Lightning Ridge and Ayres Rock

I can remember very clearly my father telling me
the story of how Ayres Rock was discovered by the
early Australia explorers and how it was to eventually become
one of the

Seven Natural Wonders Of the World.

I could not wait to climb onto it and to stand on
the top of this fantastic 'wonder'.
As I got older however, the aim of reaching
the top of my career took over my life.
I had all but forgotten about Ayres Rock until
one day I became aware of some of my past
thoughts and appreciated that something was missing.

The business world was not really me.
I had been born in 'The Bush' and I was missing what that had given me.

My annual holidays were due and I thought that standing
on the top of Ayres Rock would be good therapy for a
tired and 'worn out' young executive.

Why Not I asked myself.

I decided that I needed more time than the two weeks
annual leave so I resigned from my 'big time' executive job
and with my 18 month old Irish Setter Penney in tow, I set off to
enjoy the next 3 months doing what I wanted to for so long.


Climbing The Rock

Climbing The Rock is an adventure in itself.
Half way up I looked back and noticed how my car looked about
the size of a match-box toy. Realising that my rather large
Irish Setter was in that 'toy', I became very
aware of my smallness.
On reaching the top and signing the book,
I noticed The Olgars.
They are a similar rock formation.
The closness however, was a visual trick.
They are so large that the 20 odd kilometer journey
to reach them was not appreiated from this vantage point.

A great change

I looked up to the sky, and remembering seeing my car
looking so small and how even smaller my dog Penny was,
I felt like I thought how an ant may feel. The universe is so large.
I still hold to my perspectives as a human being
owever...I have never been the same since that day.

Nothing was to ever to be able to convince me that it was worth
all that much after this experience. Especailly a career path which, while it
did provide an income to 'buy things',
I knew then at what cost those things really were.
I changed my attitudes and discovered a life away
from the hassle of my Big Time Executive persuits.


Lightning Ridge.

Lightning Ridge is another part of Australia that had been
talked about in my early years. I was born to be about discovering things I think.
I wanted to go there, so when I returned from Ayres Rock,
my new goal was to go to 'The Ridge'.
The Ridge is a most unique place.
(Or at least it was.)

If you ever want to hear what the real sound of a good crack of thunder sounds like,
be at The Ridge during a storm.
You will have an experience of audio delight that will astound you.
(Being in K.L.Malaysia is not bad either though)

My life for many years after this first visit became
very much involved with The Ridge.
The uniquiness of the place is best shown in pictures and
I have a few here to show you.
A recent trip in August 2006 had me appreciating that The Ridge is no longer the quaint town it used to be. NO WAY. It's almost as modern as tomorrow and has changed to being the place it once was...and worse...forever. Another part of Aussie History down the tube. It still is however, worth a visit


Here's one that puts me there and is an oh so 'typical' Lightning Ridge pose.

A man and his mine.
Grossly overweight, sitting on the top of a one meter diameter shaft feeling quite proud
to be there and remembering what had gone
on before that had put me there in the first palce.

20 Meteres down-under..and a bit slimmer a couple of years later.

The Bottle House.

It's known the world over.
It started off in a wonderfully ordinary fashion
....wondering what to do with 'them'???

To get there, you have to travel for miles
and miles and you see this 'picture' for many of them!.

In one of his songs, John Williamson, the Aussie C & W singer/songwriter says
"...and the windscreen's like a travelling picture show"
That is so true here in OZ. A pic. from along the way

and then...

there is always a beautiful sunset to see

If you ever get the chance...Go.

Updated:5th. June 2007