What a day! We started with sizzling hot savoury pancakes de tour (made with leftover anything) in Bourke and ended with delicious freezing cold Sav Blanc in Lightning Ridge - opal desert country. Lightning Ridge wasn’t on this ‘itinerary’ but I love the place so why not! Perhaps we’ll do a little opal noodling tomorrow - in the broiling sun. I’ll tell you about the Australian Opal Centre later or ....
We took the scenic route to Lightening Ridge and passed through the delightful village of Goodooga northeast of Brewarrina. En route I spotted a really unusual plant - the Warrior Bush (Apophyllum anomalum). It is host for the Caper White Butterfly which, according to the pundits, probably migrated into northern Australia with their food plants during the Oligocene which was about 20-35 million years ago. The Warrior Bushes which stand out against the surrounding vegetation, were dotted about the landscape as we drove. Most bushes are bare up toc attle head height as the cattle love to brpwse on the young branches and fruit. Interestingly the Warrior Bush is related to the Wild Orange Tree (Capparus mitchelli) which in this area is regarded as an indicator of opal-bearing ground. I will be on its trail tomorrow!
Travel is such a great an education - see a tree and a voila! a lesson in geology - or something like that. As Miriam Blaker (Out an' About) says “Enjoy the journey and the destination whether it’s your first or fifth time. The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
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| A sad little church in Goodooga |
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| Warrior Bush |
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| These wily Roos enjoyed the sprinkler and grass - until the park owner came and shooed them off |
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| Pancake de tour - leftover veggies and anything else plus onions (using Mum's age-old pancake recipe) |
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