- Joined
- Oct 26, 2013
- Messages
- 37
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- 84
Having lived and mined in Lightning Ridge for 20 years I thought some of you might be interested in what it's like to live in what could be called the last great frontier town. Lightning Ridge is so different from what you expect of an isolated country town. It is truly like living in a casino - there is an air of expectancy and excitement in the very air ! You can come wearing thongs and leave wearing RM Williams. I hadn't been in The Ridge long when a helicopter flew over our camp. I was chatting with an American friend who had been living there for some years. (It's a VERY friendly town).
"Mines Department survey I queried?" trying to show that I knew a little about mining.
"O no," was the quick reply," that belongs to 2 miners: last year they couldn't afford a chicken between them for Christmas Dinner they were so broke. All their money went into diesel and survival food. Then they struck a pocket of gems. They took out around $40 million!" And that's not an isolated incident of rags to riches.
My camp was built around a 25ft mine shaft (see earlier post) and the toilet was a long drop: so long that we were concerned that guests would be nervous about using it. I overcame this by fitting a seat belt to the seat. She who must be obeyed stopped me from putting a 'Fasten Seat Belt' sign on the door- said I was being childish.
Our power was primarily solar which charged the batteries during the day and a back-up wind generator which which ran 24/7.
Top of the agenda was to get a garden going. Me, when I get the urge to garden I lie down till the urge passes but it was garden first. Planting out pots was easy enough but the trees - that was another matter altogether. There was about 6 inches of soil then a band of shin cracker so named that crow bars and picks easily slipped off the smooth surface and you can guess where they hit. Once through the the shin cracker you are on to sandstone:heavy going. My neighbour offered to plant some gelly but even though the opal band was 25ft down the shock wave could still crack or even shatter valuable stones so I thanked him and we sat down, had a beer and discussed the problem. (It's a REAL friendly town).
I hope this long post is not boring you.
Harlequin
"Mines Department survey I queried?" trying to show that I knew a little about mining.
"O no," was the quick reply," that belongs to 2 miners: last year they couldn't afford a chicken between them for Christmas Dinner they were so broke. All their money went into diesel and survival food. Then they struck a pocket of gems. They took out around $40 million!" And that's not an isolated incident of rags to riches.
My camp was built around a 25ft mine shaft (see earlier post) and the toilet was a long drop: so long that we were concerned that guests would be nervous about using it. I overcame this by fitting a seat belt to the seat. She who must be obeyed stopped me from putting a 'Fasten Seat Belt' sign on the door- said I was being childish.
Our power was primarily solar which charged the batteries during the day and a back-up wind generator which which ran 24/7.
Top of the agenda was to get a garden going. Me, when I get the urge to garden I lie down till the urge passes but it was garden first. Planting out pots was easy enough but the trees - that was another matter altogether. There was about 6 inches of soil then a band of shin cracker so named that crow bars and picks easily slipped off the smooth surface and you can guess where they hit. Once through the the shin cracker you are on to sandstone:heavy going. My neighbour offered to plant some gelly but even though the opal band was 25ft down the shock wave could still crack or even shatter valuable stones so I thanked him and we sat down, had a beer and discussed the problem. (It's a REAL friendly town).
I hope this long post is not boring you.
Harlequin
