Blackheath, NSW, AU
In the USA it's called backpacking...in New Zealand, tramping...and here bush walking.
Adrian, my Warmshowers host from Cooma, insisted I come into the Blue Mountains to see their wonders and he was right. He had an old friend, Stu, who lived in Blackheath so I took the train with my backpack and he drove up 5 hours and there we met up again. Brrr. What a difference in temperatures from Sydney! And the wind was whipping. They guys met my train Monday afternoon and gave me the grand tour of the overlooks. This place looks like the Grand Canyon all full of gum trees. Gorgeous red rock cliffs with lush green valleys. Breathtaking. The blue hue of the trees gives it it's name.
The three of us!
The Three Sisters.
Blue Mountains is a misnomer to me...more like a Grand Canyon...red cliffs with green trees filling it.
After a night at Stu's place where we watched a movie called The Edge about the Blue Mountains and ate another wonderful dinner prepared by Adrian, we packed up our backpacks and got dropped off at Mt. Victoria Falls.
Down, down, down we trudged to the valley floor. Everything is so different down at this level. The river through here wasn't even obvious before.
The trails here are not as maintained so scratchy bushes and branches leave their marks on my arms and legs...which of course are bare. And the twigs and gum bark strips keep catching in my sandals.
I've never had such difficulty hiking in sandals before. Very challenging here. Adrian is a quick hiker and my legs are just not keeping up. But I'm trying. Once down along the river, the hike is fairly flat but has it's ups and overs. Eventually we come to the Blue Gum Forest a National Heritage site.
These trees are magnificent and majestic. So tall! A bit further on is a campsite and we set up. Adrian loaned me a backpacking tent as my 2 person tent would be to heavy for my small, tattered backpack.
And he just used a tarp and Tyvek ground cloth. Guess the snakes and spiders aren't really an issue. I wanted a fire since the sun sets early, it's getting chilly, and there's someone to chat with. I never have one usually.
The fire is noticed by another camper and he comes to join us. How nice. He's a doctor from Perth (other side of Australia) and his wife is visiting family here, so he took a mini bush walking trip.
That night was rather warm, surprisingly. The valley must be why. The next day we continue along the valley. Steep red rock walls loom above us. Waterfalls are plentiful. I couldn't be happier. But my legs are killing me. I have biking legs!!!
Lots of waterfalls!
Lunch break
And stream crossings.
Further on we come to their Grand Canyon: a steep, narrow canyon some places only 15-20 ft wide. And the bottom isn't in view. We're hiking a rock ledge. This part is a day hike loop that's been "paved" with good steps and a rock footpath. Quite nice. But it ends with a long, steep, many-steps climb up out of this canyon. Whew! Now my legs are screaming.
An absolutely amazing Australian trek. If the weather had been warmer I would haves to have done some canyoning: abseil down into a canyon and swim your way out of it. Their are many up here where you have to do that. The canyon hike book mentions whether or not abseiling or swimming are required and how many and how long! Too bad it's cold here now!
For our next activity we drove out further north and camped for the night way back in off a dirt road, then the following day drove 35 kms down the same dirt road that was poorly surfaced and full of pot holes. We went to the Glow Worm Tunnel and tramped an old railway line. This was a day hike and again beautiful views of rocky cliffs and lush valley floors. We even did a scamper up the rocky outcropping to get better views.
But all good things must end, so I said goodbye to Adrian as he put me on the train back to Sydney before his long drive back to Cooma.
And I can't forget to mention finding a leech attached to my leg that Adrian had to knock off. Yuck!!!!! I didn't even know it was a concern but they're everywhere in the bush I was later told. And I only thought snakes and spiders were an issue.
Random pics...
Livin' the life!
BagLady
