Days are hot and nights are freezing here in the southern desert. Sleeping in the underground tunnels was therefore very welcome and relaxing. The excess of old mines and the harsh temperatures around here drove a lot of the city underground. Not only hotels and apartments also churches and other public spaces are build into the ground. I had a look at the town this morning. It is basically a mining town, very unattractive from the outside, most building are actually build underground into exploited opal mines.
The whole place lives of opal mining. Nearly 90% of all opal is found here. You could say the whole town is build into an opal field. Every stone you turn has opal inclusions (I collected some). When I drove out of town I saw the whole desert floor turned into piles to mine that precious stone.
Today I had another scary fuel experience. I couldn´t get my fuel app updated since there was no internet in any of the town that I have been lately. But I had most of the area offline in google maps. Unfortunately, the town where I wanted to get fuel just didn´t exist. Again, I couldn not turn back, because I already knew that I wouldn´t make it back to the last gas station, so you might as well just continue and hope for the best. Again I was lucky. Already on reserve a sign showed me: next service 68km ahead. Driving at 80km/h I luckily reached that station again. I think I consider myself quite lucky :D
At sunset I reached the red heart of Australia, the sacred Mt Uluru, also called Ayers Rock. A wild dingo gave me some company while I was enjoying the stunning view. As if he was saying “yes, now you are in the Outback”. The next days I planned far less driving. I am really excited to explore this fantastic environment on foot.
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