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Published: December 8th 2013
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Monday 2nd
We leave fairly promptly for our journey to Lane Cove, a national park on the out skirts of Sydney. It will allow us to travel in on the train.
We arrive around 11 am after stopping off a couple of times to take in the views along the way. The usual stunning lakes and mountains in the background.
The site is really nice and leads out onto the river. After settling in we take a 4 K walk along the tow path. I'm tempted to go and get my fishing rod, there must be some in here. But I see NO Fishing signs and Christine breaths a sigh of relief !
After lunch we take a 4 K walk in the opposite direction down to the weir. It's a much nicer walk with open views of the river.
Having taken our daily exercise we spend the rest of the around the pool planning our trip into Sydney for my birthday on Wednesday.
Tuesday 3rd
We catch the train into Sydney and arrive 30 mins later and then take the tram to our hotel. The Darling, apparently in the top 60 hotels in
the world and overlooking Darling Harbour. There's been a misunderstanding with our booking, on their part not mine, and they upgrade us from a harbour view room to a harbour view suite !
Whilst the room is being prepared we take a walk around Darling harbour and notice only a few changes from when we were there about 9 years ago.
It's a wonderfully sunny day and we have lunch in a harbour side bar before going back to the hotel.The Harbour has been decorated ready for Christmas with lots of Santas everywhere.
We go up to our room and it's incredible. The size of our house ! We have views out over the harbour and can just see Sydney Harbour Bridge. Christine wants to move in !
We find a set of scales and weigh ourselves for the first time since leaving the UK. We've both lost one stone ! Christine's more pleased than me, no wonder my shorts won't stay up !
After resting up we go round to Circular Quay and join a walking tour of the Rocks. The guide's very theatrical but it's a good tour and we get to see
the original parts of Sydney where the criminals landed and set up. There are great views of the Bridge from the top of the Rocks.
We then stroll along the harbour side and have dinner in one of the restaurants before returning to real comfort. No camper van tonight !
Wednesday 4th
We wake early to a wonderfully sunny day and look out over Darling Harbour. The bed's so soft we don't want to get up but we have to as we're going on a wine tasting tour to the Hunter Valley.
We hit heavy traffic leaving the city and arrive at our first winery, Draytons about half hour late. That doesn't stop us trying four wines, 2 ports and two chocolate liquers in quick succession. That soon breaks the ice between us and loosens a few tongues ! We quickly move on to Lindemans and try three reds and 3 whites. The volume rises in proportion to the number of drinks and some are louder than others.
We stop for lunch and we're all best of friends !Some even manage another 3 tastings between courses.
Our final stop is at McQuigan's winery where
we manage another three whites and 3 reds. The chap's a bit mean with the quantity. We're all getting really chummy by now and making dinner arrangements !
The tour has been really interesting and we've learned a lot about how to taste, smell and match wine to food, but the best part is drinking it !
Back on the coach and after half an hour we're all asleep. The alcohol has taken it's toll. Unfortunately our trip back is really long because of traffic jams caused by a pop concert in the city and all thoughts of meeting for dinner are cancelled.
We go out by our selves to celebrate my birthday. It's been a great day except I can now collect a bus pass !
Thursday 5
th We wake late and reluctantly get up. The skies are very threatening and more rain is forecast. After packing we check out and leave our luggage for the day. The sun comes out but we’re dressed for rain !
We walk down to Paddy’s market but don’t stay long as it’s full of tourist tat. We then have a very very long walk up to
Circular Quay. Christine has the map and I keep asking “are we nearly there yet” to which she replies “not yet”. On the way we go into the Queen Victoria Building which is a shopping mall and wonderfully preserved.
Eventually we reach Circular Quay and pass didgeridoo buskers, some selling one note CD’s to tone deaf tourists.
We walk round to the Opera House and take photos of ourselves with iconic backgrounds.
We then walk in to the Botanic Gardens. They are really nice with large open spaces, large trees and wonderful views over the harbour. They would be really peaceful but for all the office workers power walking, jogging and sprinting along the paths, weaving around bewildered tourists. There are hundreds of them zooming around in tight licra and some shouldn’t be !
Wearily we find a pub for a good lunch before heading back to collect our bags. The wind’s getting up and a storm threatens.
We catch the train back to our site and our ‘van. Home sweet home ? Back to reality, having to make up the bed out of two benches and a table top and covering them with a
3” thick mattress and spaghetti on toast for dinner !
Friday 6
th We catch the train into Sydney and then the ferry across to Manly. The ferry ride gives us a great view of the harbour and all the sites at a fraction of the cost of a harbour cruise.
We walk through the town to Manly Beach where all the activities go on. Christine sunbaths on the beach while I sit on the wall and read. I take in some of the other sunbathers ! Christine tries out the water but it’s freezing .
We then go in search of lunch and settle for take away fish and chips and sit on the benches overlooking the sea.
We then watch a class of 10 year old school children having a surfing lesson. They’re having great fun and so are the five surfing instructors. If only we had had lessons like that !
We then walk round to Shelly beach and watch several office parties in progress. They’re all in fancy dress and playing beach twister and sumo wrestling games while waiting for their BBQ lunch. Much more fun than a dinner dance do.
Finally we catch the ferry back and take our last views of Sydney harbour and all the terrific sites. The train connections go smoothly and we arrive back at our site in time to plan our route for tomorrow.
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edhelen
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Happy Birthday for last Wednesday old man. You couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate it. Speak to you soon