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Post by 1dave on Jan 19, 2020 14:45:50 GMT -5
www.discovery.com/shows/outback-opal-hunters/episodesOutback Opal Hunters Episodes Change Season Season 2, Episode 1 Episode 1 A new season opal hunting begins! The Rookies face potential disaster from the get go; for Col's Crew, their mining quest is derailed by a serious illness, and the Opal Queen brings in new ... Season 2, Episode 2 Episode 2 - Jan 24 11pm | 10c
Saturday Jan 25 3am | 2c Rookie Justin has cracks in his equipment and his relationships; Col's Crew are a man down and on their last drum of fuel; and in the wild west, new team the Fire Crew are on a wild goose ... Season 2, Episode 3 Episode 3 Friday Jan 31 11pm | 10c For the Rookies, there's tension as a new partner leads them on a wild goose chase underground. The Cooke Brothers' season is off to a bad start and Col's Crew is called on an emergency ... Season 2, Episode 4 Episode 4 Rookie Justin gambles thousands of dollars on buying his way out of trouble; Opal Queen Kelly needs a big find underground or risk going broke; and Aaron and Greg's Dragonfly claim might ... Season 2, Episode 5 Episode 5 The Rookies battle their biggest claim yet, and each other; Col's Crew must bring out the old machines to hunt a new opal seam; and it's heating up as the Fire Crew race a fuel leak, chasing ... Season 2, Episode 6 Episode 6 It's last chance for The Rookies' partnership, Col's crew are on a crash course as his reoccurring illness slows them down, while the Cooke Brothers fight busted hoses and breakdowns in the ... Season 2, Episode 7 Episode 7 Rookie Justin ropes in a stranger in a mad dash to get his excavator across a busy highway. Opal Queen Kelly battles a new claim with a new partner and with Col struck down with illness ... Season 2, Episode 8 Blue Fire Opal or Bust Justin recruits fiancée Becky to save him from financial ruin, The Fire Crew face deadly reptiles and a snapped suspension in search of blue fire opal, while the Cooke Brothers go far ... Season 2, Episode 9 Race Against Time The Rookies battle busted hoses and finally hit treasure, while Boulder Boys Aaron and Greg bring in an old monster about to self-destruct. At their wash plant, The Cooke Brothers race to ... Previous Season
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,732
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 19, 2020 17:47:11 GMT -5
Been watching and enjoying. I came very close to heading to OZ to try to mine opal when I was much younger. It was when Andamooka was in its prime, producing some of the most beautiful green/orange opal in existence. I'm glad now I didn't -- the flies, heat, lack of capital and rough frontier life would probably have done me in. I'm happy the series is airing. It will educate consumers about how elusive fine opal is and how difficult it is to mine. Maybe they'll better understand why it's so pricey.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 19, 2020 17:58:04 GMT -5
We've been watching and enjoying it, too. Vince said the same thing as you, gemfeller about consumers.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 19, 2020 18:23:26 GMT -5
I've watched three or four episodes. The setbacks that the miners experience, together with the risks that they take, and the low odds of finding good opal seem like a neon sign to me: "Why Would You Ever Want To Do This??!" Of course the show wouldn't be any fun if they didn't find opal, so they all eventually do. When my wife retired in 2011 she (well, we) wanted to travel. My immediate response was, "OK, let's go to Australia!" So we did. And I insisted that one of the places we would visit had to be Coober Pedy. We spent about four days there checking out the town, doing some tours, and seeing some sights waaaay out in the middle of nowhere. I was interested in buying some rough opal, so I arranged to meet Dunston (the experienced miner who occasionally advises and helps the Coober Pedy newbies in the TV show) at the end of the day before we left. (I had also prearranged for someone he knew to vouch for me in advance of our arrival.) Alas, I came away with empty hands. I knew it would be strictly a cash transaction, but I didn't have enough and his brother (who "had" the opal — another story!) refused to cut one of the three parcels he showed to meet my ability to pay. I had to thank them for their time and walk away disappointed. Ah, yes, the files, gemfeller ! The locals in the interior/outback don't seem to mind them much, but we wimped out and wore our fly nets. I have a photo of one of our tour guides preparing lunch for us and his back is literally covered in flies. I'll have to find it and post it.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Jan 19, 2020 19:14:56 GMT -5
I haven't been there yet, but I heard when you arrive they immediately assign you 1,000 flies - and that's just to get you started... .
Lived in Phoenix for a while, so maybe I could handle the heat - but not the flies!!!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 19, 2020 21:01:17 GMT -5
Here's our guide cooking away — with his friends on his back:
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 19, 2020 21:03:23 GMT -5
Here's our guide cooking away — with his friends on his back: Dang, that gives me the heebie jeebies.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,732
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 20, 2020 1:18:57 GMT -5
opalpyrexia , my daughter married an Aussie from Victoria. One of his first questions on arrival was "Where are the flies?" We're fortunate to live in an area of SoCal where flies exist but rarely are bothersome. I think that alone made him feel he'd made a great choice in moving here. I think one of the things that really discouraged my venture to OZ was seeing pictures of the fly-netted hats with festoons of corks dangling from the brims to shoo flies away. They're sold at airports now as gag gifts but then they were genuine and necessary mining apparel.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jan 20, 2020 7:36:34 GMT -5
Wife and I watched the last show and noticed them swatting at some kind of flying bug now we know what it was. Never really noticed them doing it before. Are there parts of the year when they are worse?
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 20, 2020 11:15:15 GMT -5
I watch the show every week..... Even ordered a batch of "Potch"....235 carats worth... Nice material to play with this summer... That old Greek gentleman sure likes his explosives! Hahahaha
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 20, 2020 11:20:34 GMT -5
I watch the show every week..... Even ordered a batch of "Potch"....235 carats worth... Nice material to play with this summer... That old Greek gentleman sure likes his explosives! Hahahaha That guy is crazy. The thing that kills me is that his son just lets him go down those holes to set off dynamite and acts like it's no big deal.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 20, 2020 11:20:41 GMT -5
Wife and I watched the last show and noticed them swatting at some kind of flying bug now we know what it was. Never really noticed them doing it before. Are there parts of the year when they are worse?
That's the "Australian salute" according to an Australian couple after we arrived in Coober Pedy. We all practiced saluting while waiting outside the terminal building for the departing flight's passengers to board.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 20, 2020 11:26:34 GMT -5
We watched the new episode last night after reading this thread and there was one shot where Col was sitting and talking to the camera and he had like a dozen flies sitting on his face. I hate flies -- dirty, disgusting things and I couldn't imagine letting one, let alone a dozen just sit on my face without getting them off. Yuck!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 20, 2020 11:38:15 GMT -5
We watched the new episode last night after reading this thread and there was one shot where Col was sitting and talking to the camera and he had like a dozen flies sitting on his face. I hate flies -- dirty, disgusting things and I couldn't imagine letting one, let alone a dozen just sit on my face without getting them off. Yuck!
Oh, wow, yuck is right! I suppose that some people can get used to anything. But flies on your face???
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Feb 3, 2020 3:32:20 GMT -5
Mostly you learn to live with them, frustrating as it can be. I hate when they get stuck behind my glasses and can't find their way out, or worst - swallowing them, instant gag. Hoping to make the trip to Lightning Ridge this year, after all it's only 600 miles one way.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Feb 3, 2020 7:05:20 GMT -5
Mostly you learn to live with them, frustrating as it can be. I hate when they get stuck behind my glasses and can't find their way out, or worst - swallowing them, instant gag. Hoping to make the trip to Lightning Ridge this year, after all it's only 600 miles one way. Do you mine above ground or below? Or is it go where you need to go? Stay safe and good luck.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Feb 4, 2020 1:45:24 GMT -5
Mostly you learn to live with them, frustrating as it can be. I hate when they get stuck behind my glasses and can't find their way out, or worst - swallowing them, instant gag. Hoping to make the trip to Lightning Ridge this year, after all it's only 600 miles one way. Do you mine above ground or below? Or is it go where you need to go? Stay safe and good luck. Just planning on a week there going over some of the old tailings and find some that has been missed. A friends brother has an underground mine there, so hopefully I can organise to go down one. Then a week on the New England sapphire fields, and a couple of other spots on the way for some other bits.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Feb 4, 2020 6:37:44 GMT -5
Hope everything works out for you. Good luck. If you could post a few pictures of your trip it would be cool.
Thanks Les
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Post by amygdule on Oct 14, 2020 22:04:33 GMT -5
Outback Opal Hunters Season 5 | Sneak Peek
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 15, 2020 8:26:15 GMT -5
It appears that the Discovery Channel only has the first 2 seasons still up on their website. So disappointed. There are some episodes on YouTube, but not all of them.
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