Outback Queensland CFT Trip - Day 3

Sunday 9 July - Lightning Ridge Day 3

When we woke this morning I went to breakfast leaving Kerrie in bed to miss yet another meal. it was decided she should see someone to rule out secondary infection as she has had this cold for 5 weeks. As we would be quite remote tomorrow it is best to check that out. Enquiries found that the local doctor did his rounds at the hospital at 9am so Allan took Kerrie and Nancie off to the hospital while we all went to church. It turned out that Kerrie was diagnosed with a viral infection still and as yet not sign of secondary infection. She was given instructions for care and returned to the motel room for the day again.

After church I visited the John Murray gallery. He is certainly very talented! Then a wander through the Sunday market where I bought some biscuits and presents for the grandchildren.

At 1pm we went out to the Black Hand Opal mine. I had seen it two years ago and am glad I went again. It has changed significantly. I was really disappointed with the colourful paint work over some of the beautiful raw sandstone sculptures I had seen in 2015. The other 'update' I did not like was the music playing all through the caverns making it impossible to hear the echoes in the different spaces. I had been looking forward to singing in one particular domed cavern.

While waiting for others to come out of the mine I found a plant that Dianne had asked me about earlier and while photographing it I noticed the tiny eggs on its stems presumably laid by the white and black butterflies that really loved it and could be seen everywhere. This turned out to be Caper White butterflies on Warrior Bush (Apophyllum anomalum).

Back to the motel for a short walk with Kerrie who by then had improved slightly. Then a bit of blogging and sorting before dinner.