"Blue Mountains Blog"

13th December 2005

Hiya Folks,

We decided to go for the day to the Blue Mountains. So after a a small breakfast we set off for Kings Cross Station, just minutes walk away from the Hotel and bought 2 return tickets to Katoomba. Sounds like something out of the Lion King that song, what was it? "Hakuna matata" thats it ,well this is Katoomba Matata. Anyway the ticket included a bus tour as well a sort of hop on, hop off arrangement. The train left at 11 am and so we set off through all the outer suburbs of Sydney, the trip took just over 2 hours and it stopped at some very curious stations "Emu Plains" for example, I kept imagining that Rod Hull would appear at any moment with the bad tempered bird under his arm. There were also some very familiar English station names, Croydon, Woodford, Penrith!!!?

The train duly arrived just after 1pm and we walked to the town centre of Katoomba and picked up the bus- a red double decker London Bus. The driver gave us details of various walks around the area we could do and he told us that he would drop us off we would do a walk of say 40 - 45 minutes to the various viewing vista's and then pick us up further along at set times. It was very hot but we took our time and saw spectacular views across valleys, gorges with thick forested semi tropical forests below. One of the most spectacular was the three sisters, three huge pinnacles of rock soaring out of the forest floor at the end of a shear rock peninsula, fabulous. Another walk took us almost to the forest floor in deep canyons where lovely waterfalls and streams made it lovely and cool away from the flies that seemed to be persistant little buggers. Despite the Aeroguard that we rolled onto our vulnerable parts nothing seemd to shift them.

Last of all the bus driver took us to the Imax cinema where a wonderful film was showing of the blue mountains area, it explained the topography of the area and also told of the discovery in the mid 90's by an Australian botanist of a grove of 40 or so very rare palm trees. These palms were not known to modern man and could only be found in the fossal record, they were in fact palms that were thought to be extinct for millions of years, yet here they were, a remnant surviving from the Dinosaur age. It was pure chance that these trees were discovered and even now their location is a closely guarded secret. Even the camera crew for the film were blind folded on the journey to this spot in order that the secret location is kept. The film also told us why the Blue Mountains are named "Blue mountains" this is because the mountains are covered in forest and green in the distance on hills looks blue.

After this we made our way back to the train station and were soon on our way back to Sydney, another day spent in the spectacular scenery of this great country, I recommend this trip, to get out of the city for a day in the piece and quiet of the countryside.


14th December 2005 REST DAY IN MANLY

After the bridge walk and blue mountains the following day, we decided we needed a rest day, particularly as we were due to fly out of Sydney the following morning. So we walked down to Circular Quay and got the ferry boat over to Manly to spend the day relaxing on the beach.The trip took 30 minutes and once we set off we travelled out of the quay and round to the right heading right past the opening onto the Pacific framed by high cliffs. As soon as the ferry was sailing through waters not sheltered by the headlands and peninsula coves, the water got very choppy and I got soaked with sea spray suddenly, which caused a bit of laughter from fellow passengers. Soon we were there and walked across the centre of town passing shops on this narrow peninsula and found ourselves on the beach front at Manly.

I hate to say it but apart from the quality of sand at Bondi beach I prefer Manly. It is a wide curve of sand and larger than Bondi it truely is a lovely bay and the tree lined shady esplanade is a joy. David and I went swimming several times during the day the surf was up so we were able to body surf in the waves which at times got really huge. A thoroughly good time was had by all. At around 4.00pm we headed back to the ferry and we arrived back in Circular Quay by 5.00pm. Then back to the hotel, shower and change of clothes for the evening.

We had arranged to meet some Australian friends from our Cricket club "Graces", Chris Page and Handi and caught up with them in a bar called Stonewalls on Oxford Street. After greeting them we had one drink there, then wandered on for another at the Columbian bar. Then on to the "Wok Station" a Tai restaurant for a really nice meal. Chris bought us a couple of bottles of wine to have with the meal (you are able to bring your own, really good idea) they also have no license to sell alcohol. It was great catching up with the lads, getting all the latest news of how they are settling in to Aussie life again after 2 1/2 years in the UK. At 11 pm we said our farewells and we headed home. We had already packed our things so we were ready for leaving for the airport the next day.

So its goodbye to Sydney, you have been great and I will really miss you, had a ball!!

Richie

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