Coast to Coast. It's the most.

Clarrie

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My gentleman buddy Clarrie, an older dude I met on the Mail Run to Oodnadatta, an intrepid traveller, Australiana historian, grandad and all round interesting chap. He recommended I visit the Victoria State Library - and it is indeed fabulous.

Coober Pedy Graveyard

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A creepy place where the town's characters - and there are many - are buried with graves marked, among other things, with old beer kegs, model dogs, bucket and spades, explosives ephemera, and plastic flowers. Mullock heaps dominate the background. It was interesting that most of the graves were of Eastern European people - there are a lot of Croatian descendents, for example, in Coober.

The Dingo Fence

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No stealing of 'baybehs' here - the Dog Fence stretches most of the country and keeps the dogs from the cattle. It is maintained everytwo weeks, incredibly. This part is on the Moon Plain just outside of Coober Pedy, where the black rocks cover the red dirt for endless miles. The rock looks like it is volcanic but it has not been explain what it is - they believe it is leftover from the end of the Ice Age, dragged over from elsewhere. It's so heavy to pick up that it can't be volcanic. The Moon Plain looks like you're on Mars - so red, so remote, so strange. Saw this on the first few km's of the Mail Run. I should note also one of the classic Stern faces - this one's courtesy of the outback's incessant flies that attack the face.I can hear Edd pissing himself.

Sydney Fish Market

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Nothing to rival Tsukiji in Japan but the sashimi was cheap and fresh. This is Cec, Bree and Loz - mates from my hack days at Futures & Options World now all living in Sydney.

Capelj

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Capelj, owner of Vranci Opals in Coober Pedy and a Croatian immigrant, became a drinking buddy of mine and stunned me by presenting me with a gift of a prehistoric cockle shell his mates had mined out, which they decuded to gift to me and he then carved especially for me, revealing it to be beautifully opalised inside. Thanks to Roger Vanajek, Capelj and their mate whose name I sadly forget for this amazing present and for their excellent beermanship and friendship while I stayed in their town. I'll never forget them. Capelj's opal jewellery was also the most stunning and naturally set stuff in town, I have to admit. He does it all himself. I heart Croatians!

Mardi Gras Fair Day

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Auctioning a Gay Dog - no takers

Golf in Coober Pedy

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Grass stains don't bother the residents of Coober Pedy, for there is none, even at the golf course.