Before coming to Australia, my hosts and I had discussed going 'fossicking' (gold, gem or treasure hunting). I had brought a metal detector from the states and we also considered the possibility of going to Lightning Ridge, in New South Wales to look for opals.

We were going on an adventure, several hundred kilometers from Gold Coast to an area known by reputation as being a wild and 'wooly' area with character. Allan, my host promised that we would meet some 'characters'.

We were going to Lightning Ridge because that is the only place on earth that the "Black Opal" is found. Lightning Ridge "Black Opal" is prized the world over. I was told a story by an elderly lady I met at the San Francisco airport of her finding an opal the size of a lemon accidently at Lightning Ridge. Oh....that sounded so good.

Allan's family live in Stanthorpe, Queensland. It is the Granite Belt which is a farming area where tin was discovered during WWII. Tin was found on their property. Our first night away from the coast would be spent there.

It was a frosty August morning. The winter coat I brought from Oklahoma, sure felt good. The Jeep and the caravan (trailer) would be our home for the next week.

Allan's father helped extract tin from the family place. He pointed out some places where tin had been found during WWII. We filled a bucket of the sand and brought it down to the dam to 'pan' it. Allan's dad instructed him on what to do and what to look for. Allan's dad said, "..those little black specks are tin. Allan replied, "Aw..All Right!...we'll put this in the caravan and wash it out later". We never did!..I really didn't think tin...was worth looking for....we had gold and opals on our minds.(grin) Allan's dad closely resembled Robert Mitchum, the actor.

A Butler family tradition is to have someone provide the evenings musical entertainment. The piano, organ and accordian were available. Since I don't sing, Liz took over from Allan's dad on the accordian and entertained us.

When morning came, we set out for Moree in New South Wales. Moree is famous for for having a 'bore water' bath house. 'Bore water' is a naturally occuring spring of hot water with high mineral content. The hot mineral baths are said to have a therapeutic effect on joint and muscle ailments.

We decided the best route for pulling a caravan was if we took an unimproved (gravel) road. It was to be my first glimpse of the outback.

Along the road were flocks and flocks of Galah, a colorful bird of the parrot family. They are elusive in the bush and getting close enough to take a good picture is difficult. See the gravel road and the density of the brush?

After a cold night in a caravan park, we went to the Moree bath house to try out the therapeutic benefits of a 'bore bath'. As you can see it is open air....and by our dress it was winter. The dressing stalls are open air also...no time was wasted in getting into the bath. It was invigorating!

Outback Experience 2

"I Put A Seashell to My Ear...And it all comes back..HomeBoy in Paradise"

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