Coober Pedy

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We are here in the Opal Capital of Australia, happily unpacked and in our cave. We are staying in a cave Hotel and apart from the excitement of being underground we are so pleased to have beds and space. The kids have decided to walk around with their Legs outstretched in some kind of sideways goose step - just because they can - the caravan is very narrow!!

Straight north of Port Augusta on the Stuart Highway the desert landscape seems to begin. We all really thought that this is what the nullabor should look like - there are no trees here. The earth is such a brilliant ochre colour and the green grey of the leaves of the shrubs look really beautiful. The countryside looked like a moonscape with rolling hills and flat table top hills in the distance. Then the salt lakes appear which are absolutely amazing. White expanses as far as the eye can see. Some with red hill tops seeming to emerge like volcano summits from a white mist.

The road is straight and crosses the trans Australian railway a couple of times. Amazingly straight!

Called in at Spud's roadhouse for a cup of tea which is only 6 kilometres out of Woomera. We of course had to call in and see where the space programmes and rocket launches took place. This is a truly unexpected place. It has a green playing field!!! Not cricket or football but Baseball!! How much money have the Americans put into joint programmes in theis prohibited Woomera area? As we left Woomera we saw a vapour trail that appeared to go straight up into the sky - was it a rocket??

Arrived in Coober Pedy with our mouths open - Have you seen "Mad Max 3" ? The houses underground the great mounds of soil called 'Mullocks", the 40 different nationalities living here, the Italian Club, the Croatian Club, the Greek Taverna - this is just so different to anywhere we have ever seen.

Jumped in pool and cooled off before having a drive around. The temperature is a mild 29 degrees. There are half buried - dugout - houses everywhere - noticed a four bedroom dugout for rent for $220/week. Plenty of work out here and cheap accommodation. Saw yet another of the "big" australian monuments - The big winch.

Had dinner in a greek restaurant with the best Pizza, greek cakes and biscuits. The owners have a home in Greece but just love it in Coober Pedy. Huh??

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Photos

salt lake
Island Lagoon

Rocket???
Could this be a Woomera Rocket launch?

road sign
In English, Japanese and German

Coober Pedy Township
Dugout houses - see the air vents

Pizza??
The Coat of Arms on a Pizza!

Comments

[Rol]

It's Nick Xav
Hey Xav been a while it's Nick B here I changed my online name to Rol and it's nice to have a chat so would please aanswer me howecer your supposed to do that