- Marla - Coober Pedy
- 237kms
- 35°c
I think today topped the scoreboard in the "spot the burnt out car" game with a score of at least 15!
We were looking forward to Coober Pedy, there is something intriguing about a town that is 80% underground.
It became quickly apparent that we were nearing the town by the piles of dirt & rocks that lined the roadside, filling in the holes is not required.
I have to say the highlight for us all was definitely the visit to "Faye's House", we were given a tour by a lovely gentleman, the current tenant. This was the first underground building in Coober Pedy and was originally the garage for the postie when he came through town.
Faye dug out the house over a period of ten years, all by hand and with the help of 2 other women that decided they would like to live underground too. It was amazing the size of it, he explained that the further underground you go the larger the rooms could be, the house is around 25 degrees all year round.
Faye was employed by the Mine as a cook for the miners, but was soon fired as she refused to cook "green meat". The miners stopped her from leaving town and helped her get set up in a cafe where she then went on to provide accommodation and tours of the area. It is said she is responsible for bringing tourism to the area.
The house was amazing and Ella & Occy loved that if the furniture didn't fit, they just dug out around it to make it fit! The same went for if they needed a shelf, just dig one out wherever you like, as Faye did in her bedroom for her dogs as she was sick of them getting on her bed.
We then headed out to the Town mine fields for a spot of "noodling", it was hot and the flies were determined to be annoying even though we were wearing our uber cool flynets. After about 45 minutes of digging in the rocks and a few sparkly bits that were either ponch or gypsum we decided to call it a day.
Ella & Occy tried out their didgeridoos and made a noise of sorts, I think a bit more practice is needed! We found a vintage store in town and scored 11 awesome books for our library, even better is that Ella is absolutely engrossed in "Dead Famous - Queen Victoria" history books sure have come a long way!
Some travellers we had met in Ayers Rock put us on to this camp spot and happened to be there today, so the kiddos thought they would do some mining in their own spot.
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