We were all fine, but the window is toast..
--------
Headed back towards Packsaddles then cut across to White Cliffs.
Passed Mutawinjti National Park to our right. Some more great scenery algon the
way. Got to about 80kms from White
Cliffs and Chuck pulled over suddenly. A rock ricoched off the camper and
bounced up and hit the back window. Russell and Chuck donned the gloves and set about removing all the glass. We decided to have lunch while we were here as
well.
A stock feed bag did the trick as a temporary replacement for
the window. Guess the stone guard
that is on the front of the camper is not as good as it looks. Not like the Stone Stomper on Russell's car!
Stopped at the local put and for a drink and Martine, the 60+
bar maid, complete with rollers and a head scarf served us a couple of cold
ones. We had to ask about 5 times
to get the drinks we asked for. She could only do one at a time. 2 beers, a g&t, and 3 lemonades was
a little tricky. As soon as we
walked in, she announced that children coulnd not be in the bar, so we headed
out to the lounge. Maybe it was
the calendar of naked women behind the bar that was the real reason. Haven't actually been to a bar in 20
years that has a pinup calendar front and centre middle of the bar. Although, the Family Hotel in
Tibooburra has murals of naked women in all sorts of compromising positions..
Arrived in White Cliffs and dumped the camper and caravan and
headed to the Opal digging area.
Did a bit of prospecting while the light was still good. Still haven't found our riches yet.
Then went and had a look at the Worlds largest Underground
Motel. 26 rooms, 400 meters under ground. Had to get a map! Had a drink there, and chatted to a
couple of other travellers. You know it's been a long day when Merry goes and
asks for a red wine - a shaz, rather than Shiraz. And that's before she even
had one!
Then it was back to the caravan park where we set up in e dark
and had left overs (plus a little bit extra) of Beef ands Apricot stew and
Apple crumble cooked on the campfire.
Early night had by all..
White Cliffs was Australia's first commercial opal field. Discovered in 1884, it wasn't until
1889 when 4 kangaroos shooters on the vast Moomba Station picked up some
samples, that people realized that Precious Opal was all round the place. The
first mining lease was taken out in March 1890 and within months, the
population had risen from 30 to around 500. At its height in 1898 -1900 it was
home to about 5000 people. But
drought, dwindling markets, and epidemics caused by bad water all took their
toll and the downward slide began. By 1914 the European Markets closed, men
went off to war, and the population returned to 30, where it began.
 |
Arrgghhhhh |
  |
Temporary Repair Job                         |
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| The Underground Motel |
Bugger.
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