Blue Remembered Hills

Had a good few days in Sydney with Chris at the conference (mostly) and Judy doing the tourist bits we didn't do last time we were here in 2008. Had a great apartment right in the centre by Chinatown, so good cheap food nearby. Visited the Maritime Museum and saw a boat made of beer cans (empty of course) which they race at Darwin and a replica of Cook's Endeavour.

Managed a walk from Bondi Beach along the coast which was very pleasant.

In 2008 we had a day in the Blue Mountains and said we had to come back, so here we are for 5 days, after dealing with the worst car hire company ever (East Coast Rentals). Anyway, it's fabulous walking country and stunning scenery. It was cool and cloudy when we arrived but walked for a couple of hours from the Three Sisters.

Does this remind you of anyone?

Next day was sunny and warm when we did their 'Grand Canyon'...

… but had a good excuse to rest on the way back up to watch a pair of lyre birds scratching about in the undergrowth. We liked the scenery here in the Grose valley better then the rest. Then had a great meal at the Katoomba RSL – highly recommended if you ever get here.

Sunday Chris did National Pass, along one of the cliff faces and almost got back before the thunderstorms while Judy did a shorter walk to the best waterfall (although Chris did lots!), saving herself for Monday.

Monday dawned cold and grey and eventually turned into a typical (bad) Dartmoor day. But we were taken on a guided bush walk by an 'aboriginal' and had a lot of culture to absorb. Judy even tried her hand at ethnic painting. Very interesting and absorbing.

Still unseasonally cold but still had a good day's walking. Great memories of cliffs and waterfalls.

Now off to Mackay to stay with Donna and Jacko, and help them move house (again) but not 1000km this time!