Two things  we have learnt along the way are: 1) top up on fuel , food and water whenever you can and 2) plan for a laundry day and least every 4-5 days. And  we did both of these today.

Arrived at the laundrette at 7.30, planning to be in and out quickly, but  alas half of  the Broken Hill campers had the same idea.  Being a laundrette novice I had no idea  of protocols/etiquette., so I politely waited for the person who had loaded up several machines (now finished) to return and retrieve their laundry so I could use the machine. But before I could say ‘Jack Robinson’ my ruthless co-campers  had stepped in, pulled  the offending washing out and taken over the machines – it’s a dog eat dog world in there! In true Darwinian fashion I adapted quickly  pouncing on machines and dryers on their very last rotation, shovelling people’s smalls into their waiting baskets while they were still sipping their lattes down the road. Washing finished 10.00 am- 2.5 hours of my life I’ll never get back.

From a quick trip the supermarket to stock up then off to explore town. The BH people are so welcoming and wholeheartedly embrace the annual influx of people – with a population of  19K ish catering for 8K  bash  must be a huge logistical exercise.

Very excited when we got back to camp to see A, and J’s van had rolled in beside ours- and to be met by Jatz’s waggy tail – although I imagine he wondered what the hell we were doing out here in the middle of nowhere. 

Our afternoon of sightseeing included the Pro Hart gallery (located in his old home and including his studio and part completed works), and a drive up to the Line and Load Memorial. Amazing views over the still operating open cut mine (Zinc and Silver) and Broken Hill. The memorial lists the  names of all recorded deaths in the mine dating back to the late 1800s with the most recent death in 2019- a sober reminder of how dangerous this industry is for its workers.