Week Commencing 04.04.11

Week Commencing 04.04.11
We left camp and popped into Tumby Bay , just interested in having a look as lots of people said it was nice. Not a bad little spot but the weather was overcast and did not give us the best impression. On the way we past a truck and a rock got the windscreen, this is the second hit we have had so when we arrived at Port Augusta we telephone O’Briens and organised for them to be fixed. We enjoyed the salmon we had bought before we left Port Lincoln.
Tuesday was spent sightseeing around town as the car was in for a service and a bumper recall. Port Augusta sits on both sides of Spencer Gulf, with the Flinders Ranges as a backdrop. We found this wonderful bakery with the most delicious cakes and bread.
Wednesday we head off to Coober Pedy, I am very excited because this is one of the places on my wish list. As we travel along the Stuart Highway we see lots of salt lakes, they are huge. We call into Woomera for lunch, this place is like a ghost town, very strange as the house are empty and neglected. We speak to the gentleman at the Museum who tells us there is about 140 people living there of which 40 are children. Alot of the homes have been taken away, but in Woomera’s heyday there were about 7,000 people lived there. Hart Lake is where the rocket launching took place back in the 50’s & 60’s. As we drive towards Coober Pedy we stop at Hart Lake and take a walk down to the railway crossing. We do a silly thing like standing and lying on the track to take some pictures. As we start to walk back to the car, a train comes along the track. Not so sure we should have been playing games. Anyway we survived and have the pics to prove it. We arrive at Bon Bon free camp some 180 kms from Coober Pedy and set up camp for the night. We decide to stay inside as the flies would carry us away.
Thursday up and away be 8am (another record) we arrive at Coober Pedy to this weird looking place. We pass to big mines along the way, the first is Prominent Hill and the next an Iro Ore mine. As you get closer to Coober the fields are scattered with piles of dirt (we have since found out they dig holes some 60mtrs down looking for the opal, the dirt is just left where they dig). We both found this rather strange. We arrive at the caravan park and find a park which is under a huge shadecloth shed. We set up camp and decide the best thing is to take the afternoon tour which includes the following:
The Magnificent Breakaways Town Area
The Dingo Fence Underground Home
The Opal Fields Underground churches
The Moon Plains Umoona Mine & Museum
Opal Mine Boothill
Underground Churches:
St Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church – is a National Heritage listed building as it’s the first underground church in Coober Pedy and possibly the world.
Serbian Orthodox Church – striking with its scalloped ceiling, rock-carved icons, and brillant stained-glass windows.
Catacomb Church – Originally built in 1977 this unique church is cut out of the sandstone in the shape of a cross. The cross, lectern and communion table fashioned from local mulga wood and an old miner’s winch.
The Breakaways –colourful low hills which have broken away from the Stuart Range – hence the name. Famous for spectacular sunsets and the numerous motion pictures made in the area.
Moon Plain – Desert-like moonscape with fossilised shells, grey, soft clay dirt& cracks that appear to be bottomless, is nicknamed “the Moon Plain”. It has been the scene for numerous movies.
The Dog Fence – is the longest continual construction in the world. Stretching some 5,300km it begins east of Queensland and ends up north of Ceduna in the Great Australian Bight. Originally built to protect the sheep country in the south from the Dingo in the North.
We had drinks with our neighbours, they have been on the road 2 weeks, funny we were the experienced travellers (I don’t think you ever stop learning when you are on the road).
Friday we woke to another beautiful day. John & I walked up town and checked out the jewellery stores looking for a ring. We finally decided on a beautiful ring from this lovely lady called Stella.
Opalios – meaning Opal (o-pal) n. Precious stone which sparkles with various bright colours.
Ios (ee-os) n. From Greek. Meaning Fever
History – Opal mining – There are no rules in finding opal, throw your hat and dig where it lands. Opal mining has been done with Bulldozers, Excavators, Drilling rigs, Tunneling machines and Blowers, or by hand with picks and shovels using Explosives a Winch and Ladders. Blowers and tunneling machines have been purpose built just for opal mining. If found, Opal is still removed by the miners using a hand pick. Each Opal miner is allowed 1 claim of either 50m x 50m or 50m x 100m. Claims can be staked anywhere in the opal fields as long as you are not in anyone else’s claim or in the middle of town.
We (George & Stella) arrived in early 1973 with a plan to stay for 3 months. Over 36 years later we are still here. We fought the flies and dust and have passed the harder times without running water, air conditioners and television. We can honestly say No regrets, and given a choice would do the exact same thing again. Our story isn’t much different to most of the Opal mining families at that time, most came here with dreams of making millions. Now Coober Pedy is home to us. Opal has taught us valuable lessons, through its beauty, we are glad to share this experience.
Types of Opal – Solid Opal – Opal that has been mined and is presented in one piece, either in its naturally occurring state or after being cut and polished. It has not been chemically treated and has no other materials cemented to it other than by nature. Solid Opal can be put in water without worry. (this is the type of Opal we bought)


Saturday we drove direct to Port Augusta. Sunday was a rest day, did the washing between the showers of rain and prepared to head to Broken Hill on Monday.