The chance to come to Broken Hill in the winter was not to to passed up. So with Ian already ensconced for a work conference during the week I hitched a ride on a plane to join him for the weekend plus - I love having a four day weekend.
Departure on Saturday morning - a spectacular winter's morning to fly across the state.
Collected a vehicle and headed to the mullock heap - a must to see the expanse of the town but also to take our position on the big red chair.
A drive out to Silverton and beyond after lunch provided fun.
Alien ships? Outside Silverton at Umberumberka Reservoir.
Ian beside the dam wall at Umberumberka reservoir.
Afternoon tea with Susan on her verandah was next. Catching up on her holiday and work adventures in the afternoon sun was perfect. We have been invited to join her at the Palace Hotel with some work friends for dinner. An entertaining evening meeting almost local people - you only get to be an A grader it you were born on Broken Hill.Feathers and Lakes
After a slow start and a leisurely breakfast at The Alfresco cafe we collect rations for a picnic to drive to Menindee Lakes. Here we shall see much water and birds.
Back home we rested up before heading to watch the sunset and have a delicious meal at the Broken Earth Restaurant on top of the Mullock Heap.
Art, age and stories
An early pick up - 8.30 - by our tour guide for the day. Irving, not an A grader but been here for 18 years and he taking just Ian and me on our exploration of Aboriginal rock art and a little bit of other history today.
Our first stop, with morning tea - a cuppa and a piece of cake from the back of the vehicle - and very welcome it was too - was an tin mining ghost town - Euriowie - about 80kms north of Broken Hill. It lasted on 15 years but there is plenty of evidence of people having been there. It would have been a very challenging place to call both home and the workplace!
We then headed off for a walk into Byjerkerno Gorge. Many a goat on the hill and a few birds seeking water - always elusive when I have a camera!!
Panaramitee rock art left me feeling very privileged to have stood and touched such things that were done many thousands years ago - unable to date it exactly - by people on the river bank having the time to indulge in so much art and story telling. Here is just a sample of the work.
Lunch at the homestead shearers' kitchen - well earned me thinks. The walking in the sun was warmer and more demanding that I thought. A few shots around the shearing sheds.