8th April - 10th April 2016
We said goodbye to the number one publicans Bob and Dell and headed out to see what was in store.
After setting up at the very spacious free camp we headed to find old mate Des. He was amazed to say the least that we had taken him up on his offer.
The next day off we went fossicking. The landscape out there is so harsh it is stunning. So with pick and shovel we got stuck in. Opal comes in various ways. It can be found in what they call a "nut" which just looks like a pebble or rock. When you crack it open it can sometimes have opal inside. No such luck for us. Also, it can be found in "seams" through ironstone.
This is a "nut". You can see how it is hollow. This one unfortunately didn't have any opal in it. Just dirt.
But I think it is amazing that just an ordinary looking rock could encase something to beautiful as an opal!
Opal is mined at Yowah both underground and open cut. Des took us to meet the very entertaining Col and Georgina who have an underground mine.
Col and Georgina.
Col took us for a tour through his mine tunnels. Fascinating. He is the fourth owner. The original owner who dug shafts down were Scandanavian. He started the mine in 1890, by digging a shaft. They can tell this from the shape of the shafts. Asians and Scandanavians dig round holes so evil spirits can't hide in the corners! Aussies dig square or rectangular 'cos they don't care!
Very stylish hats!
The original shaft was only as big as a 44 gallon drum in diameter. They would dig foot holds on one side and shimmy up and down with their feet in the holds and their bum pressed on the other side. The dirt was hoisted up in a 20 litre buckets. Bloody hard work.
This is the start of another mine.
Some of the opals that Col has found.
This one is very rare because of the red colouring. It was spectacular. Valued at $50,000.
The Aussies came along in the 1950's and dug the tunnels. It is a rabbit warren of tunnels. There are two "lines" of opal. The first Li e would be about 3" thick and this is the "nut" line. Further down is the seam line. The opal that is in ironstone.
In the tunnels there are about 20,000 micro bats flitting all around. The temperature remains at 24 degrees all year round. It was lovely.
Col and Georgina were a hoot. So entertaining and full of stories. We were there for hours. During conversation we established that Col was born in Warrnambool. "We lived in Moore Street" Col said. "We lived in Moore Street" I said. It was the same house!!!!! What are the chances of that!
Later in the day Des took us to another opal mine that was open cut. It's hard, hot work digging up this unforgiving rock in the hope of strikes, or to get some "colour" as they say.
Some of the old equipment.
Sunset drinks from the Bluff was magnificent. Even though we did have to share it with the flies! Then dinner back at Des's place for more yarns.
It was the most amazing couple of days....all because Dez said g'day to Des at the pub!
Morning coffee and hit the road for Quilpie. We camped just out of town at Lake Hourdraman. Beautiful...and once again sharing with flies. So thankful for the fly mesh hats! You would go balmy without them. Once the sun set it was so relaxing. We shared the lake with a herd of cows!
Next stop Windorah. Great little caravan park. $10 a night. Bargain. Two nights here so Dezzi could relax for his birthday.
Windorah is near the Cooper Creek, but is more like a river. We tried our hand at fishing, but no go. Surprise, surprise. Dez did catch some prawns for bait, but they didn't do the trick either. Lovely spot though.
Can't go anywhere without our fly Hats!
Windorah's power supply is supplemented by solar. It is a test town for more outback towns to use solar. Very interesting. All the info is in the photos.
So off to the Pub for birthday drinks!
Next day pack up...and on the road to Birdsville!
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