Cool Wind, some cloud other wise fine and warm (out of the wind)
Last nights sunset at Arckaringa – the desert does the best sunsets.
We woke early for the dawn service at Arckaringa unfortunately our alarm didn’t function and we just missed the dawn service, we were 10 mins late. We went back to the homestead for hot coffee/tea and freshly made Anzac biscuits.
Dawn is pretty spectacular too.
The view of our drive (150 kms) to Coober Pedy – that’s it, kilometre after kilometre – just nothing :)
There were huge amounts of gypsum lying around. Very large pieces reflecting in the sun light. It looks like large pieces of opaque glass. I now know why the soil is so light and fluffy and doesn’t bind, because gypsum is used as a clay breaker, it separates soil particles. It is also a good sign that opal is about.
We pulled into the Oasis Caravan Park which is right in town. Lovely brand new amenities very modern. We ended up staying three nights, the last night in order to catch up with the house build while we had access to internet.
We visited the Old Time Mine which was very interesting. It was an original mine and underground dwelling and the owners excavated through from the back creating a shop front and joined it all into a tourist destination. Within half an hour starting the dig, they found a $40,000 seam of opal which the old time miner had missed by 10 inches. They show you where it is in the original tunnel. The opal has been left as they found it with a perplex covering to stop anyone helping themselves to it.
This old time miner looks like he needs some help from Glen. I wonder how they knew how much support to leave so the roof would not cave in or was it just guess work?
This type of tunnel was chasing a seam line.
Just a little picture window into the next alley way. Hard hats are required, Glen bumped his head several times and it would have hurt without the helmet – being shorter I just cruised around.
Opal fossils – these are fossilized sea shells. We saw many other items like this down at the Adelaide Museum which had the specific display of the opal bones of the Plesiosaur.
The earth is soft yet hard – here are some sculptures worked into the walls.
This is the original shaft and still hanging is a cowhide bucket (from the original miner)– the mesh covers a viewing area in alignment with the spoils bag.
It is a self guided tour, here Glen is reading up on the next exhibit.
Living underground – this set up is around the early 60’s but it seems a comfortable lifestyle.
Scenic views of Coober Pedy from the town look out. Above left is two lots of hotel accommodation and above right are some other dwellings.
This is garden landscaping Coober Pedy style.
These signs left me laughing – correct spelling is hard to come by around here. I loved the comment under free addmission “and free spell check”
I am totally devestated by what happened to the Big Winch :) All that time carefully writing this story only to make a spelling mistake.
Quaint use of 1000 litre oil drums as street planters – nicely painted with tins of spray paint in abstract style.
We found the locals to be friendly, some are very keen to sell you either opal or didgeridoos. It was very interesting shopping in the IGA because of the goods stocked which reflect the large ethnic population.
On Sunday we had a walk around town and had a look through some of the art galleries and opal stores. Monday we went noodling (fossicking) and found absolutely nothing, so finished our day at the post office and shopping in the IGA and a load of washing.
Tomorrow our journey is from Coober Pedy to Coward Springs.
No comments:
Post a Comment