above the altar
After that we went to Tom's mine, for a wander around the underground tunnels. Interesting to see the shafts, ladders and chairs they used to get in. We were on our own in the tunnels, checking out the equipment and the diggings....some more recent. So this is where Marjan went noodling, which is kinda like amateur mining, just fart-arseing around diggings looking for bits of opal. Marjan seemed to really get into the spirit and it was hard to pull her away from her bits of noodling. We did actually find some of the opal material, but without colour, which makes it worthless 'potch' rather than valuable opal. Marjan is convinced she sees some colour in a couple of the pieces we are bringing back in a zip-lock bag. Do not burst her noodling bubble!
Marjan divining for opal
Luckily they had easier exits
We then did a bit of a look at a little museum/opal shop. Interesting examples of plesiasaurus bones, and opalised shells etc.
By then it was warmish so we headed back to our room, got underground and had something to eat and a nap.
In the afternoon we checked out a couple of other churches. The Serbian Orthodox is quite impressive with the ceiling carved in the shape of many orthodox churches and the carvings of saints in the walls. Of course we visited the Catholic church.......Catholics are best, burn all the rest!........ it fell somewhere between the Serbian grandeur and the Anglican folksy!
Then back out on the road to look at the diggings. The photos do not really explain the ugliness. These go on forever into the distance. Also the place is full of holes and there has never been a requirement to fill in the holes. So kilometer after kilometer of test holes and their mounds. Amazing.
We are now having another rest, having fled the heat, and dust.....have I meantioned the dust......
Oh by the way...I have worked out the price of gypsum....if I can get a cubic kilometer back to Melbourne, I can afford to shout you all dinner........I wish I had a tow ball!
No comments:
Post a Comment