Blue Mountains

Woke with a moderately sore head this morning but with the prospect of a relatively short drive to Sydney. Decided early on to extend the car hire for one more day which means driving straight into the centre at the end of the day rather than a cushy airport drop - but if In want to see some sights its the only option.

Begonia House

After a bacon and egg roll across the road from the Commercial at Annie's Ice Cream Parlour (which is very, well very pink inside - so not sharing my breakfast with many truckies) I explored Batchurst's historic centre for an hour or so.  The town is Australia's oldest inland settlement, the first to be established when the first Europeans forged a path through the Blue Mountains.  Particularly pleasing was the shade provided by Machattie Park with its elegant Begonium House (the gardener explained the impressive specimens within would be planted out very soon) and cooling wrought iron Fernery. All this and a squawky duck pond to boot. Bliss.

Commercial Hotel

Drove E on the Hume highway and to Lithgow where I made a 10km detour to pay homage to the zig railway - the original engineering wonder that elevated Sydney trains across the great dividing range to Broken Hill and beyond.  A series of 10 tunnels opened in 1910 replaced the zig zag but a team of enthusisats run trains up and down from Clarence (450m) to the valley below.

For $25 dollars you get a ride down and, of course, back up the line, magnificant views of the new line in the gorge below, a hands on demonstration of a signal box and frame half way down (allowing the train to reverse and contiue its descent) and atour of the workshops at the bottom. Excellent stuff, and all accompanied by intermittent driving rain with bursts of warm sun - just like being at home then.  

Fernery, Bathurst

I left Clarence in very heavy rain, meaning that I at last mastered the full range of the seldom used windscreen wipers, and drove on to Katoomba.  I'd heard that the famous lookout to the three sisters (three huge rick stacks) at Echo Point was often scuppered by cloud and/or fog. As luck would have it the skies cleared somewhat by the time I arrived.  It was 4.15pm the Point was bustling, a steady stream of coaches deposited tourists, of the type who sport Rupert the Bear trousers and huge bellies, and I decided to come back after five -when the parking would be free.  Just 500m away is Scenic World, a very knowing tourist trap extolling the virtues of Katoombas lofty position and home to a series of funicular railways, lifts and cablecars to whisk overweight tourists up, down and across the gorge. Time was tight, so as the gift shop closed around me I grabbed I quick ride on the Skyway - the cable car with a lookout to the three sisters, the atypically fast flowing Katoomba Falls and other Blue Mountain ranges. Its easy to see how they earned their name, richly wooded valleys contrast craggy cliffs, and yes the trees have a blue green hue, my limited knowledge of the colour spectrum/Dulux catalogue prevents me from be more specific. Hey lets just go with olive green and have done with this.

Zig Zag Railway, Clarence

The main road descends the mountains at Penrith and qucicky becomes a three lane motorway. Before long I'm in the weatern suburbs of Sydney and get my first peek of the bridge at 7.31pm. I tryu not to get drawn to it, that wouyld be very wrong, and a waste of a $3 toll. I enter by crossing the modern Anzac bridge then deftly navigate my way into the Cross City Tunnel - it's like the Limehouse Link on acid - oh and it has a toll that has to be paid online or with a car tag. The car was duly registed the next day on the website and I hope I wasn't menat to pay for the Anzac Bridge too. I'm sure I'll find out soon.

On the Zig Zag

When I located Eva's, in Orwell Street, I then had to dispose of the car - its all limited parking so when I finally found a street it was getting quite late. I visited the Potts Point Deli and Bottleshop and made for the roof terrace. Blimey - a panoramic view of the city skyline, comfy tables and sunshades, washing machines, and even a fridge to store your beer- all in the roof area. the room is just as nice - good lockers, 4 bed ensuite and a reading light for each bunk.  After  a very late spag bol I crash out for the night.