David's Journal Entry

The Serbian Church was our first port of call today, having been advised by our host Ali it was a must-see. She miraculously appeared as we left our cheap motel (seemingly we are rather well known on the road, and our inauspicious entry to town didn't go unnoticed). She immediately directed us towards Barry, the information centre guru. Barry's passion for the minutiae of Coober Pedy and its surroundings was somewhat lost on me once he started suggesting places to visit which would require several hours of riding. Mike was very polite and listened attentively, as I took the opportunity to wander off whilst he received a blow-by-blow account of everything that has ever happened in CP. 

After the Church we we headed for food in a local hotel and had our first opal experience. Coober Pedy is clearly all about opals! We mooched about with no real agenda other than to rid our legs of lactic acid and fuel up. Of the various tourist spots perhaps the best was the self-guided tour in the Old Mining Museum, which is connected to a formerly used mine and underground home. Coober Pedy is undoubtedly an interesting place and worthy of its film set status. Whether for Max Mad or Pitch Black (there is still a spacecraft from the movie on display in the middle of town), or the array of street sculptures there is plenty to catch the eye. 

Our room for the night was all we had hoped for, if this is representative I may yet convert to life as a troglodyte.