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Tuesday
After breakfast we headed to White Cliffs (about 100kms) for a look around. We got a map of the town at the General Store which sets out a visitor circuit. We headed up the hill to the lookout and took a tour of the Underground Motel. It's really well done and very interesting. The temperatures in summer regularly reach 50° so living underground is the best option - here the temp stays around 22° to 24° year round. It wasn't claustrophobic at all.
We then continued on the drive around town and went the Southern Cross Opal Showroom. It was at the front of the miner's house which is also the mine he works. His house is made up of old mine shafts linked together. I bought another charm bead for my bracelet and he showed us what to look for and where to go fossicking.
The town has an Historic Mining Reserve where anyone is welcome to fossick and no licence is required. We went out and had a look around. I found 2 pieces that I was fairly confident has opal in it and both Martin and I found other pieces we weren't sure about so we went back to the opal man. We were right, the two pieces had opal seams but the rest was rubbish.
Back to the General Store for lunch - a steak sandwich with the lot - and then we call over to the Stubby House at Joe's Opals. This house was built in the 70s using over 50,000 stubbies. Unfortunately he was closed for lunch and wouldn't reopen for another hour so having done everything else we headed back to Wilcannia.
With the awning packed away yesterday there won't be much at all to do in the morning. We have a relaxing afternoon and as the sun sets we head up to the campfire to chat with other travellers - one couple have come from Perth in 4 days so I mention that 4 days ago we we in Broken Hill. A drink or two and then back for dinner and bed.
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