The last leg north

Day 3 saw us cover the final leg north, from Boggabri to Lightning Ridge, with stops at Gin's Leap and the hot springs at Pilliga on the way through.

First stop was Gin's Leap, a striking rock face just outside Boggabri on the road to Narrabri. The story behind the name is a grim one. A young Gamilaroi woman, promised to an elder of her tribe, ran away with a young man from a neighbouring tribe. The pair were pursued and, seeing no escape, jumped from the cliff together. The site goes by several names: Gagabaayindaay, Cooloobindi, The Rock, and Bullaballakit.

The interpretive sign at Gin's Leap below the rock face The interpretive sign tells the full story.

The Grover family grave below the cliff at Gin's Leap The Grover family grave at the foot of the Leap.

We fuelled up at Narrabri on the way through, where diesel was 301.9 cents a litre, the most expensive diesel I have ever seen. $186.88 for 61.9 litres. The war in Iran has a lot to answer for.

The fuel pump at Narrabri showing diesel at 301.9 cents a litre The damage at Narrabri.

Then the hot springs at Pilliga.

PILLIGA BORE EST 1902 stencilled on the concrete path at the entrance Pilliga Bore, running since 1902.

The interpretive welcome sign at the Pilliga bore baths Yaama. Welcome to the Pilliga, Gamilaroi Country.

Soaking in the brown bore water at the Pilliga Bore Baths The bore baths, a steady 37 degrees.

Jo chest-deep in the bore baths at Pilliga Jo taking the waters.

The Range Rover made it. Lightning Ridge is the northern-most point of the trip.

The road into Lightning Ridge, flat and straight to the horizon The road into Lightning Ridge: flat, straight, and very empty.

*Lots of this view, lots of emus spotted!* *The plains between Narrabri and Lightning Ridge.*

The Range Rover hitched to the Longreach at a stop along the way The Range Rover and the Longreach, parked up.

We took selfies at the town entry sign on the way in, in front of one of the painted agitators scattered around the Ridge. An agitator is a converted cement mixer drum that miners used to wash opal-bearing dirt, which is why it looks so familiar.

The four of us in front of the Lightning Ridge welcome sign The obligatory entry selfie, painted agitator and all.

BIG4 Opal Holiday Park

We checked in to the BIG4 Opal Holiday Park, home for the next two nights.

The Range Rover and the Longreach set up at the caravan park at dusk Set up at the BIG4 Opal Holiday Park as the sun goes down.

Noodling

The kids came prepared with rechargeable black lights (AliExpress specials) and spent the evening noodling for opals. Noodling is the local term for picking through the old mullock heaps for opals the miners missed, and the theory is that opal fluoresces under UV, so a black light after dark is a legitimate technique rather than just a toy.

The gated entrance to the Hatters Flat fossicking area at dusk Hatters Flat fossicking area. Watch out for the ratters.

Crouched over the gravel at dusk, hunting for opals Noodling at dusk.

A container of rechargeable UV torches, one glowing The noodling kit.

Two boys with their black lights on the mullock heaps The noodling crew, confident of a strike.

A hand-painted sign reading YOU HAVE BEEN NOODLING against the evening sky You have been noodling.

We finished the day with a soak at the Lightning Ridge bore baths. Free, open all hours, and hot straight out of the Great Artesian Basin.

Bathers around the edge of the Lightning Ridge bore baths after dark The Lightning Ridge bore baths after dark.

Two nights here. Tomorrow we book in for a mine visit.