Coober Pedy

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, Cejae and I were very busy. We drove all day yesterday, and ended with a feed at the Big Winch. Then, Dad asked us to make a video about the dugout we are staying in. We made some of it that night, and the rest today. You can check that out on Dad's Facebook. This morning, we had breakfast at the Big Winch. Then, we drove to an opal shop. This was demonstrating how to cut and polish opals. Now, there's a bit of a story behind this one, so listen in. 

Last year, when we came to Coober Pedy, we did a tour at Tom's Opal Mine. He taught us some of the basics, then all the kids went to go look for potch, and two polished, coloured opals that he had hidden all over the mine. Cejae found both of the coloured opals, and together, we found quite a bit of potch. At the end, we had the opportunity to trade it back for money, so that they could use it again. Once she had a look, she offered us two dollars each, and a lollipop each. The other kids doing the tour took this offer straight away, but we weren't silly, and knew we could get more. After some bargaining, we still weren't much further, so we had a look in the big bucket of potch that they had to crush up into little pieces. There were a few pieces of coloured opal, so we found the one with the most opal, and offered to trade our potch for that opal, and they accepted. After sitting in the bathroom for a year, occasionally being scrubbed, I brought it on this trip with us. 

Anyway, at the end of the demonstration, I gave the man the opal, and he cleaned it up for us, for just 10 dollars!

Here is a before and after shot. 

For lunch, we met up with our friends, Russell and Stephanie. The bar didn't serve food, so we headed back up to the Big Winch, again! That is the third time in a row!

After lunch, we hung out at the underground house. (That means Mum and Dad had a sleep! 🤣) For dinner, we just grabbed some things from the local IGA, before heading up the viewing platform hill.