My time at Lightning Ridge 2013

A catch up of days past

After my first night here I figured it to be in my best interest to book for another two nights so the grand total is $128 for 4 nights, I also will do a clothes wash and dry for $6.

I'm reviewing all the information I received from the information centre.  There are self drives or tours that will pick up from the gates of the caravan park. The park office girls say they will look after Ruby in a spot behind the counter for the duration of the tour if I choose to go that way. The tours are called 'car door tours' with actual coloured car doors at the entrance to each tour and with the map from the information centre to explain and educate along the way, off I go.
                      

                                                 
On the green door tour I came to the highest point in Lightning Ridge, the best spot, the map tells me, to view magnificent sunsets. Being here to early for the sunset I enjoyed the lovely warmth of the day, this shot taken looking south west over the Coocoran Opal fields, I was standing near the first shaft dug in the area in 1815.
                      


A bazar relic of a house made from aluminum cans, ah! what
patients the builder had. The sign says the owner still resides nearby. 
No matter where you go outside of town you see all round what looks like dilapidated humpies made from scrap metal and corrugated iron, old caravans with poorly made additions and extensions surrounded by piles metal, disused cars, car parts and trucks scattered here and there with mounds and mounds of dirt dug from the miners shafts. Gives the feeling of hopelessness.
                         

But how do they live in these shambles, unless the outsider is deceived by the exterior look of the places. I hear some miners
choose to vacate the area for the summer months for a climate change , maybe they own lavish homes away from this dust bowl.
The mind boggles! why would they stay if they didn't reap reward from their hard work. I've spoken to a couple of locals, they are a happy go lucky bunch but they don't let on to what they have found in the way of Opal, only what they would like to find.

                              
        
And how about this beautiful bark, so amazing, I've never see a tree like it.

Got my days mixed up, was here longer than I thought. Anyway to continue I did my bit of fossicking, it was really peaceful listening to the birds and a warm breeze, I actually had a nana nap on the little stool I took with me, here with my bucket and spade.
  
                                            
               

This sign says it all,

                              
  

                       Should say noodle napping !!!

One of the many bloody deep holes around the place.

Spent some time in the local cemetery and many nights at the bore baths after which I went directly to the lovely showers of the caravan park. The baths are a fabulous place to hang out and talk to the locals.

This time out the only thing I've left behind is the charger for my little camera. I quite like having it on the ready in my pocket so I am missing it now that the battery has died.