Day 17 26/5/2016, Lightning Ridge, cold windy wet

It’s too bloody miserable to leave our vans. Thunder rumbles and the sky is an ugly cobalt yet little rain falls.

Suffering cabin fever we venture out in the afternoon and take the recommended Chambers of the Black Hand tour. A tour as unique as its name. This is what they call a ‘walk in’ mine and we descend 80 or so steps to 40 feet below ground. Here a chap by the name of Ron Canlin has created a sculpture gallery from the sandstone level of the mine. Another steep walk downwards takes us below to the clay level where opal mining once took place. Ron was once a Royal Marine and has never trained as an artist, it is a natural talent. Thousands of carvings large and small adorn the walls of the mine.

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When we emerge gob smacked from the mine, it is raining but we have no idea how much has fallen until Woody lowers VeeWee’s awning and litres of water splash down.

Towing Kms: 0