Lightning Ridge

It started raining just after we left Moree and continued until we reached Lightning Ridge. The girls travelling from Dubbo were in very heavy downfalls and arrived with wet equipment. The rain only lasted that one day but at least some parts of the country received a decent drop. We drove through a large mob of cattle grazing along the road and many were very scrawny because of the drought.
All of the wild women are staying at the Opal Caravan Park which just happens to be across the road from the artesian pool – nowhere near the Moree standard but it is lovely to dip into the 40 degree water whenever we feel like it. The park has a solar heated pool and other excellent facilities, including a pavilion with a pot belly stove.

There are entertainers who perform each night at the pavilion. They are buskers and earn their living by performing for park residents. They are known as Mel and Susie on Tour but during our stay only Mel is here performing. She recites bush poetry and spins yarns which are very funny. On our first night we were enjoying the entertainment when a dog ran into the audience. It took me a second to realise it was one of our dogs! I had zipped Coco into his portable crate before we went to the show but he managed to drag the zip open on one side and squeeze out to come and find me. He had never been to that area of the park so his tracking skills are still impeccable!

Coco’s escape from his crate was followed by Anita accidentally locking us out of the caravan, with all car keys and spare caravan keys inside. By this time it was getting late and I wasn’t relishing the thought of damaging our van by breaking in. All of the windows and hatches were well secured but fortunately the boot was unlocked and I could get to my tools. We were able to simply break the lock without any damage to the door.

There are self drive tours of Lightning Ridge marked by old car doors. These take you through the mine areas with eccentric and creative structures made from rusty iron, bottles, rocks and other unrecognisable materials. The landscape is covered with piles of mine tailings and open shafts.

Three young girls raised money for a pool to be built in the town. They were so successful in their fund raising efforts they topped $1.3 million. There is still money over after an Olympic sized pool was constructed, and an Olympic standard diving facility which is undercover.

On Saturday 14 May we leave Lightning Ridge for Bourke. After the rains the Darling River Run has many closed sections so we will either have to wait for the roads to open or develop Plan B. We will be in Bourke for at least 2 nights.

Till next time, Sylvia & Anita