This is a walk in the lower Blue Mountains and I’ve never done it before and it’s the first difficult walk that I’ve done since I sprained my ankle at the start of the year and it was quite a challenge.
My left hip was giving me a bit of grief after walking down about 300 steps but I put a bit of pressure on it with my hand and it definitely helped me get down.
It was hot today and the sweat was running off me and I was needing more water. The last two k’s were slow and steady as my calf muscles got a workout and I’m going to regret this in the morning I think. When I finished I got a Vietnamese baget and black coffee to recharge and fuel up.
My first big walk and my ankle is complaining slightly and so after my shower I put on my compression bandage. But I really enjoyed getting out and doing this wonderful walk in the Blue Mountains.
Caught up with Pamela in Camden, it’s been a long time since we last met and she hasn’t changed a bit. Great time chatting about the good old days, plenty of reminiscing to make the soul feel good and all of a sudden the memories are vivid and real.
For lunch I had a big breakfast, marvellous apart from the hash browns which I really don’t understand and Pamela had a fancy poached egg thing which I can’t remember the Italian name for.
We sat for hours and hours and the time flew by and before you no it we had to depart. I hope it’s not another 8 years before we meet again or we might both have zimmers 🤗
Jenny, Brett and myself jumped on the River Cat from Rydelmere to Circular Quay which is a great way to get into the city and at the the same time see how the other half live. Some of the houses on the river are just amazing and I could very easily slip into that lifestyle.
When we arrived in the city the smoke was thick from the many bushfires around the city, but luckily it was heading out to sea.
We wandered around the Rocks and went to The Orient pub for lunch and it was bloody delicious. I had spicy chicken on a roll and scoffed the lot.
I arrived in Penrith yesterday from Bateau Bay via the old Pacific Highway over the Berowra Ferry and then via Windsor where I bought dark chocolate Caramel Wafers 😍. I then went for lemongrass chicken for lunch and then off to see Jenny and Brett.
Today Brett and I did the river walk around the Nepean River and then had lunch at the Log Cabin which sits on the banks of the river. It was absolutely delicious and filled me up for the rest of the day.
Haven’t had a beer in the afternoon for ages and I thoroughly enjoyed it and could have easily sat here for many hours, but alas no.
Graham has a small folding electric bicycle which he uses when he’s camping, usually to go to any shops that may be nearby rather than lugging it all the way home on foot. My first time riding an electric bike and I did not know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised and might even have to move from analogue to digital.
I’m actually contemplating on purchasing one, however I think that the cost will be the deciding factor.
The feeling of being pulled along as you go up a hill with minimal effort is just weird. Some strange force, maybe it’s the hand of god?
Very cold here last night, but slept OK. The sun is shining, however there is no heat which is no bad thing really because it won’t be long until we are all complaining about how hot it is.
Graham drove to one of the national parks, I forget the name but it’s hard to forget the view that you get along the coast. It’s simply stunning, the seas crashing on the rocks as they have done for millenia have made for some interesting shapes.
Fish and chips to follow for lunch, a crumbed piece of Barrimundi with a beetroot salad…. How exotic.
Left Forster this morning and took the scenic route south to get to Bateau Bay to catch up with Graham and Sandy. I stopped off at Seal Rocks and then walked up to Sugarloaf Lighthouse which sits on a headland between two very beautiful beaches. It was cold but the sun was shining and the sea and the sky wore matching blue in contrast to the white sands.
The beaches were popular this morning and many had braved the waves, I on the other hand was wrapped up as I strolled the last 2km to the lighthouse.
It’s a lovely part of the coast and well worth the visit, although I still can’t understand why you come here to just lie on the beach to grow skin cancers.
When I got back to the car is was time to set sail for Bateau Bay.
I came through here last year and stopped for the first time and that was to catch up with Val and I thought to myself then that if I had the chance I would come here again and stop to explore. I arrived yesterday and this morning I headed out to stroll along the ever changing coast line. This morning was also blowing a gale, apparently the winter is trying to come back, a last final hurrah before spring is here to stay. The wind was cold and it was not long before my specs were covered in salt spray from the crashing waves. Lovely to watch.
I tried to capture the waves crashing into the harbour entrance but to no avail. Crossing the sand was giving my ankle quite the workout and it began to complain slightly but as I stepped back on solid ground all was well.
Between the beaches there are steep headlands which give you commanding views of the coast. At one point I got an escort from a Bush Turkey before he took off into the undergrowth.
It’s a pretty part of the world, however the local old population world drive me utterly insane with the level of their driving skills. They are so slow, hesitatant and they can not park in a car space perpendicular, most of the time there not even between the lines and to make matters worse some bastard took a chip out of my rear offside door and looking at the damage they have opened their door with no due care and consideration…. BASTARDS!!!!!
Left home around 8:30 this morn and headed for Forster, which is 648km away. I was going to buy gas at Coffs Harbour but they had run oot and so I had to switch to petrol for the last 200km.
I pulled off the motorway at Urunga for lunch but it seemed to be on holiday and after a 5 min wander around the town centre I jumped back into the Ford and carried on till I reached a service centre and stopped for caffeine and a chicken wrap. Definitely hit the spot, first food I’d eaten since breakfast.
I got to my motel at 5pm and bought a few supplies at Woollies and then Schezuan chicken for tea, retired to my room and took it easy…. I’ll explore a bit more in the morning.
The sun was shining as usual, it’s now spring and they are predicating more sun and more sun and very little rain which suits me just fine. I got on my bike gear, old business shirt, new hat, long socks, and gloves and filled in the gap on my legs with factor 50. I look like some old guy riding his bike and I guess I am.
Sunday mornings are always the best time to venture out on the bike and the earlier the better, but for me 8.30 am was just fine. In my head I had an idea where I wanted to go; but I knew that there were many hills to overcome which of course my cycling app refused to count for some reason, but I know that the total climb of all the hills is more than 47 m and my legs are testament to that. When I got off the bike and walked up the stairs it felt as if I was dragging a dead body.
I usually do this run anti-clockwise but today I went clockwise and I think that is a bit more challenging the way the hills work out. But after some lunch and a quick siesta out on the day bed I feel remarkably fresh, although I’ve still got a shower to look forward to.
I’m heading to Sidney this week, another road trip and looking forward to it. I’ll catch up with friends along the way and do a few walks in the lower Blue Mountains this time. Looking through the Alltrails app it seems that there are many to choose from and fairly long at that. Due to the lack of rain I might be able to walk the Glenbrook Gorge which can only be done in the dry season and I haven’t walked it for over twenty years and so hopefully that will be on the cards.
I went down to Sydney this time last year but didn’t manage to see everyone but I think everyone is in town so it looks like I’ll be wining and dining a few times…..
Still working around the house, made a step for the retaining wall which is long overdue and continued the painting of the front fence. I definitely think that the Woodland Grey paint looks so much better than the Cottage Green, it just seems to give it a more classy look…….the green was always a bit too cheap looking and a bit too loud also.
