Travel Diary of Jim & Liz T9307

Deteriorating weather and increased diesel costs enough to deter travel you would think, especially given the kilometres we are to journey to reach our desired destination; the Gulf of Carpentaria, from the bottom to the top end of Australia virtually.
Though as usual we will live with this impost and get on and enjoy the journey and the experiences and friendships along the way.
Our preparation is no different to past years, the usual maintenance; changing oils, filters etc. Though on this occasion it included preparing the Motorhome for expected temperatures in the mid thirties plus celsius by fitting extra fans and extraction fans in the fridge compartment to increase the air flow to ensure chilled beverages for our happy hours.
As the usual we had farewell drinks with our friends in Binalong Bay, of course with a good meal and fine wine. Sunday morning arrived and it was time to do our final packing and head for Launceston for five days; then head for the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry for our journey off the island of Tasmania and onto mainland Australia.
As has become the norm we dropped into to see my sister at Carrick before heading for Devonport and the ship.
Our Resident Chef Friends at our farewell dinner Liz unpacking in cabin
The weather on the way to the ship was really terrible with rain squalls and high winds, on arrival at Devonport we elected to drive out to the bluff, parked up and had a cuppa.
Then we walked to the lighthouse on the headland and noted the turbulent sea that did not convince us we would experience a smooth voyage.
Then into to the city proper and had a quick look at the shopping centre and then over to East Devonport where we purchased fish & chips for tea. Then into the line at the ferry terminal and before we knew it we were on the ship.
Off to our cabin and prepared for the nights travel and then into the bar where we had a few drinks and watched the footie, Liz went off to bed and I elected to have a few more pots before retiring, on this occasion I did not elect to stay until closing time.
It was quite a good trip with very little movement in the ship at all, we both had a good nights sleep. With all the sea voyages to date we have not experienced a rough trip.
Sunday the 7th
Under the shower at 6am and before we knew it we were sitting in the Motorhome waiting to disembark; and what a dreary day in Melbourne it was, with rain and high winds with predictions of thunderstorms being broadcast on local radio.
We pulled up outside the Victoria Markets and had our breakfast and then went walkabout waiting for the markets to open. On their opening we stocked up with vegetables and meat, the meat was of good quality and compared to our prices at home was quite cheap.
On the highway and we were pushing a stiff breeze and really doing it hard, we pulled into top up with diesel and paid $1.41.9 per litre. Another ten kilometres on diesel was $1.31.9, those are the breaks I suppose.
Fortunately we were to miss by mere minutes a fatal accident that killed the driver and seriously injured his son on the Western Ring Road exit onto the Hume Highway. On turning onto the Hume and onto the Shepparton highway we were no longer pushing the wind and the Motorhome was going along much better.
It was noticeable that in the twelve months since we travelled this way that the housing sub divisions alongside the highway has steadily crept north and though not having large backyards they appear to be quite large and with some rather ostentatious.
Our next stop was at Lake Nambucca where we encountered the dreaded Corella’s screeching, this is something we will need to get used to over the coming months as we head north. The Lake itself was very rough with the high winds, even the seagulls were perched on the bank facing the wind.
Of course we checked out the local bric a brac shop and el cheapo and then purchased bread roll for our future lunches.
We decided to bypass Shepparton city centre and headed off to the Campbell’s Soup Factory in East Shepparton, to try some of their hot soup samples for lunch, unfortunately they do not open on Sundays for door sales so we sat in their car park and had salad rolls a bit a let down.
Back on the road and the day did not get any warmer remaining around 9 degrees and before we knew it we had arrived at Tocumwal on the Victorian side of the border with NSW.
Lo and behold there was Bob & Mona from Tassie and after setting up we had our happy hour with them and then inside for the night for it was to cold to stay outdoors. If the weather remains this way tomorrow we will move on and not stick around for a few days on the banks of the beautiful Murray River as we had first anticipated.
Kilometres travelled 282
Our Camp on the Murray River Wood Ducks close to our camp Final setup of camp and cooking the evening meal

Monday the 8th
Awoke to a crisp morning of 6 degrees with magpies chortling and sometime thereafter the dreaded Corella's, though it was sunny without a cloud in the sky which would remain for most of the day. While relaxing we were to hear the squeals of Koala's so out came the camera and off to take photographs, we were to see four all told and they are very much at home in the Murray River red gums.
After doing the final setting up of the campsite it was pack rolls for lunch and head off for Yarrawonga.We were to pass many orchids of mandarins and stone fruits plus there were many grape vines and on investigation they are mainly grown for table use and not wine.
There are many canals carrying water from the Murray to irrigate the many orchids and vineyards and cotton crops.
Of course we were to pass many roadside stalls plus selling fruit and vegetables, we came across the Big Strawberry advertising strawberry's and ice cream or fresh cream.
On the way we stopped at Cobram and of course went into the local op shop, though Liz only purchased knitting needles and then onto Go Lo another form of Chicken Feed, though the prices are much lower; we were to make several purchases.
Then into IGA for a few groceries and veggies and checked out grocery prices: we also bought two 5 litre casks of wine for twenty dollars and noted that you could buy two cartons of Boags draught for $60 plus a free t-shirt; unlike home the supermarkets are able to sell all types of Alcohol. We then moved onto Yarrawonga for our lunch.
We stopped by the lake and took in the beaut views and noted there was much more water in the lake than last year and the area was pristine with wood ducks and Major Mitchell Galahs feeding around the waters edge along with sea gulls of course.
During our lunch we noticed an old DC3 aircraft on the NSW side of the lake we were determined to check it out, we packed up and drove across the bridge into NSW and noted that the aircraft was behind the RSL Club.
It was a RAAF DC3 used in the Second World War, the club is the biggest I have seen and the motel accommodation was huge all very modern, no doubt the product of poker machines.
We decided not to travel back the same way we came so we headed off to do the loop back to Tocumwal, the orchards had disappeared and was replaced by huge acreage’s of wheat paddocks and no doubt other grains. Somehow I missed the turn off to Tocumwal and ended up in Findlay on the Newell Highway well out of our way. One bonus is that the diesel in Findlay is two cents cheaper than Toc. (the locals of Tocumwal and surrounds call their town “Toc”) therefore that is where will fill up.
We finally made it home and cranked up the campfire and Liz cooked our silverside for tea which was very tasty, as the night closed in it became very chilly so we went inside and watched television until we retired to bed. In all it has been a excellent day which was most enjoyable even if we did something like 70 kilometres more than we should have due to taking the wrong turnoff.
Kilometres travelled in "Digger" 176
Koala at Tocumwal Picnic at Yarrawonga Old DC 3 at Yarrawonga RSL Club
Tuesday the 9th
Awoke this morning to the screeching of what seemed like a thousand Corella’s, noisy buggers, though the Koala’s have gone missing; does this mean a further change in the weather? Out for my morning walk again and there was ten to dozen big grey Kangaroo’s grazing along the track running along the river. Once again; I walked over the border into NSW to get the Victorian morning newspaper. The morning was overcast and on the chilly side, on my return and after breakfast I collected Murray River Gum that has a beautiful reddish tinge for our future campfires later on, given that it burns well and makes a lot of red hot coals. It should make excellent bread and scones in the camp oven.
Of course the fire was lit and Liz made a large boiler of vegetable soup for us when we get on the road tomorrow for our evening meals. I am looking forward to enjoying it.
Then it was time to wash all the road grime that poor old Digger had thrown over it by the Motorhome during the rain periods out of Melbourne, out with the bucket stood on the bank of the Murray and threw in the bucket for water while I held the rope. Or could I say thought I had hold of the rope, there was the bucket full of water drifting down the river; in I went to retrieve it and had to go in up to my knees. Thankfully nobody had seen what I had done.
Liz then asked how come my jeans were wet up to my knees, oh! well good try on my part and in due course Digger was clean again, though I was feeling a little sheepish about the rope and bucket.
We then drove around to Tocumwal and into the shower, mine was cold as could be and Liz’s was hot, so after she had finished I went into the woman’s and showered.
It wouldn't’ be right if we didn’t go and check out the op shops would it, we made a few purchases and as I stated if we keep this up we will need to hook on a trailer behind Digger to get the stuff home.
Back to the camp for lunch and then just relaxed and read for the rest of the afternoon given that we will be on the road tomorrow heading north. I am currently reading “The Runaway Jury” written by John Grisham.
Just before our evening meal I wandered off just to enjoy the Murray River as it winds its way to the sea in South Australia. I was surprised to come across Clive from the Van Demons Chapter who was pulling into the area to camp for the night, I discovered he came over on the same Ferry as us last Saturday; he is moving on up north, though I did not press him for further information.
I didn’t bother putting a line in the river for it is an area dedicated to breeding and hatching of the famous Murray Cod. It a requirement that you must be beside your rod at all times and if you catch a fish then you must release it back into the river immediately.
This can only be between the 1st of December and August 31st the other period is a no fishing at all. Due to the fact that NSW controls up to the high water mark both sides of the river you need a fishing licence, as you move further down towards South Australia there is no requirement for such a licence. There is no doubt that I probably infringed in previous years without realising the need for a licence.
Of course we had another good happy hour or two and met the new comers to the area, most are moving north, one woman who has been on the road for 11 years on her own has in fact been camped here since last November and leaves for Queensland tomorrow.
After tea we packed up and after my walk in the morning to get the paper we will be moving on around 9am up the Newell Highway.
We then settled in and watched Television and watched with great interest the freeing of the two trapped miners at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine on the various News Reports and then Liz watched "Dancing with the Stars".
Wednesday the 10th
This area of the Murray certainly has a diversity of birdlife, this morning it was Kookaburra’s that woke us, during the night there was very heavy rain so when going outside it was a welcome sight to see blue sky and the sun warming the morning.
This morning was my last walk into NSW to get the newspaper, again there were the big grey kangaroos and koala’s eating their morning meal, then back for breakfast, pack up and we headed off from one our favourite spots on the Murray; what a wonderful area that over the years appears to not have suffered by summer camping.
On the road and it didn’t take long for the many b-double trucks to appear like a line of caterpillars all doing about 100 kph. We stopped first at Finley on the Newell Highway and topped up with diesel for the trip ahead.
Before we knew it we were turning off the Newell and onto the Kidman Way on our way to Griffith where we intended to camp by the lake just out of the town.
We were travelling through wheat country and then without warning we were in the rice growing area of the Riverina, we stopped for a cuppa at Coleambally Lions Park and noticed the large old coal dragline shovel that would have been huge in 1935 though adjudged small by today's dragline shovels.
Back on the road and there were large rice silo’s and the paddocks banked with irrigation ditches running alongside, we were to drive many kilometres with these rice paddy’s on either side of the highway.
Then we were to come across grapes, citrus fruits and many wineries, a most productive area and all irrigated by the Murrumbidgee River, several times we were to cross this river and it did not look at all healthy, water wise.
We finally arrived at Griffith; it is a town of 24,000 servicing the rice, grape and fruit industries as well as the sheep and cattle farming community. We stopped at the Information Centre and were given extensive material which will assist us to have a good look at the area, that is, if we can keep away from the shopping centre.
Then out to Lake Wyangan and set up our camp, what a beautiful area not an overlarge lake and plenty of camping area, an added bonus was free power and you are able to stop here for 72 hours.
It was a beautiful warm day with plenty of sunshine so we settled in for our happy hour and just read and watched the pelicans and cormorants working the lake for fish. It was strange to watch the cormorants thrashing the water with their wings and then diving just under the water and getting fish. There had to be at least 100 plus with just as many pelicans doing the same, not to mention the many seagulls along with them.
When the sun went down we immediately headed inside and turned on the electric fan to warm the Motorhome up and after tea settled in to watch the tellie and then headed off to bed to read.
Kilometres travelled 216
1935 Coal Dragline, Coleambally Camped at Lake Wyangan Pelicans and Cormorants chasing fish on Lake Wyangan
Thursday the 11th
Another chilly night, though being on free power we had the electric heater going this morning, the missing ingredient was the birdlife with their morning callings that we had found enjoyable and had become accustomed to over previous mornings.
Off for my walk, which checked out later to be just a touch over four kilometres return, I noticed in the park they have an enclosure with small deer and goats who seem to be eating non stop, though when I approached they were very skittish not like the native hens that walk less than a metre from you when seated and reading.
The whole area around the lake is laid out beautifully with a camping area, a boat club, yacht club and a large picnic area complete with free electric barbecue.
The camping area is for a 72 hours only; though they tend to turn a blind eye to those who are working picking oranges at the moment and are camping in tents and caravans.
After breakfast and after completing the washing and showers we decided to do the tourist thing and spend the morning touring around looking at the many farms and orchards, and wineries.
The area for citrus, grapes and other fruits is vast and surrounds the city of Griffith's, the machinery is very large and all areas rely on irrigation channels for water taken from the Murrumbidgee River.
Then we decided to go to Mc Donalds for lunch where I had a big mac, which seemed to be smaller than they were a year ago with Liz a Tandoori Roll; though both junk food we enjoyed them given that later on the junk food outlets will not be available to us.
We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the shopping area and spent considerable time in the "Warehouse" where we purchased very little, though we were able to purchase special globes that we thought were no longer available, that is in Tasmania anyway.
The shopping centre is basically set out along both sides of the main street and just like other towns and cities new shopping plaza’s are currently being built away from the business centre of the city.
There must be plenty of money in the area for the style of housing being built on estates and other subdivisions is immense and expensive looking though keeping in line with trends they have no back yard, so to speak. There is a large Indian population in the area and it didn’t matter where you walked their presence was noticeable though it would be true to say we did not encounter any running any of the business’s that we went into. I always thought that they were merchants before any other occupation.
We returned home and stoked up the fire and then settled in to read deciding on an easy day, and of course the mandatory happy hour, there were many boats that ventured onto the lake to target yellow belly’s, though I did not see any fish landed.
The pelicans and cormorants were busy chasing fish again and on dusk there were what seemed like thousands of starlings swirling around trying to land on the four or five dead trees close to the shore, those that couldn’t make the trees seemed to land amongst the bulrushes on the shore line.
After tea we settled in to watch Tellie for it was to cold outside even by the fire, we are determined to take our time heading north for a multitude of reasons including the price of fuel.
Water Wheel Monument, Information Centre
Old Navy Plane outside Information Centre
Friday the 12th
The night was cold with the temperature in the motorhome being 5 degrees and on going outside there was a frost on Digger, the sun was just rising over the hill in the distance and it highlighted the mist on the lake, a most beautiful sight. This morning not only did I wear gloves also a beanie to help keep out the cold. My walk was quite brisk and it was a bonus to come across a flock of green Budgerigars feeding by the side of the road, unfortunately they took to the air before I could photograph them, likewise the grey Kangaroos who were about six foot tall that bounded away. After my return and breakfast we went into Griffith's to do the washing at the laundromat and then went up to the Foodworks Supermarket to stock up on vegetables that are really expensive. There is no doubt that we have provisions for the next six weeks so we only have to concentrate on paying the diesel bills.
On the way back to our camp by the Lake I pulled up and took photo's of the orange groves, back at camp Liz hung out the washing and then we had our lunch.
Sun rising over the lake with steaming waters Typical Orange Grove
After our lunch we decided to go and see if we could capture the spirit of Griffith, we decided to take the road out to the lookout and see how the city looked from a higher platform and the trip was well worth it. The landscape was excellent with the business centre placed away from the residential areas.
Unfortunately the new residential areas are being built on prime productive flat farm land, the ground appears to be of a volcanic nature with orange/stone fruit orchards and grape vines surrounding these new housing projects.
Section of the Business Centre Residential encroaching on Orchards New Church on ex farming and Orchard land
Then it was onto the various lookouts on top of the only hill that can be seen for many kilometres, given that all the farming and orchards plus the City and its surrounds are built on the flat ground that abounds. We were to come across the "Hermit Caves" which on investigation were quite unique. Folklore has it that there existed a series of caves that contained a kitchen, chapel and gardens that had been established by an Italian named Valerio Recitti in the 1930's. The story goes that Valerio being an ex miner had become a recluse due to trouble mastering english and the customs of Australian people. He elected to create a home well away from civilisation in the cliffs of the hills surrounding Griffith. We explored the many caves and it was obvious even today that he had established a home of sorts away from the mainstream. Even during the second world war he was not interned with the rest of the Italian population until late in the war due to his isolation and people in general not being aware that he existed in that mountain area.
It is difficult to speak of the magnificent stone and cave home he had built amongst the cliffs overlooking uninhabited land that today is a productive fruit and farm land with housing estates below his old home. Valerio appeared to be self sufficient and by all reports did not suffer to any extent by his isolation from the general community.
Main sleeping Caves Residential Kitchen Valerio's Chapel
Returning to camp we noted that other happy campers had arrived in our absence and a few decided to come over and join us for happy hour; wherein we chewed the fat, discussing their and our future travel aspirations. One of the campers in a tent who is working picking oranges in the area came down intrigued with our barbecue and indicated that he in fact had looked at it early this morning before we awoke, he also gave us a large bag of oranges, which was good of him.
We stoked the fire up and noted the smoke descending over the city and lake area, and as each fisherman that arrived back at the launching ramp they indicated that the day had been a dead loss. The cold night air was starting to descend and it was time to cook our tea on the outside fire and due to the coolness we elected to have our meal indoors, turning on the electric heater and filling up the hot water bottles for later tonight.
All in all it has been a very enjoyable day with our travels around the area and talking to local people had exposed the character and charm of the city of Griffith and its surrounds.
So we settled in to watch tellie, unfortunately the AFL footie is not on until 11pm tonight for the the NSW Rugby takes pride of place on the tellie in this part of the country.
Residential& Farmland Valerio Territory Liz inspecting Valerio's Bedroom and Kitchen
Saturday the 13th
Fog and more fog, it was very thick over the lake this morning, it took some hours to clear and the interesting thing is it was not cold at all. This could have something to do with the southerly wind dropping off, being Saturday there was not the usual traffic heading into Griffith which included the three school bus's I had encountered over the past days.
The fog was just as thick on the road whilst walking and it looked strange to see a fellow on bike slowly appearing as if an apparition from the fog, I was not to see the birdlife this morning nor the Kangaroo's due to the fog no doubt.
Back at camp and the fire was stoked up for breakfast as the fog was slowly lifting, just near our camp are some dead trees and the branches were the resting site for a considerable amount of Cormorants who are really fishing the lake. Locals tells us that the Cormorants are catching small red fin and silver's. A few native hens were to appear and they are not at all scared and in fact come into our camp. The Budgerigars appeared by the lake however they were too skittish and difficult to photograph.
As the morning wore on there were many boats arrive and they went out onto the lake seeking yellow belly's (Golden Perch) we have yet to see any landed. It is interesting to note that no one in any of the boats wears a life jacket; maybe it is not mandatory to do so in NSW.
I decided to go and get another bag of wood for later use for we have decided to move on in the morning having seen most of what is to be seen in Griffith and its surrounds.
Lunch time arrived and we decided not to go driving today just enjoy the sun, the outside temperature is currently 19degrees, and read for the rest of the day, some of the locals and other campers came over to chew the fat and the first thing they spoke about was our fire and how it was constructed.
After happy hour we reloaded Digger and hooked up ready for an early start tomorrow morning, we will go back into Griffith and do a top up with diesel for it is $1.45.9 with the 4cents discount at Woollies, isn't it marvellous already we think this price is cheap and it probably is until we get into Queensland.
It’s a pain not being able to get AFL footie on the tellie so I will just watch the movie as Liz listens to the Collingwood v West Coast match on her radio.
Heavy fog on Lake Fog lifting to a fine day Cormorants perched on dead limbs of tree
Sunday the 14th
Last evening when I came outside I was taken with the view of the moon rising with the close of the day, a really magnificent sight; as a matter of fact the full moon was that bright that the night was as nearly as bright as day.
My last walk this morning for we will be leaving this wonderful campsite heading for Condobolin for our next camp as we head north.
We left Griffith with full water and diesel tanks around 10am, and what a glorious day without a cloud in the sky and just a slight breeze; on our way out of Griffith we were to drive though water channel country that irrigates the grapes and citrus and stone fruit the main industry of that area.
Moon rising over the Lake Wyangan Grain storage at Lake Cargelligo
We were to experience the warm sun coming in through the front window screen as we trundelled along, it wasn't long before we were entering wheat, sheep and beef country. There must have been thousands of hectares with wheat stubble from last years crop and other huge paddocks where they had burnt off the stubble. There were many water channels and we were to see the first Water Divots since leaving home. Soon we were climbing and going through forested areas before coming down off the plateau onto wheat country once more.
Lake Cargelligo Township of Lake Cargelligo Polished Agates
Just before we arrived at the township of Lake Caregello we were to see rail lines leading to huge grain storage silo's, so we can only assume that this area is a main grain receivable centre for the surrounding farms.
We dropped into the tourist information centre and they had excellent displays of Agates and some made into the shape of butterfly's, most impressive. Then as it is Mothers Day I thought as the children could not get through on the mobile I would take Liz for a Mothers Day's Lunch, however there was not much open and the pub was booked out. So the last resort was a pie and sausage roll in the park washed down with a Pepsi. Not all that good though Liz was not complaining.
Agates shaped as Butterfly's Liz with her Mothers Day Dinner Wild Camels
We then had a look around the town and then headed off towards Condobolin to set up camp, on the way we were to see our first wild Camels this trip, no doubt we shall see more as we wind our way up through outback NSW.
The countryside was basically the same with wheat paddocks as far as the eye could see, the most noticeable thing is the dryness of the countryside; rain is most desirable in this part of the country. It wasn't long before we were in Condobolin and heading out to our camp area at Gum Bend Lake which is only about five kilometres out of the town.
It was a pleasant surprise when we arrived, hot showers, toilets and grassed camping areas by the lake that has many types of birds on its surface.
Oh! Well off to happy hour under the cloudless sky with a temperature of 21 degrees and not a cloud on the sky and no wind, tonight if it isn't to cold we sit out by the fire or watch Tellie.
Kilometres travelled 257
Monday the 15th
It was much warmer last night when we went into watch tellie, we have lost the digital signal though the normal channels are there of course though they do not have the same quality of picture or sound. We were to hear the Indian Pacific train going through this morning on its way to Western Australia and of course he had to sound his horn which frightened the billy goats out of us.
I went for my usual walk and it was excellent to see the sun rising through the trees with a burnt orange look, I received a bit of a shock when this Rottweiler bounded past me at a rate of knots, thankfully his owner who was driving his car was just exercising the dog.
Digger loaded with firewood Swans on Gum Bend Lake Main Street of Condobolin

On returning to camp and after breakfast out came the chainsaw and we went out and cut a load of wood which we loaded into to Digger for we intend to have a good camp fire tonight and have a night away from the tellie.
We then sat and finished yesterdays paper and then drove into Condobolin to try and upload this section of the diary to the website (without luck), the town is very well set up with old buildings etc. We stopped at the library and found that they don't open mornings so on to the pub to check out the price of grog. Shock! Horror! the price was very high with the woman stating "you are in the bush now you know" so we pushed onto the post office and then into Vinnies where we were to purchase absolutely zilch.
We spotted an IGA Super Store so in we went and bought a bit of steak for tonight's tea and then checked out the price of grog, I bought a case of XXXX gold for $33.99 a saving of $5. The reason was that the special price ended yesterday and they had forgotten to increase the price back to $38.99 in the cool room, I insisted and they agreed to sell to me at yesterdays price. They had Boags Draught for sale at $49.99 a carton I didn't bother to buy any.
Back to camp for lunch and after that we walked around the Gum Bend Lake which was about five kilometres and were able to see all the wild ducks and swans etc that abound, the farm land just over the fence, so to speak, is absolutely dry with no feed for the cattle at all; as a matter of fact we were to hear the locals in town this morning talking about the dry spell and the future effect on the town.
We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the sun with a temperature of 24 degrees I was nearly tempted to put a pair of shorts on. There were nine more Motorhomes arrive and settle in.
Well its happy hour so I am off to enjoy the occasion, we then went up to the barbecues and made humongous steak, egg, onion and lettuce rolls for tea just for a change.
We then had our first big camp fire which attracted a few people some were good and others a pure pain in the backside, the latter received short shift.
As we travel further north it is getting warmer which is great and it wont be long before the shorts are out, it was 11pm before we headed for bed after experiencing another wonderful day.
Evening Camp Fire
Enjoying breakfast in the early morning sun

Tuesday the 16th
It was a wonderful night under the stars last night and by the campfire all under a full moon that really bright. This morning I increased the distance I walk for I believe that I might be putting on weight with all these happy-happy hours.
This evening we are talking of only having cups of tea instead of wine and beer, it will be interesting to see if we keep this promise to ourselves, the coals from our camp fire last night were still warm so it did not take long to get the fire going again to boil the billy and cook the toast.
It was a fine morning, no clouds again and the sun was warm enough at 9am to just wear a T-shirt not game for shorts just yet, around 11am a singlet was the call.
Whilst I gathered wood for the fire this evening Liz placed the sheets into soak overnight and hang out tomorrow, then we will read up until lunch time.
After lunch we went into Condobolin where we sought out an on line centre to up load this diary, we had to go to three places before we were successful and then discovered the Tasmail server was down, thankfully we were able to use the local server though it took nearly two hours with all the problems with servers. Then I found the local server was as slow as, so much for improving communications in the bush.
Then we returned to camp, which we are enjoying immensely, so much so we may stop another couple of days if the weather holds up, at the moment I am being pestered by four domestic ducks that live on the lake who are seeking to be fed. They are used to people for they come within a couple of feet of you. Unfortunately whilst we were having lunch earlier on of the silly buggers walked across the hot ashes of our fire; they certainly jumped and quacked no end, feeling sorry for them I went and obtained a piece of bread for them.
We are utilising the barbecue's tonight ("Restaurant in La Sky")and it will be good to capture the sunset over the lake especially with all the birdlife, then light up the camp fire and spend another night under the stars, oh! golly gosh it is hard to take.
"Restaurant in the Sky" Sun Setting over Lake & Swans by "Restaurant in the Sky"

Wednesday the 17th
For the sake of repeating myself I have to say that the reason we have stopped longer than we anticipated is due the the excellent facilities and the views across the lake at Gum Bend Lake camp area. Using the barbecues and cooking our meal while watching the prolific birdlife on the lake and the sun setting with its golden tinge and then crimson just before dark is some of the best scenery we have seen to date.
This morning I went for my walk a little earlier and the sun rising in a cloudless sky is truly beautiful, though I felt a little apprehensive with a Rottweiler running past me at full stretch; again the owner was in his car pacing the dog.
Back at camp and the embers from last nights fire enabled us to re-ignite the fire for our breakfast, toast and the kettle onto boil for our drink, as it will be our last night tonight we intend to have a large fire so I went and cut more wood and maybe the other campers will join us as they did last night.
We decided to drive out to the Mt Tilga lookout which is reputed to be the centre of NSW, on the way we were to drive past huge grain storage silo's and ground storage vats. The countryside itself is very dry and the area is obviously wheat and other grains country with very few cattle or sheep.
Poor old Digger first it had the indignity of gravel and then the steep climb to the top of the mountain and some of the ruts in the track that we had to straddle would have swallowed us up had we slipped into them.
The track finished at the base of the mountain which meant the climb up was very steep, I had several stops on the way up and Liz had totally the wrong shoes on to climb this sort track.
The plains from Mt Tilga Mt Tilga lookout towards Cobar Condobolin township from town lookout
On arriving on the summit the panoramic view was absolutely amazing, the 360 degree view was unimpeded and you could see the mountain ranges in the west that signal Cobar and the land around the mountain was as flat as can be with mountain ranges in the far distance and no doubt we will need to climb them tomorrow on our trip north. There was dust rising in the distance from the ploughing of the huge paddocks no doubt to sow wheat and other grains.
Down and we headed back to Condobolin and up to the town lookout and looking back we could see the mountain we had been up which is supposed to be the centre of NSW, the view over the town was nice with the Catholic Church being the largest structure and the town is absolutely full of trees. As the day was getting on we went down to the supermarket to buy fresh meat for our barbie tonight at our "Restaurant in La Sky" rather than use our frozen food given that the price of meat is still reasonable and over the next couple of weeks that will change; that's when we will use our frozen supplies. In the supermarket Cabbages & Cauliflowers were $7.98 and they were not very big and Broccoli was $8.99 a kilo, vegetables are a terrible price I just don't know how locals can afford them. Bananas are $11.95 per kilo.
We then went back to camp for a late lunch and then it was dismantle our camp hooking Digger up for our journey tomorrow.
The day was a warm 25 degrees with little breeze and no humidity, our friends the ducks came and gave us another visit quacking away looking for food though today we did not encourage them.
Our evening meal was great and the view of the birdlife and the sun setting is as good as gets, over by our fire and it was really stoked up and as I thought would happen other campers came over and we chewed the fat for the last time before we go our separate ways. All in all it has been a bloody good day Mate! and lets not forget the happy hour/s.
Our camp at Condobolin Last sunset at our "Restaurant Wheat silo's and storage at Tullamore

Thursday the 18th
After my walk this morning we said our farewell's to the other Motorhomer's, had our showers and had one last look at Gum Bend Lake and all its birdlife and then on the road into Condobolin to top up with diesel at $1.49 a litre and then onto Bogan Gate.
We have elected to travel by the backroads to get to Lightning Ridge just for a change of scenery and away from the main highways, we believe quite frankly it is worth it. The countryside we are driving through is very dry and it is hard to understand what the cattle and sheep are living on, the locals have indicated that they are nearly in drought conditions and we believe it.
The farms on the road to Bogan Gate are mainly wheat production and it goes as far as the eye can see, the going for the motorhome was easy with no wind and dead flat highway to travel on.
On arriving at Bogan Gate we stopped and had a look around at the old buildings especially the pub which is need of major repairs to bring it back to life, a lot of the other buildings are in disrepair which is a sad sight and does not auger well for the future of the town, we believe.
Back on the road we then turned to go to Tullamore and alongside each of the road we were to see cotton than had no doubt blown off the trucks, though we were to see no Cotton Gins or storage depots and just before Tullamore the cotton laying on the side of the road ceased and we were into wheat country once again as far as the eye could see. Tullamore was much the same as the previous towns we had come through though their buildings were in much better condition, then we pushed onto Tottenham.
The road was in excellent condition and the land still flat for most of the way; then it started to undulate before we started climbing small hills which were either timbered or ploughed paddocks, we had to shed our jumpers for the day was warming up and was 26 degrees in the cabin with the sun coming in through the front window screen.
We arrived in Tullamore and stopped and stretched our legs and had a look around the immediate vicinity, again the town services the farming community, I didn't bother to take any photo's.
Single Bitumen on way to Nevertire
Warren Cotton Gin

Back on the road and we took a turn towards Nevertire, a strange name for for a town though we never enquired why it was so called and then we turned onto the highway towards Warren, we were in for a surprise for the road then turned to single lane bitumen and it was quite an ordeal to meet cars; let alone the couple of trucks, the cars pulled over and let us use the full bitumen and we pulled off and let the trucks have the road.
After about thirty kilometres it went back to two lane where they had been utilising the Roads to Nowhere funding to double the width of the road, we were to see cotton on the sides of the road again and then we came across the channels carrying water and the paddocks prepared for flooding to grow the cotton. Cotton being a water hungry plant to grow one can only assume that they must pump from a nearby river or lake or from the artesian bore?.
We then came across a Cotton Gin and there was plenty of Cotton stored, on the other end of the Gin they were loading up the finished product for shipping no doubt. We decided to stop for lunch and enjoy the heat of the day and then moved on to our roadside rest area some eleven kilometres short of Warren. On one side is the highway and the other the train line it should make for an interesting night.
I am currently wearing a singlet though I haven't ventured to shorts as yet, we gathered wood for our barbie and fire tonight and unlike our previous camp we have clouds in the sky though not rain clouds. So we will relax for the rest of the afternoon and see if any others come into the site.
Kilometres travelled 275
Galvinised Galahs Cattle in the long Paddock Steel mesh covering windows food store Walgett

Friday the 19th
Awoke to the noise of road trains passing our Sandy Creek rest area this morning, and for the life of me I do not know why they call it that for there is no sand at all in the dried up creek.
Walking along the highway; a bit of a risk given the traffic at 6:45am this morning, I couldn't believe the amount vehicles that was helter skeltering, though it was a pleasant walk and very flat going.
Back in camp we did our final packing and said our farewells to Maurie & Shirley who had come into the rest area late last night, we had met them both at one of our Chapter Rally's at Sidmouth a couple of years ago, we remembered Shirley as the keyboard lady. Maurie was on his HF radio so I had the opportunity to speak to Ray of Pegray fame who is currently in Western Australia.
On the road and into Warren and when arriving we noted the town basically serviced the cotton and wheat industry that abounds in the area, then it was on to Coonamble the next sector of our travels to Lightning Ridge.
We came across galvanised tin models of the Major Mitchell Galah about five kilometres short of the town, we stopped and took photo's then when arriving went to purchase a newspaper and found they had all been sold out. Down to the so called cheap diesel to top up after being told that fuel in Lightning Ridge was expensive. As it was we had to pay $1.51.9 per litre. We moved on noting that the countryside was in drought conditions, fifty Kilometres on we turned onto the Castlereigh Highway heading towards Walgett, then we noted that the countryside had greened up and found many cattle feeding on the long paddock, with their charge hands either sitting in four wheel drives or ute's and caravans not a horse in sight, all signs indicated that this stretch of highway is the stock route. We pulled into a rest area for lunch and met another couple of motorhomer's that we had met last year and for the life of us we could not recall their names so "Mate" sufficed. We had a good chin wag and then lunch and headed the last few kilometres into Walgett to buy today's paper.
What an unpleasant shock to see all shops, pubs and motels all having steel shutters or steel mesh over windows and the pub and motel had high steel fences encircling them. We had been told further back down the road to beware of this town for you could be robbed or bashed or both, we took this with a grain of salt when we were told. There is no doubt given the way buildings are fortified they have trouble supposedly from the indigenous people in the town and surrounding areas.
We stopped only long enough to buy the paper and we were on our way to Lightning Ridge.
Emu's
Entrance to Lightning Ridge

Back on the highway and we noted that paddocks and roadside verges where green and we also felt that the temperature was increasing, we were to come across a group of Emu's who didn't seem fazed when we pulled up for photo's.
We finally arrived at Lightning Ridge and took photo's of the entrance to the town and then moved off the highway to camp on an opal lease owned by ex Tasmanians. We are camped very close to test holes that are showing good quality opal so the owners state, they gave us a very warm welcome and have made us feel at home within the first ten minutes of our arrival.
The area is not much different to Coober Pedy a rugged gravel surfaced land which I had to drive in an old screwdriver to put tent pegs into the ground, our toilet is a long drop apparently some 70 metres deep.
We'll have to go, its happy hour and I have a feeling this is going to be a long one.
Kilometres travelled 327
Our camp on Opal Field Liz photographing Opal workings From Opal field to Plains
Saturday the 20th
It is somewhat different to previous walks to experience gravel roads alongside the Opal workings and seeing so many mullock heaps along with the many old Opal mine shafts and new shafts being worked.
This morning we have carried out more work on our camp to make it just that little more comfortable for the period we are here, we then talked about the local people we met last night and to say that we were somewhat surprised was an understatement.
From the way they talk and their actions it is obvious that Opals consume their life and the next strike could make them all millionaires, this is something that appears to drive them to put up with the harsh conditions of winter and summer heat not to mention the dust, and other lack of creature comforts.They may be a breed of their own with a tendency towards individuality, however their hospitality and stories of the fields is honest and from the heart, that is, when you work through the bullshit factor.
Today is our 43rd wedding anniversary and we have nothing special planned and have decided that there is more action tomorrow in the township of Lightening Ridge so we will go for a meal and entertainment then.
We drove into the township and headed for the laundromat and then into the their own version of el cheapo stores and they had certainly a large range of goods and of course what would a trip to the area be without visiting an op shop, then off to the supermarket where we bought a chicken for tonight and then down to the sports ground and topped up our drums with water and then back to camp for lunch.
We then walked out to the lookout near our camp where folklore has it that a farmer mounted on his horse and with his dogs drove one thousand sheep up onto the ridge to avoid flood waters, there was a lot of lightning about and the flock being bunched up were struck with a thunderbolt and were killed along with the farmer and his dogs and horse; thus the area name of Lightning Ridge.
We looked over some old Opal workings, with Liz taking photo's and then onto a house that is made of beer cans and concrete, a most unusual building material though quite functional.
Jim in Artesian Bore Samples of different colour Opals
Then we decided to go into the Artesian Bore and have showers as the day has been warm around 26 degrees though with a cooling breeze, the showers were wonderful being fed by the warm water of the bore.
I elected to jump into the bore proper and what a surprise very hot water which the signs stated were 52 degrees celsius, I could only stand about ten minutes of it then had to get out, I felt a little weak though very refreshed. The signs state that the waters are very therapeutic, talking to others in the pool they indicated that they thought it helped relieve their arthritis and other aches and pains etc.
Back to camp and it was time for happy hour, we had decided that all three camps would get their camp ovens out tonight and cook roast chicken along with baked veggies and have a communal feast.
It was just that a beautiful meal which is always assured when cooked in a camp oven, we sat around the camp fire after the meal and just chewed the fat and of course had a couple of stubbies for the next couple of hours. The sky's were clear and the stars bright though not as good a display I thought when compared to the outback Northern Territory.
After a full day it was good to go off to bed after watching a bit of AFL Football (Collingwood of course) and recall the happenings of the day. We are really enjoying this trip to date and slowing down and spending more time in areas we have been which has helped keep diesel costs down, I stated earlier that we topped up in Coonamble was $1.51.9 cents believing it would be dearer in Lightning Ridge, well in Lightning Ridge it is $1.47.9 Oh! well them the breaks!
Sunday Markets Typical Miners Residence Tourist Bus at Underground Mine

Sunday the 20th
Cool evenings and warm days are the norm this time of the year, out walking it was a chilly southerly with a temperature of about 11 degrees.
This morning we decided to go into the township and attend the Sunday Markets, it is interesting to note that the tourists stand out from the locals. Locals all rugged up and tourists in shorts and t-shirts or similar apparel, the locals regard this as their winter even the temperature may rise to 26 to 28 degrees during the day.
The market itself had plenty of goods for sale especially Opals or jars of Potch, the problem is trying sort out what is a good Opal and what is rubbish; it is so hard to tell you really need someone with honesty and who knows what they are doing to ensure you purchase the real thing.
Every stand had Opals or bottles containing colour of Opal Potch or indeed you could buy a bucket and maybe find your own Opals.
After the market we drove around near the edge of town and onto the claims near the Rubbish Tip, the miners huts are very basic with no sewage or power supply. Power is either solar panels or wind generator or both, the houses themselves seem to be thrown together with tin and timber and a heap of sheds with long drops only. Houses in the town proper have power, sewage and running water and in some instances grass. You would not want to set up a business selling lawn mowers or you would go broke.
We went and had a look at an underground mine staying on the surface on this occasion, we will do the tourist bit later in the week, they had a wonderful display of Cacti which must have taken some doing plus they are planting Gravilleas which is creating colour in the area.
As usual you have so many Opal buyers and Sellers that advertise the cheapest Opal in the town, Lightning Ridge is renowned for its black Opal.

The flying Camper Cactus Garden at Mine Opal extraction Mine Winder

When we arrived back at the camp for lunch I went to put on my mocca's and couldn't find them anywhere, went to put on my shoes could only find one. A dog had been into the camp and took a liking to them and the owners when hearing of my plight just laughed and went away and took them back from their dog undamaged and returned them.
Then into the Bowls Club for the Sunday afternoon raffle draw and a few schooners of course, the amount of prizes was unbelievable and at five tickets for five dollars plus another bonus five because we had been at the Markets this morning we thought we would be in with a chance, no such luck even given that there were at least 50 draws.
Back at camp and we threw spuds wrapped in alfoil into the fire and that along with other ingredients was our tea tonight, then we sat around the fire and enjoyed a few more stubbies. We still haven't had our wedding anniversary dinner which we will delay until a couple of days time. We then back inside to watch the two hour programme on the Beaconsfield Miners; we were to watch this on Imparja Television which is accessed from the Northern Territory thus 30 minutes behind our time. Today another great day and it is hard to believe that such a small community can be so entertaining.

Monday the 22nd
This morning it is a bit overcast though still 12 degrees at 7am, on my walk this morning I was to see beautiful green parrots slightly larger than budgerigars and also many bush pigeons.
After breakfast I laid down some gravel fines to help keep the red dust out of the van and it appears to be working, then I received a call from the local satellite bloke and made arrangements to meet him at the tip of all places to buy a satellite dish. First up he wanted $100 and then after haggling I purchased it for $50 which is nearer the cost of them.
Onto our hot bore water shower and I was bit peeved when going to hop into the bore reservoir to see signs indicating they were closed until 11:30am, I do not know what they do for they were only cleaning the shower not the pool.
Onto IGA and bought a few groceries plus two packets of Tim Tams of course and then the newspaper, filled our containers with water then back to camp.
After lunch I assembled the satellite dish and then set up the tri pod and then did all the usual things to tune it in to the Optus Satellite, when I completed this I invited the owners of the lease where we are camped to view the difference, given they receive a terrible tellie picture even with the use of boosters.
They were surprised at the reception and vowed to purchase one as soon as possible, then a bit more housekeeping and it was happy hour before we knew it.
So today has been a lazy one with a t-shirt required due the 26 degree cloudy day. We sat out by the fire for awhile and then inside to watch Television.

Grawin Post Office Jim's Opal diggings Bar of Sheepyard Hotel

Tuesday the 23rd
We have not had chilly night like last night since Tocumwal, out on the walk this morning it was beanie and gloves and rugged up, one of the people who have been driving by me each morning finally pulled up and asked did I want a lift. It may have been chilly though the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky.
8am and we were on the road to Grawin some 80 kilometres away to fossick for Opal on the dump used by all miners in the area to drop off their waste from their diggings. The road started off bitumen with farm land on both sides, mainly sheep and goats. The goats are shipped to Charleville for slaughter, other farms were into wheat and there was stubble from last years crop as far as the eye could see.
Then onto to gravel for the last thirty kilometres with Cyprus Pine lining both sides of the road, this pine is used by miners along with galvanised iron to build their shacks/homes on the mine fields. The Pines are the only timber in the area that white ants do not attack, we finally arrived at Grawin and it was just a whole heap of shacks alongside diggings with a shop in a shed and the smallest Post Office I have seen.
It had a heap of post office box's, a letter box and small room for conducting of postal business, then onto the dump site where trucks were to come all day whilst we were there. It took a while for both Liz and I to understand what to look for, when we understood we were actually getting opal and opal potch. We only stopped for lunch feeling a little buggered for the day was getting warmer and the fly's growing in greater numbers.
We filled two jars with opal with some with brilliant colour's others only potch being mainly black, by 2pm we had enough and then we drove onto to look at the Sheepyard Hotel and given the area and the style of housing we were not going to expect much.
That was the case, the building is the typical Cyprus Pine with galvanised roof and some walls and there being no power all beer is sold as stubbies and they pull them out of polystyrene boxes full of ice. Now the toilets are another thing, long drops out the back. In all fairness it was easy to see they were doing their best with a small supply of groceries and supplying the only entertainment in a hundred kilometres range.
We had a good chin wag and then headed off for home about 3pm on the way we stopped at the war memorial out in the middle of nowhere and what a surprise to see the excellent job they had done to remember those from the area who lost their lives in all wars and conflicts in the past.
On the way home we were really buggered and other than seeing a lot of emu's and sheep we didn't notice much else, we stopped in Lightning Ridge for the paper and noted that diesel has dropped to $1.46.5 a litre, then we went straight back to camp.
We were so tired and though dry we decided to only have a cuppa for happy hour, cooked our tea watched a bit of Television and off to bed, there is so much to see in this area and its surrounds that we have not even thought of moving on yet. What a great and full day it has been.
Satellite dish at campsite Bottle House Lightning Ridge 48 cooked Yabbies

Wednesday the 24th
Winter has come to Lightning Ridge with the overnight temperature dropping to 11 degrees and the day temperature rising to 24 degrees, the morning walk is complete with beanie and gloves, though I must admit that when the sun rises so does the temperature. Back in camp the usual's, light the fire for breakfast and then do the morning chores, if you can call them that.
This morning I cleaned the offside awning and then the solar panels that were really grimy, Liz washed the smalls and then we decided to go to town; it being 11:30 am.
First to the online centre to upload the next section of this diary and then check our e-mail, it took all of 20 minutes, "That will be $6 thank you" the last upload was $3 which I thought was a bit much.
Then we went and showered at the artesian bore and then hopped into the bore for twenty minutes, the water is just a little to hot though very refreshing. We then went and had a look at the Bottle House which is also a museum and Opal sales outlet and the onto the Supermarket.
We have decided to buy fresh meat while it is reasonably cheap and leave our frozen food for later, and of course whilst Tim Tams are $1.99 another packet was in order.
Then onto buy the newspaper and top up our water containers and home for lunch, even though it might be late in the day; back at camp after lunch I thought I would get the yabbie traps out and check out the local water holes for yabbies.
I left them for two hours and checked them and found in six pots there was a total of 44 yabbies not a bad catch, enough to curry and put on a bed of rice, yummy!
The rest of the afternoon was just relax, that is until I was asked to help with a badly bent ball joint rod, it only took two hours to dismantle and fix with just a rudimentary wheel alignment with a measuring tape.
Then it was happy hour and we joined some of the locals wherein one checked the opals we found yesterday and he indicated we had three pieces of black opal with red fire in them. He has to clean them up so as we see from the top and ascertain how much fire is in the opal. The opal is what Liz found, mine was not as good though he said I had found some with the green fire, not as good as the red.
After tea we settled in to watch the "State of Origin" rugby match and then off to bed.
There is so much to do in the area we intend to stay a few more days.
Agitator for Opal separation
Slurry washing for Opal
Thursday the 25th
Each morning I take the camera with me on my walk on the off chance that a good photograph may present itself, to date that hasn't happened and I am concerned the day I do not take it, it is possible that photo may present itself.
People are now getting used to see on the road each morning, even the dogs on the various leases have stopped their barking as I walk past. It is obvious that there is little you can do without the locals straight away checking and finding out who you are.
Once they understand you are not a claim jumper or wish to check their waste heaps they are very friendly towards you and invite you to look at the various aspects of their leases. To date I have resisted the invitation to go down underground, no bloody way mate!
The other thing that is noticeable is that the cars, trucks or other vehicles carry no registration on the leases or nearby roads, people are telling me that the local lease holders administer they own justice and I am told that should they catch what they call a "Ratter" (I am told that a Ratter is a person who attempts to steal Opal from another's mine or lease) there is the chance that those people may not be seen again, whether this is folklore or otherwise I have no compunction to find out.
This morning we collected wood and then cut it into suitable lengths for the fire, due to the toughness of the wood it quickly blunted the chainsaw. Does this mean that we are settling in for the winter in this area, I think not; though we are thoroughly enjoying the area.
We drove into the laundromat to wash the sheets and other heavy clothes, then onto our showers and into the bore pool, I think we are becoming addicted to the pool for it is growing into a daily event. It is absolutely superb and really refreshing.
Into the IGA for a few supplies especially the beer, which I am running out of, to many happy hours, thankfully my morning walks are keeping my weight stable at this stage.
It was after midday before we arrived back at our camp, after lunch we went with Jamie to the Opal agitator area where they wash the clay and other rubbish away to arrive at the Opal. The agitators are the old concrete agitators and they end their life after many modifications and repairs in this area. Whilst there we did some noodling and came up with some good Opal and Potch, Potch is an inferior type of Opal. We are lucky that no tourists or towns people get to noodle through the piles that we were able to.
We have to make sure that we do not catch the Opal disease and not want to move on like so many others have, the problem highlighted in the local newspaper today is that the population of the "Ridge" is very transient, therefore when you arrive in the town they say the population is ? They just do not know the numbers of the town even when they conduct a census people come and go quickly.
On returning back to our camp I then went and threw my Yabbie pots in the dam further away from the last dam, which I will pull in the morning, it will be interesting to see if I catch more than 44 this time around.
Then it was happy hour, a few had moved on this morning though it was still the usual happy event with plenty of laughter and chiacking.
This evening we had Yabbies in a sauce on a bed of rice for tea, beautiful. It is getting a bit cold at night so we are opting to go inside and watch the tellie, this will change as we move on up the road further, hopefully.
Due to transient population 1916 Miners Hut in the "Ridge" Is Jim asleep or noodling for Opals
Friday the 25th
If this is winter then it something that we both can accept, though the locals tell us that during summer they had days on end of 40 degrees plus, something that we would find hard to take. This is why you can spot locals all rugged up and tourists from the south in shorts and t-shirts.
I am noticing that mornings and evenings are getting a little cooler. I am starting to feel like one of the locals given that people now recognise, smile and wave when I am walking in the morning, even the dogs are calming down as I walk past the various mining leases.
Around the Yabby traps this morning and only three; very disappointing given the amount that I caught yesterday, so they were re-set and will be checked again this evening.
Once we cleaned up around the camp we were off to town to fill containers with water and just have another look around.
First stop was to check our e-mail and whilst doing that Liz went over the road to look at the old miners cottage that was built in 1916, it is nearly in the centre of town. It is small and the occupants must have been around five foot tall to have fitted in under the ceilings.
Off to make a couple of phone calls and then around to Vinnies to see what had arrived from Sydney, we each made a couple of purchases and then trundelled off to fill our water containers and then back to camp.
After lunch we sat around and read our books and then we went off looking for Opal, there was not a sighting of colour which is most unusual. We spent about two hours checking the various heaps of mullock and it is the first time we have not uncovered Opal.
Then we re-checked the Yabby pots and only caught one, so we moved the nets to another water hole and maybe we will get the same results as the first day.
Happy hour saw some of the Opal Miners come along to our camp and it was great hearing the many story's they had to tell and as usual they thought tomorrow would be the day they made their fortunes, they stayed until after dark while our tea was cooking in the camp oven on the fire.
We had bought a couple of Turkey drum sticks and fair dinkum they were huge, two weighed in at nearly one and half kilo, I boned them out and there is enough meat for two meals, while they were cooking we threw in the veggies and it was a great meal considering our meal usually on a Friday night is sausages down at the Fire Station.
With Collingwood playing footy tonight I suppose the television will be the main go tonight. Crikey I hope they win!

Saturday the 27th
Awoke this morning and thought it was rather dark, on checking the clock it was only 6am and in previous days it was well and truly light.On checking outside the reason soon became apparent with the sky very overcast with heavy grey and black clouds, it looked like it was going to rain.
Given this I cancelled my walk this morning and elected to go and check my Yabby pots, it seems that I have taken all the Yabby's that are about for other than a few very small fish the pots were empty.
So back to the camp for breakfast and then out and checked for Opals and even they have dried up, one of the local miner's showed me what they had found from five ten yards of dirt. He estimated that what they had recovered could be worth $15,000, they certainly look good in the rough; they get real excited when they come across the black opal with the red flashes for the apparently the most valuable.Liz found a black opal with the tiniest flash of red and orange which the local bloke will polish and test, of course the opal is very small and will be a good keepsake.
After lunch we went into the Artesian Bore Pool, first to shower and then sit in the 52 degree bore water, very refreshing and something we look forward we even no know now what time of the day to go to avoid the other tourists and join the locals. Have we been in Lightning Ridge that long?
The shops other than the supermarkets and opal dealers close on Saturday Afternoon so it was back to camp and relax and enjoy the peace and quiet on the mine field and watch tourists come and go from the the first opal diggings and memorial.
The clouds had dissipated and though we had streaky cloud it was still warm and required t-shirts though not shorts yet.
We had visitors for happy hour so we chewed the fat and listened once again to the local folklore, sorting out which story has been embellished is a feat in itself; it is obvious that next diggings will reveal the el dorado of Opal.
We have come to the conclusion that this is what gives the local mines of Lightning Ridge their character and laid back view of life, it is an experience that will not fade from our memory's for a long time to come.
It is probably this and noodling that has kept in the area longer than we envisaged in our travels to the gulf.
We stayed by the fire and then came inside to listen and watch the footy on the Telly.
Jim going down Mine Shaft 4O Foot to the top of Mine Shaft Brad inspecting the Opal Fault Line
Sunday the 28th
What a beautiful day, just right to resume my morning walk, this morning I was able to get past the dogs on the way out without any one of them barking-a first. However, on the way back a couple came at me and I yelled at them and they retreated thankfully.
After breakfast I went around the Yabby Pots and there was nil, nought, nothing in them at all, I wonder is it because I have not changed the bait for the past four days?
The owners of the lease where we are camped offered to take us out to their working mine to have a look and even offered to take me underground if I wished. So we headed off to Wyoming where the lease and mine is situated, some twenty Kilometres away, on arrival we were met by Brad who showed us around his camp.
Along the Stope Tunneling to the Mine Face
At the Mine Face
Jamie found me a hard hat and he went to the bottom of the 40 foot vertical shaft and checked the air and lighting and then I went down the shaft on the mine winder.
On reaching the bottom I entered a whole new world of colour, which unfortunately the camera does not pick up accurately. The colour's are indescribable other than to say they are brilliant shining in the artificial light, of course I was scanning the walls of the stope for Opals, no luck. Then I walked along the face of the stope towards the Mine Face past the small machinery that is used to dig, cart and carry.
I had noticed that they did not use any shoring up timbers at all and that was starting to worry me, I kept thinking of the recent events of Beaconsfield and started to get claustrophobic. I stayed as long as I could and had then go back to the surface.
When hopping back on the mine winder and looked up all I could see was the ring of light and was very happy I can tell you when I stepped off the winder and back onto solid earth, both Jamie and Brad had a good old laugh and told me there was nothing to worry about due to the solidness of the clays etc.
We sat around their campfire while they regaled us with more folklore and then spoke of the monument erected in remembrance of a miner who had tragically lost his life when the mine collapsed in on him. The body was never recovered the shaft was closed and a monument built over the shaft. Now might you say, how far was this mine shaft from the one I went down? When I can tell you it was less than 150 yards from the shaft I went down, had they told me before I went down there is no doubt that I would not have ventured off the surface.
Brad grinding Liz's Opal Liz' Opal from Grawin
Monument and Plaque of dead Miner
Brad offered to grind the Opal that Liz had found on the Grawin Dumpsite, on its completion Brad estimated that before the final polish it was worth between $400 and $500. Liz was quite elated by that and is going into Lightning Ridge to have it polished tomorrow and after that we will see if it is worth turning into something more decorative for her.
We then cut a bit of wood for Brad's camp and then headed off through farming country where we were to see Emu's, Kangaroos and Cattle, the area is to harsh for sheep. Past wheat stubble from last years crop and finally into Lightning Ridge where we had our showers and returned to camp for a late lunch.
At 3:30 we then headed back into town and went to the Market Raffles held in the Bowls Club, we don't know why they call it Market for there is no markets today at all, as was last week there were heaps of raffle prizes and we of course never had one of our numbers called.
Liz and I had a lash on the Pokies and of course lost our $4 between us and quit.
Back to camp for it had been a busy day, we had a catch and kill your own tea and then settled in to watch Telly for the night, we should be out by the fire and under the stars, the situation is that it is not quite warm enough in the evenings for this yet, so it has been an interesting day made more so by running into Graeme & Dorothy from the Island Wanderers and of course we were to discuss our travels to date with them and where we would be in future, they elected to move onto Queensland where we expect to be by next Monday.
Monday the 29th
Another fine morning and it was interesting to see a few out walking this morning, this was only spoiled by the dust of cars passing by, back and had breakfast and then around the Yabby Pots and even though threatening to pull them out catching just two made me decide to leave the pots in the water. Maybe tomorrow I will pull them out, it has been five days now since I have renewed the bait.
I elected to stay in camp and read a book while Liz went off to town to have her Opal polished and get fuel for the generator, it is going to be a lazy day for me today.
On Liz's return I was told that there was not much luck in getting the opal polished today, then we had our lunch and I did some modifications to our firepot so it made it easier to place the kettle on the side rather than on the ground, gathered wood and then more reading in the wonderful sunshine only spoiled by fly's.
Mid afternoon we went specking and spent the next hour or so trying our luck, however to no avail we will have to go back to the dumps and try again.
Happy hour was great with the claim owners coming over and we spent a pleasant couple of hours again listening to the folklore of the area and how they adjust and do ongoing repairs to their plant and machinery to keep up their home comforts ongoing.
We had the biggest pork chops we have seen for some time for our evening meal they were great and certainly took some eating, I didn't even take any photo's today and all in all I did not do a great deal other than read, noodling and enjoying the sunshine.
Tuesday the 30th
Another chilly night leading to a fine sunny day with the temperature rising to about 24 degrees just comfortable, the usual walk and then brekkie and then do a few chores around the camp. Checked the Yabby Pots and only three, no doubt the water is now getter colder so I pulled and will pack them away for further up the track.
There have a few taken with out campfire and I have been doing some modifications to others to make them more user friendly, there are still plenty of people coming out to the first hole lookout including the local tourist bus's.
We decided to go into town just before lunch and do a bit of shopping just stocking up, there is no doubt that we now have about six weeks food supply on hand, just like home you still need to watch the till and your docket for overcharging.
We purchased a packet of chocolate Monte Carlo biscuits for $1.99 and when checking docket outside the I noticed we had been charged $2.89, back into the store and pointed out the error; we received the biscuits plus the refund of $2.89 what a change and a bonus.
Of course a trip to town would not be same without a trip to the Artesian Bore Pool, it is hard to believe that it is 52 degrees for it doesn't feel that hot, though extremely refreshing about ten minutes and you are like a cooked lobster.
We filled up our water barrels and then headed home to camp and spent the rest of the day cleaning and reading in the beautiful sunlight with just a slight breeze. The Motorhome has not been started now for twelve days and all our running around has been done in our towed Suzuki, this has made it easy to move around though some of the roads are little rough especially around the Opal Mines.
A chilly evening and even though we cooked our meal on the campfire we still ate inside and watched television for the rest of the evening and then we retired to do a bit of reading. A most restful day which will change tomorrow when we go out to a new dumpsite looking for that elusive Opal missed by the miners.
6wd ACCO Drilling Rig Section of Mothballed Trucks
The various signposting to the mine sites
Wednesday the 31st
Another chilly evening and on awaking this morning I found it was still dark at 6am, a sure sign that the days are drawing in. The walk this morning was uneventful even the small parrots let me get within a metre of them without flying off, the problem is that they will not stop still long enough for me to get a good photograph of them.
After breakfast I drove into town and made a couple of phone calls and it was interesting to note the early exodus of caravans for their next destination, we wonder if they enjoyed the area like we currently are.
Our host has offered to take us out to other diggings this morning to do some noodling or specking as some call it, so it was we headed off to towards Cookeroon some twenty kilometres from our camp.
I had commented on the many trucks that are just lying around the mine sites and the age of some of them, so our first stop was to look at some of the trucks and drill rigs that are mothballed or just rusting away, Jamie indicated that when trucks arrived at the mine sites at Lightning Ridge it was very rare that they left. Many made their find of Opal and in some cases failed then just left the area and their equipment to rust away, the other miners realising this; often canniblise the equipment to keep theirs going. Some of the trucks are so old and still in good working order. The oldest trucks we were to see was an old Foden, Commer (knocker), AEC, 1955 Ford and so many International ACCO Type of truck in fact it could be said that every brand of truck is represented on the field.
We were to pass a sign setting out all the Opal fields so it was just pick one and go and have a look, We stopped first at the Emu field where Jamie was able to sight and pick up opal before we recognised it.
Pieces of Opal Potch Line of 14 Agitators
Opal the real thing embedded in rock
Liz came across a whole section of Opal Potch wherein we could have filled a bucket, however we were after colour so we deserted this spot and looked elsewhere where we were to pick up Opal though in small amounts, again Liz found an Opal with a lot of colour which Jamie said it would cut into a nice Opal with plenty of colour.
Then onto the Agitator site with 14 machines in operation separating the rock from the Opal, we were to pick up quite a bit of colour Opal then onto Olga's, Allah's and then onto another Agitator site that had 24 Agitators, athough not all are in operation. Onto the Smith site where we stopped for lunch with the day was warm and clear sky's, whilst there a vehicle pulled up and the driver introduced himself as Slack Smith; the field where we are is on his farming property and apparently he receives $40 for each test hole drilled and a share of the Opal recovered on his property. It so happens the bloke is also a politician in the NSW Parliament.
Jamie then took us to see a miner and his workings, he was to show some of the Opal that he had recovered and urged us to have a look for Opals around his lease, we were to find small slivers of green Opal which he let us keep. John gave us a good look at his workings and we thanked him for his hospitality and then we headed back to camp.
What a wonderful day full on and we bought home both Potch and Opal, before we knew it, after sorting out our days work, it was happy hour and it was another good one with both Jamie and his wife Marlene joining us, then inside for our evening meal and then Telly and then off to bed to read.

June Diary

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