FORTYFOURTH DAY – SATURDAY 21ST AUGUST
Looked out the window and saw a lovely orange sunrise. The orange extended right along the horizon. It was pretty cold so I just watched it out the window from bed! We got up about 8 am. We had crumpets for breaky after fixing the griller so we could toast them. Something had giggled out of the griller so needed to put it back into its spot! We then packed up and went to look around Coober Pedy. First we drove up and down the main road then Graeme decided to drop into a type come workshop place to ask if they do any welding. Graeme got out and asked the guy and the guy said he would weld our bracket up for 20 bucks but he would have to go home and get his welder. So that was a pretty good deal so Graeme got the jerry cans out of their holders and disconnected the batteries in readiness for when the guy came back with his welder. It wasn’t long before he came back and it took the guy about 10 – 15 minutes to weld the jerry can bracket back on and a couple of spots on the tailgate. There was quite a bit of action in town as the election was happening so everyone was coming into town to vote. We found a park and checked out some of the shops – mainly opal selling shops and art galleries. Some of which are dug underground. We also went and looked at someones underground house, which was very interesting. Then looked around the town some more then decided we would do Toms working mine tour. This was very interesting especially as the guide herself was one of the people who worked the mine. Her dad actually owns the mine but there are about five people who help to actually work there. We also did some ‘noodeling’ which is the strange name for going through the dirt that has already been dug out and looking for any opal. We actually found a bit. We then went back into town to pick up a few supplies and fill up on fuel and headed back out to the same camp ground/spot along a dried up creek. We are the only ones here tonight – and I think this may actually be the most remote place we have stayed at. There is not much all around for as far as we can see. There are a few nice twisted old red gum trees in the creek and lots of coloured stones everywhere. When we settled in I went for a wander down the creek and Graeme collected a bit of fire wood. We had a great fire and cooked vegies in the fire again (sorry this is probably getting monotonous) but it’s a great easy way to cook them. We just have to get the time right so as not to overdo them. We also had some marinated steak. The wind is quite cold tonight so I am snuggled up in my snuggie in front of the nice warm fire.