Easter with a difference

[Ian Allomes]

I’ve just returned from a trip out west to watch the “Great Billy Goat Race” held each year at Lightening Ridge NSW.

Lightening Ridge is world famous for its black opals.

The class of Billy’s this year were as always top notch.

They catch a bunch of wild Billy’s each year from the surrounding bush and harness them up at the starting line, then let them go.

There are six heats, two semi finals then the fastest six are auctioned off to the highest bidders before the big race.

The money is then split between the first second and third. The Billy’s ultimately head off to the abattoirs, so recycling is foremost on their minds.

Here are some pictures

They don’t always go in a straight line.

This fella nearly crashed into me. An official catcher untangling it from the parra-webbing

This is Sparkling Ale, the grand champion of 2007 in one of his heats.

Local SES (SAR) guys lending a hand, they always do a great job at local functions.

Neck and neck on the finals

more to come.

 

[Ian Allomes]

Here a the heat winners resting up before the big event.

Some of the local boy’s watching on.

Real estate is still reasonable in Lightening Ridge. This one comes with a mining lease. The only problem, in summer you need to sit under a tree and pant.

The chickens out here grow out to a fair size.

I thought of popping in to see Eric, then realized where I was.

 

[Ian Allomes]

Heading out to Collarenebri to see an old mate that I haven’t seen for about a hundred years.

The Wiz Bin races are held here each year as well and draw some classy runners. osama BIN laden on the far side was beaten narrowly by the racy looking fella closest in the picture.Representing Lightening Ridge Caravan park

In country where all locals wear a knife I was surprised to notice that many were wearing multi tools. “Leatherman” being the most prevalent.

One time all you would see out here were stock knives.

It was gut wrenching to see our west in its most devastating drought on record, rivers dried up, dams empty and cattle, sheep and horses trying to scratch out a feed from country that was mostly dirt.
The locals still kept their spirits up and participated in the Easter festivities. Most living in the town are opal minors but the cattle and sheep farmers from around here have a load of problems at the moment.

I hope you enjoyed them.
Ian.

PS. Here’s another fast Billy, the only problem was he was running in the wrong direction.

 

[xaman]

Great pic Ian! Looks like a load of fun.

I'm going to have to look into that little cabin, sounds like a steal to me...

 

[Lil' Foo]

That looks like a load of fun!!! :thumbup: Wild billies & a street race sounds like a combo for some really funny stuff to happen!

Thanks for the pics Ian! :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Doberman_Dave]

Thanks for the post Ian. Looks like a great time! Might even be worth making the trip next year.

 

[OldPhysics]

Wonderful stuff -- thanks for sharing. Excitement and billy goats...in the land down under.

 

[clone7]

great pics... makes me wish i did my trip to the land down under.

 

[Gravelface]

Outstanding Pictures! Looks like something that would happen in Austin Texas!!!

And 17000!!!! Holy Chat...How much land comes with that!!! You can barely remodel a bathroom for that much!!!

17,000.00 AUD = 13,879.25 USD !!!!! Wow....you think they would take INFI in trade!

 

[Tim the Slugman]

Great pics IAN, wheres Stan?

 

[HDBeav]

Looks like a lot of fun, thanks for sharing the pics. I LOVE that flatbed truck!

 

[Matteo Escobar]

Thanks for the pics! I found it interesting looking at snapshots of Australian life.

 

[westllen]

awesome pics thanks for posting, looks like loads of fun!:thumbup:

 

[JurT]

I'm sure you had a great time Ian. And once again you've got some awesome pics!! :thumbup:

 

[Ian Allomes]

Here’s a few more pics of the trip.

The first is of the goat that had his horn stuck in the wheel of the cart next to him, the officials figured out that he wasn’t running at his full potential with his head bobbing up and down.

Some more Emus on the way.

Wide open spaces.
The roads were really good compared to what I remembered the last time I was out here. Even though it was Easter weekend I was still only passing a vehicle about every half hour.
The speed limits are 110 klms per hour, about 70 miles per hour in your measure.

It’s fast enough as you can’t’ be sure if a Roo or other livestock may run out in front of you.
I only seen two police cars on the entire trip one was booz testing drivers in a town and the other was not for from home when I was leaving.

The old hospital in Lightening Ridge

Passed this old timer on the way back

Heaps of material placed at the tourist center on the way into town for the people who want to do their own fosicking.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

nice pics!! looks like fun!

 

[puukko]

Nice photos! Thanks for a glimpse of life down under! It looks like a festival that could be held in any number of small towns here in the US. Looked like fun!

 

[rbmcmjr]

What exactly is "fosicking"?

 

[Ian Allomes]

What exactly is "fosicking"?

It’s probably just an Aussie term for scratching around in a mullock heap looking for opals.

They have dumped heaps of raw excavated material around the grounds for people to go through. I’m not sure how many have struck it rich looking through it though.