The Opal Fields of Outback NSW

From our bedroom window

Of course, we are always on the lookout for a free camp overnight and so after much discussion with various Info Centre People, trying to find out what the conditions were like and whether it was worth the trip,  we decided we would head out to the Glengarry Hilton, a pub out on the rugged opal fields.   We were told it was bitumen all the way, except for about 4kms. between the pubs (3 here).  The Club, Sheepyard, and Glengarry Hilton.  The Hilton was where we were aiming for.   Well it was nothing more than an absolute nightmare.   The road was rough, dusty and rocky.   The landscape was from outer space,  I swear we were in another world altogether.  Derelict cars, buildings, rough looking blokes and mine shafts everywhere.   Couldnt find any of the the pubs, even though they are all vaguely signposted with arrows or rough signs,  did 13 kms. then u turned and headed back out.  All of a sudden we were pulled over, a local miner offered to "show us the way" .  He told us we were only 3kms. away from the Hilton, so once again, we u turned (big mistake)  and followed him.    He then stopped midway, asked us why we wanted to go to the Hilton, when he could take us to a better pub.  So we followed him.  He took us to the pub, we didnt want to go to, but by then we were "over it" and just wanted to get out of the bus.    Wandered into the pub, had a drink and then sat down with our "rescuer".   Not sure how we felt about him.    By this time, Ros and I were starting to feel slightly apprehensive about our situation.   I had been sick for some time with a bad cold and so wasnt in the best frame of mind.    Weird and wacky thoughts were going thru our brains.  The men and women frequenting this place were quite suss/feral/weird and by the time we voiced our opinions to our fellas, and told them we were feeling "shit scared", it was getting too late, the sun was setting, and so we had to stay the night at the camp.   We vowed to get up at first light and make a bee line for normality.   I slept like a log though, thanks to cold & flu tabs, I think even the fellas, were a little worried about our safety, not from a personal point of view, but wondering if someone would try pilfering from the cars/vehicles whilst we slept.   As the sun came up, we left.  That was a nightmare in itself.    13kms of rugged rough roads, the windscreen shrouded in dust, the sun shining directly in our eyes, and what felt like a hundred kangaroos crisscrossing across our path as we slowly headed off.   We had to drive so slowly watching for kangaroos and emus.   I had promised Ros & Tony no more dirt roads and here we were on the worst of the worst.   Our vehicles were thick with dust inside & out.   So much for the accurate info you get from Info Centre people, who have probably never ventured out there.   I can honestly say, we should never have gone there, but we were perfectly safe, no one bothered us, everyone acknowledged us or spoke to us politely, its just our imaginations that got the better of us under the circumstances.   It was the wild wild west from yesteryear for sure.   I guess the only saving grace for us, is that we have been there done that and seen it for ourselves.

Camped up for the night.

The Pub.