Sydney Escape – week one – LaGecko Sailing

We are on a three week escape from Tassie.

Sunday

For our first week we are staying with Rob and Michael in their beautiful new to them 1888 built Country Cottage in the Blue Mountains

We started off with a walk to Bill Wilson’s lookout on Sunday afternoon, with a champagne welcome to the mountains.

Bill Wilson’s lookout, named after a Wentworth Falls Reserve trustee

Monday

We took a walk on the Charles Darwin track into the Blue Mountains national park, the walk was around about 6 km of exhausting ups, downs and stairways along the cliff faces and grotto’s.

The scenery was amazing. Stark cliff faces contrasted with valleys full of trees. Conservation cafe was very welcome for an amazing lunch after our hike.

At home Monday evening we had an awesome Indian inspired dinner cooked by Karen and Mikey.

Beef Korma, Red lentil Curry, Aloo Baingan, Rice and Beans

Tuesday

In the morning we did a tour around Leura and Katoomba checking out the beautifully renovated Carrington from a grand bygone era.

An easy 4WD in Mikey’s classic Toyota Land Cruiser took us to an incredible lookout at

McMahon’s Point overlooking Lake Burragorang.

This evening we went for dinner at the local pub and to try out their Trivia night.

Trivia was terrible. We politely abandoned it at half time vowing never to return.

Wednesday

We took an amazing ride on the zig zag railway complete with a real steam train.

The original zig zag railway was rail access to the Blue mountains from Lithgow.

Such a fun day.

The ninety minute tour showed the original method of getting a train down the mountain where the terrain was too steep for a direct traverse.

By going down an incline then changing direction to cross the face in the opposite direction crossing the face in a Z like path.

Steam driven engine moving to the front of the train for the next traverse

Thursday

Today we split up.

Darren took a two hour train trip each way down into the eastern suburbs to have a look at Road Tech Marine a marine chandlery. Then an off road store “Kickass” an Australian supplier for off grid travelling electrical gear. He didn’t buy anything but lots of interesting gear to look at.

Karen and Mikey went on a 7km walk into the blue mountains to Pulpit Rock. Another gob smacking scenic trail with sheer cliffs, waterfalls and strong updrafts. It was wonderful to experience flowering Waratah’s in the wild.

Again, Michael treated us to an amazing dinner. Homemade chicken schnitzel, smashed potatoes and an epic salad.

Friday

Our last full day has been an easy one.

Kaz & Mikey went for a ride in Mikey’s Mini van around Wentworth Falls and visited “Fall Gallery” owned by Ian and Anne Smith. Ian is a master potter and Anne a prolific painter. Kaz and Mikey were in heaven. The gardens matched the artistry of the gallery and their owners.

Mikey had a major project for recovering 8 dining room chairs.

Daz guided him from knowledge he remembers from his Dad’s upholstery business. Each evening was a progressive lesson.

Three chairs at different stages of recovering. It was a big learning curve.

To round off an incredible week in the Blue Mountains, Mikey organised a sunset meander around Everglades accompanied with a glass of bubbles and abundant nibbles box.

We couldn’t have asked for weather and virtually had the place to ourselves.