Wednesday, April 11, 2018


2. LIGHTNING RIDGE OPAL RUSH

As honorary Gulargambonians, we packed up early in Gulargambone and visited the various artists completing their artworks around the settlement with many requests to send some of the photos we took to the artists. We were videoed riding past a mural on our tandem, with the artist, Rudy ......... thinking it was brilliant to see the slow pace of the tandem idling past his mural as he was painting. He is looking at the final outcome of the presentation for the entire few days.

Artist Rudy Kistler also seeking our advice on colour,  content and safety footwear

WA artist James Giddy
If only all graffiti could be this good
So often galahs graffiti toilet blocks. This one features a galah within a flower.
Artwork by Deborah of DNART Melbourne

After speaking to the various artists, they all allowed the local kids to paint small areas of the murals. In doing so, it gave the kids a sense of ownership, and hopefully in the long run the artwork will not be so prone to degradation.

The call of the Opal beckoned and we moved north.
Lightning Ridge and Newcastle are very similar in one major distinction. Lightning Ridge has stations scattered around; with no trains. Newcastle has Civic and Newcastle stations centrally located,  but also has no trains. 
(Progress on the new Newcastle light rail replacement appears to all Novacastrians, especially the shop owners, to be almost stationary).

                               



















The Pubs in the Scrub Drive took us on a large circuit out from Lightning Ridge to Grawin, a very dusty corrugated track around the Grawin opal fields. We had a pie lunch at Sheepyard Inn, a very quaint, dusty open air pub consisting mainly of locals in old favorite singlet tops and thongs. Try as we might, no tourist could ever blend in.
The main distinction between the tourists and the locals is as to whether the car windows were closed. The tourists all had windows closed to keep the pea soup dust out and the air conditioning on to tackle the 38C temperature; whilst the locals had windows fully open, no doubt to take in every chance of collecting air borne opal dust.
                   
Sheepyard Inn. No expense was spared decorating and landscaping
 The Sheepyard Inn is on major bus and truck routes                     

A couple of long legged chicks and their Mum on a Sunday stroll to the  pub
Golfers, especially the Macquarie Life travelling golfers who take on various golf courses for a few days away every so often, will have to one day make the Club in the Scrub (The Grawin Golf Club) one to add to their tour.
Rumour has it, forefathers of the Macquarie lot, who carried the same names, once played on this course generations ago.  One of the golfers, Wal played the 18th hole, (as photo below), and the question was asked regarding his round "What did Wal get?"  As a result of this question, the main road nearby is now named as Walgett Road, along with a the closest major centre, "Walgett".
Also, when giving a solid drive of the ball, the early descendants would yell out a salute to their ancestral golfers, "Forefathers!". This was subsequently shortened to "Fore!" and has taken off internationally as a call of respect when playing a shot.               
Weed control is evidently working
The legendary 18th hole at Grawin

The club house is modeled on St Andrews (Botswana)
We went up market for an afternoon refreshment at the Glengarry Hilton. This is an establishment open 8 days a week, 6am to 6am

                         
Rivaling the Sydney Hilton

The Artesian Pool  in Lightning Ridge was greatly appreciated each night, the pool being opened to the public at all hours, and child proof gates not a consideration.
Pool temperature was a scortching  41.5c.The legendary healing powers were amazing and experienced by us. We had arrived at the pool with chilled feet from the car air conditioning. Within seconds, of entering the pool, the chill was cured and has not returned.   

                   
At  water temperature of 41.5C, no one stays in long

We had heard the pool was a bore, however we found it quite interesting


Sculptures in the Chambers of the Black Hand Mine also in the area, is truly up there with some of the greatest art galleries. The mine is 101 years old, with sculpturing into the sandstone walls being done over  a twenty year period.
                   
Going down. Power wasn't connected for the return trip up.  

Australian Fauna 


Jeff Vader. (Google Darth Vader LEGO skit for explanation)


The bars are a recent modification to the original artwork

Changing the subject away from art and traveling is something for those who deal with problem people of all sorts.
No matter what the organisation is, the following is a gadget that might help in dealing with complaints.  The design could be modified to suit individual requirements.


Our mobile herb garden, is thriving, enjoying the warm and dry weather, and helping to prevent us from scurvy. To date it has worked very well.
We spoke to travellers from both Griffith and Byron Bay who said they pay for their travelling through proceeds from their gardens. They mainly package the herbs in foil and sell to patrons at pubs.  We will see how we go!
 

Commencing prospecting. Small dig to start with 
Results of Carrol's final dig. The situation was opal-less
Lightning Ridge also has a state of the art Indoor Diving and swimming complex, far superior to any we have seen with the exception of Homebush. (This one is out-bush)
The USA Olympic team apparently trained here prior to the Sydney Olympics. It was great to see so many kids in a diving squad on the lower boards. The outdoor recreation pools were something for kiddies of all ages to marvel at.
Note the swings off the tentacles



Crowd control in pool

Outdoor 50m lap pool, Indoor 25m lap pool

West Wallsend Pool wants to be like this when it grows up. All diving heights catered for. 
In summary, Lightning Ridge was far from a dusty wild west town simply there to give somewhere for the opal miners to drink.  All very impressive!!

Tomorrow sees us take on Queensland, when it is still known by that name.
Will it maintain the Queensland title when the Queen is no longer reigning?  (It hasn't been raining properly in Lightning Ridge for about 3 1/2 years)
It won't be the same once renamed Dukeland or Princeland. What will happen if Australia becomes a republic?
Hence a chance to see it before it looses it's charm over naming rights.  We are entering the state through the metropolis of Hebel.

Until next time, keep well.
God Bless, happy swimming, happy sailing, happy travelling, good health.
Cheers, Don and Carrol.


  

4 comments:

  1. I, first born and holder of favorite status would like to state that i have read the latest blog entry and enjoyed the pictures and puns. Furthermore, i bring to your attention that second child, mess maker and title holder of "the girl" and has not, and is likely messing up your estate as we speak. I bid you farwell and safe travels. Justin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Justin,
      Thanks for the good wishes. To set the record straight, there is only one favorite, "Clare".
      You can however be favorite by pressure blasting the inside of our house before our return.

      Delete
  2. I, The Girl, second born and mess maker of houses acknowledge that Justin holds superior status of favorite, and probably wish people could not post anonymously...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Felicia,
      Thanks for the mess. To set record straight, there is only one favorite, "Michael".
      You can however be favorite by making it not necessary for Justin to pressure blast the inside of our house before our return.

      Delete