Day 17 August 12 Wednesday
Left Gunnedah and headed west on the Oxley Highway to Coonabarabran. Tried the internet but would not read my text file for
web site. Quit and went to Warrumbungle National Park. Hiked the White Gum Lookout trail. Nice views of the mountains. Paid my 
fee at the 
visitors center. 
Kangaroos, emus, and a koala bear were found there. Lots of ‘roos and emus. I hiked up the Fan’s Horizon lookout trail for some fantastic views. There were longer hikes but did not take them. Went back into town and tried internet again. Hooked into broadband but the blogsite would not let me send pictures. Why? May add later. Spend the night at John Oxley Caravan park, space 14.Day 18 August 13 Thursday
From Coonabarabran, took hwy 39 to Narrabri. A cotton center. I then went to Mt. Kapatur Nationa Park and drove to the top of the mountain at around 1500 meters (4600 feet) The view was great. The li
terature said you could see one third of NSW from there and I believe it. Saw a small bit of fresh snow in a shady area. The road was narrow, steep and windy a
nd mostly unpaved. The van did very well. Took a few walks to different view points. Cold and windy. Headed back to town and spent the night at Holiday Tourist Park, space 49. They had WiFi so I could send some emails and add pics to my blog.
From Coonabarabran, took hwy 39 to Narrabri. A cotton center. I then went to Mt. Kapatur Nationa Park and drove to the top of the mountain at around 1500 meters (4600 feet) The view was great. The li
terature said you could see one third of NSW from there and I believe it. Saw a small bit of fresh snow in a shady area. The road was narrow, steep and windy a
nd mostly unpaved. The van did very well. Took a few walks to different view points. Cold and windy. Headed back to town and spent the night at Holiday Tourist Park, space 49. They had WiFi so I could send some emails and add pics to my blog.My van
Sawn Rocks
Day 19 August 14 Friday
Left Narrabi and headed west on the Kilamaroi highway through Wee Waa to Walcott then north on Castlereagh highway to Lighting Ridge. This is the real outback, straight roads and not much of anything. Checked out the town a little then went to the information center to find out about looking for opals. They directed me to a place out of town where the mines dump tailing. Looked a bit and found some pretty rocks. Headed back to town and spent the night at Crocodile Caravan Park. Place was packed because this is the busy season. Hardly any one comes in the summer. Too hot. Ate dinner and had a fun chat with a whole bunch of travelers, all Australians. After dinner went to the Bore Bath just at the edge of town. Bore means a well. It is an artesian hot water bath built by the miners but managed by the city. Open 24 hours a day. Had a fun chat with a local miner and said it will be difficult to make my fortune finding opals. I told him I just wanted to find something to make a pair of earings or so.
Left Narrabi and headed west on the Kilamaroi highway through Wee Waa to Walcott then north on Castlereagh highway to Lighting Ridge. This is the real outback, straight roads and not much of anything. Checked out the town a little then went to the information center to find out about looking for opals. They directed me to a place out of town where the mines dump tailing. Looked a bit and found some pretty rocks. Headed back to town and spent the night at Crocodile Caravan Park. Place was packed because this is the busy season. Hardly any one comes in the summer. Too hot. Ate dinner and had a fun chat with a whole bunch of travelers, all Australians. After dinner went to the Bore Bath just at the edge of town. Bore means a well. It is an artesian hot water bath built by the miners but managed by the city. Open 24 hours a day. Had a fun chat with a local miner and said it will be difficult to make my fortune finding opals. I told him I just wanted to find something to make a pair of earings or so.
Day 20 August 15 Saturday
After breakfast headed off to the opal mines southwest of town. Rummaged through the tailings and got a sandwich bag full of seam opal. Most were small pieces and not very thick After 5 hours came back to town and took the blue car door tour to an opal mine and saw some samples of opal similar to mine, rough and cut, and the famous nodule black opal. They used old car doors to mark the auto tour routes. It was a fun day even though I did not make my fortune in opals.
After breakfast headed off to the opal mines southwest of town. Rummaged through the tailings and got a sandwich bag full of seam opal. Most were small pieces and not very thick After 5 hours came back to town and took the blue car door tour to an opal mine and saw some samples of opal similar to mine, rough and cut, and the famous nodule black opal. They used old car doors to mark the auto tour routes. It was a fun day even though I did not make my fortune in opals.
Opal mines where I got my opal
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