Yes we are still alive and breathing, haven't been able to update the blog since leaving Canberra as internet range has not been available where we have stayed and for that matter neither has mobile phone for many places. Availability for access to both is pretty poor for a considerable part of NSW and Victorian country areas, the moment you leave a town you have no range and since we camp out of town we have had none.
Our small detour into Canberra was good and after leaving we headed up to Goulburn as our next stop. Not a bad size town with plenty of shopping areas, much bigger than we imagined. We had a brief look around and went off to investigate free camp sites. What a disaster as there are few near the town and mainly roadside stops so we headed inland. After that we gave up on Gouldburn and decided to take another slight detour and head north towards Bathurst.
We camped at Flat Rock about 24klms south east of Bathurst which we used as a base and toured from there. Bathurst is huge ! Much bigger than we ever thought and naturally we had to drive on the race track. And NO I didn't get pinched for speeding either. Its not until you physically drive the track that you appreciate or even begin to get an idea of what the race car drivers are fighting and competing against. The s bends down the side of the mountain are amazing to take at 45klms/hour and all I can say is I would love to have a go at racing around the mountain !
We saw the sights of Bathurst, did some shopping and then did a day trip to Lithgow into the Blue Mountains. Fantastic scenic drive through the hills. Lithgow certainly is old and looks like it isnt too prosperous. We travelled on the Zig Zag Railway down the mountain which was really interesting as the train has to stop several times while they take the engine to the opposite end of the train and then move you onto another section of track for the next run down. In total you travel 8klms bt train down the mountainside some of which is through tunnels until you get to the bottom. If you took the walking trail from the top to bottom it is only 1klm and to drive the distance is 17klms. Very scenic, a once in a lifetime thing. On the return trip tinbum Sandra was invited to sit in the front of the engine with the driver, on the next leg of the return trip I got sit there and take pics of where we had been as the train was now being driven from the opposite end. Talk about special treatment for females !
Daytime weather was good, night-time was just bloody cold. One morning a 7.30am it had just hit 2 degrees and at 9.30 it made 4.5 degrees.
We also went to Katoomba on Anzac Day and to the Snowy Mountains National Park. The people there were amazing, if you got a carpark near the national park you had to pay for parking even in the residential sidestreets. There justs cars everywhere and hundreds of people everywhere. Eventually we did a scenic tourist drive and found a lookout opposite the 3 Sisters rocks and were able to get a great view from there. Well worth stopping for as the views are really spectacular.
From Flat Rock or Bathurst we decided to head for Cowra which was a bit further south east. Along the way we dedcided to investigate Carcoar Dam where we ended up staying for 2 nights. The dam area is the size of Happy Valley Resorvior but looked like a small creek as the water level was so low. Spilways and dam walls were dry as bone ! The camp ground was pretty good, lawns everywhere, plenty of shade, toilet and shower block , nice outlook etc, just bloody cold of a night.
Sandra decided to take a long hot shower and take advantage of us having hot showere whilst we were here and went over to the shower block, got undressed and ready to shower, then found out that the showers were only cold ones as there was no hot water. At least she saw the funny side of it.
The township of Carcoar is a few klms down the road and set into a little valley. Absolutely amazing place to go and visit. Its like being stuck in a time warp of 1920. I went into the General store for a packet of smokes. Old Mabel was sitting behind the counter on her stool which I think she has been sitting on since she was about 5 yrs old and must be at least 75 now. Cigarettes are kept hidden away in a cupboard. There are still punds, shillings & pence prices in the shop and some of the stock looks that old. She obviously does a good trade in knitting yards and darning wools. Nothing is modern including the stock ! They accept cash, no eftpos, no credit cards, no just cash ! Mabel doesn't believe in all these plastic things. The whole town character is set in the 1920's and even the more modern homes have been built in the 1920's style.
Exceptional place to see
No comments:
Post a Comment