Saturday 4th May, 2019

Today we set off on the way home, travelling about 120 kms, first to Katoomba where there was no room at the inn, then on to a little town called Blackheath, we have the very last caravan site. We are outside of the boomgates in Bay 1, and very greatful. It is a level site on a slab, with power, etc.

We have had glimpes of the wonderful Blue Mountains views, but it was too dangerous to take a lot of notice when driving on the busy Great Western Highway, especially as we climbed. We have booked two nights here and hope to be able to get to see at least some of the sights. It’s very challenging with the Winnie as there are many steep hills even in the towns and for some reason, caravan parks are in valleys. The Katoomba Caravan Park is close to some of the major sights, so by coming here we will have to commute back about 15kms.

The featured image is of our lunch stop. Despite the clouds it hasn’t rained on our journey. It is much colder here than Sydney, of course.

 

We managed to get some parking at the shopping centre in Katoomba and stocked up a bit. We shopped in Sydney, but only small amounts of food that we could carry home.

 

 

 

Or, it might be just be rain. In fact, it has rained non-stop for about four hours. No storm or wind, just a straight, dripping, regular rain.

Friday 3rd May, 2019

We have had a pretty steamy time of it here in Sydney, mostly warm days and nights with very high humidity. The city reminds us a little of Chongqing – lots of lush greenery, very good infastructure ( e.g. train stations with shopping and eating opportunities) and signage in English and Chinese. In cafes, we are just as likely to hear people speaking Mandarin as English. We have enjoyed travelling into the city by train, finishing with a ride over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with a view of the Opera House. We like our caravan park, a bit shabby with regard to facilities, but very green and mostly peaceful.

I feel sad about leaving, but at some stage we must start heading west.

We decided to do something different today. We have had the experience of being at the Writers’ Festival and didn’t feel we needed to go there another day. Plus, because we are packing up tomorrow morning I didn’t want to arrive home late as we have the last couple of nights. When we get to the first gateway into our caravan park and it is locked we know that we are definitely arriving home very late. Then we have to walk to the main entrance, which is near where we are camped, but doesn’t feel as welcoming. The featured photo shows Stephen at the first gate this evening, arriving when it was still light.

Stephen has had a roast for lunch, I had jalapeno poppers and a couple of coffees.

We’ve become very fit from our time in Canberra and here in Sydney. I measure our walking in steps, not that this is necessarily accurate, but it does allow comparisons between days with very little walking and days with lots. We usually do about 12,000 steps, around 8 kms, per day. This is due to using public transport and having to walk to bus and train stops, as well as the sight seeing.

 

 

 

 

 

Wed May 1st and Thurs 2nd May, 2019

Writers’ Festival at Carriageworks, Redfern, Sydney

Mum had her biopsy today. We decided to stay in Sydney a couple of extra days because I didn’t want to travel when I might be distracted by wondering how it was going.

More later.

When we arrived today at the Festival there had been an evacuation because of a suspected fire. All was good and we were soon allowed in. We’ve been to two free sessions, plus a cheap on the day session late in the afternoon ($10 on the day if not sold beforehand). We are spending a good deal of food as we buy lunch and or dinner out each day, but it certainly helps us to keep going.

Mum had the biopsy today, now we just have to wait for the results. Younger sister Robyne stepped up to take her and was grateful that it wasn’t a full day as they headed home in the middle of the day. Mum was transported by ambulance both ways, with Mum on a stretcher and Robyne travelling with the driver. We now wait for the results.

We are spending a bit longer here to try to avoid the worst of the rush hour on the trains. They are lovely, gentle and smooth most of the time when we travel, but rush hour isn’t fun.

Last night we made friends with a fellow traveller on the shuttle bus after the talk at the Art Gallery. We met up with her again today, Karen. At least we know someone in Sydney.

We had a walk to our train station after being dropped off by the shuttle bus last night and an older woman escorted us to the station, then went off in a different direction to catch her bus. We felt it was very kind of her and I quite admired her intrepid way of being independent. There are lots of people in the city at night and it feels safe, sort of.

We have one more day here, I didn’t want to drive tomorrow because there is rain and a possible storm forecast. Marie will think I am a wimp, but it will be tricky on roads we don’t know in traffic until we get out of the city, then into the mountains on possible steep climbs and descents on windy roads. We don’t know what the road is like, but better to prepare for the worst. We hope there will be less traffic in the city on a Saturday morning.

We plan on coming back to the Writers’ Festival tomorrow, taking advantage of free sessions and maybe some late ticket sales. It is very lively and stimulating, with a setting that reminds me of being at the Midland Railway Workshops.