The following morning we are off into Lightning Ridge early, arriving at the caravan park before 9:30am. Set up camp, unhooked and headed up the street to the markets to check out what the locals had for sale. Silly us all there was were opal and more opal, we thought we might be able to pick up fresh fruit and veg. We filled in the rest of the day doing the boring things like washing and a bit of cleaning. Then after dinner the owners light the big fire and everyone gathers around with drinks in hand to get to know one another,a great way to finish the day.

META ENTERING THE MINE

Most of the photos you will see from Lightning Ridge were all taken when we visited an underground opal mine called Gallery of the Black Hand. All the sculptures in the mine were done by its owner who still continues to work there to this day at the age of 72 years, (only look 45). Most of the sculptures are done by hand, using a butter knife. He did work it as an opal mine for 12 years and only took $20,000 of opal out of it. He was in the british navy as a commando for 7 years then worked as an oil rig diver for a few more years before migrating to Australia. He learnt the art of sculpturing whilst working on the oil rigs when sitting in recompression chambers. When the mine no longer showed signs of opal, he decided to turn his hand to the craft that he taught himself all thoughs years before. People who come and look at his works suggest what he could add to the collection that he proudly displays today.