The Blue Mountains
We spent the last weekend in the gorgeous blue mountains, so called because of the blue haze created by the eucalyptus trees. We stayed with Jock who is Louise’s mum’s fiance’s brother, so he’ll be her step uncle eventually. After getting up at four in the morning we had to get a coach and train to Kootoomba station where we met by by Jock and his grandaughter Melissa. The coach journey provide a bit of entertainment after Em pointed out a man who looked like me apparently! I have to admit if I had a brother that is probably what he would look like, how weird is that?!
The blue mountains are absolutely freezing, my teeth were chattering under my several layers of clothing with woolly hat and gloves not being high on my list to pack funnily enough. Jock kindly offered to show us around so he drove us to various tourist spots. We started off with a visit to the Three Sisters at Echo Point, which are basically three big rocks but the scenery is just out of this world. We then went on the scenic railway to the bottom of Jamison Valley. What I thought would be a proper train ride was in fact a short trip down a really steep drop in what can loosely be described as a train where we weren’t strapped in, I seriously thought I was going to fall out. We then went back up in a cable car which was alot less scary and we managed to avoid the hoards of Japenese tourists.
We then visited Evans Lookout near the town of Blackheath, which once agian provided stunning views over the valley. I realise that to someone who has never been to Australia or the blue mountains for that matter, these places will mean absolutely nothing but I’m doing my best without the help of a map! We then drove along the Great Western Highway, through Mt Victoria, the highest point in the mountains and the small town of Hartley. I have to say I did sleep through a small part of this journey-I don’t cope well with early mornings! Me, Kate and Melissa took a trip into the Jenolan caveswhich are the best-known limestone caves in Australia and some of the crystals were just amazing.
After lunch at Tarana we drove to Lithgow a small industrial town where Jock lives. Ooh and we got to see kangaroos really close up on this golf course, I havn’t seen skippy that close before. Jock let us stay at his house and he was so nice. It did feel a bit odd though going to a working mans club with a 60 year old man - he looked a bit of a pimp with four lovely women at his side! After the best nights sleep ever (I’v missed comfy beds) we given the best fry up, it just gets better. We visited Jock’s daughter and her family before the long journey home. We ended the weekend sat in front of the telly watching Love Actually…a good weekend all in all.