Sydney 8/4/12 to 15/4/12

We have had a very hectic, exciting and exhausting 7 days in Sydney. Where we have trained across the Harbour Bridge, ferried under it and walked across it.  Doug wanted to drive across with the van when we leave for Canberra, but as we have extended our stay  that opportunity has been taken away from us as there is a big triathlon on and the bridge is closed. I must admit I'm happy about this as it could have been a very tense drive.

On our first day it was like we were the country cousins coming to the big city. Boys were in awe and amazed by the city, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. 

Awesome jump Nate, great photography Jacob

Awesome jump Jacob, great photography Nate 

another friendly seagull

 We ferried across to Manly on the most beautiful day. Excellent surf, boys were peeved that they couldn't go in (we weren't prepared). 

Manly Beach

Ferry home from Manly

Nathan is getting good at this photography

One on the many trains that helped us get around Sydney

The start of our walk across the Harbour Bridge

We spent a couple of hours at Luna Park with the boys running around madly in Coney Island while Doug and I had to wait outside freezing with a cold cup of coffee.

Harbour Bridge train ride

"Hey good looking" said the fish

Catch up with Ali and Dave at the Opera Bar, kids are here ....... somewhere. 

One Direction were rumored to be coming to the beach but didn't show up while we were there. Lots of teenage girls everywhere.  By the way we had to look up on the internet who One Direction were.

Bondi Beach

The boys mastering the art of chop sticks. Fine dinning at the St George Leagues club. 

Lots to see and do, Bondi Beach, Fish Markets in Darling Harbour, wondering around The Rocks area, a brisk walk though Kings Cross (we saw more police officers in Kings Cross train station than are probably employed on the entire Sunshine Coast), down to Woolloomoolloo to check out the Navy ships and have a pie at the Famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels. We even checked out Loui Vitton. I saw a dress that I quite liked for $4k, a watch for $120k and a t shirt for $400.  Doug found a card wallet for $389 to replace his existing $10 kmart one. Maybe next trip.

Our last couple of days were rest days. We went into the city one last time today to say goodbye to the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, ferries and trains. As much as we all loved Sydney, I think we are all ready to move on to our next exciting adventure. Nate would love to live here one day in his professional sporting career (exact sport yet to be determined)  

Katoomba 4/4/12 to 8/4/12

We have just spent four of the most wonderful tiring days in the picturesque Blue Mountains staying at Katoomba Caravan park from where we were able to walk to most to the walks and Scenic World.

We decided to do the main attractions first;  Scenic World with the Scenic Railway, Cable Way and Sky Way with just a little bit of walking to ease us in for the other days. Scenic World was fantastic. Great views from the Cable Way and the Sky Way. A little bit scary for me, the boys were all cool with it. Although the Scenic Railway had them worried on the way up as they felt they were going to fall out. The rail is on a 52 degree angle.

We have done some walking since we have been here around Katoomba. Three Sisters, Giant Stairway, Federal Pass and the Furber steps. Lots of waterfalls and great views.

Scenic railway showing how steep it is.

Three Sisters and birds

Sky Way

Wow! Cable Way

Some of the many steps we had to travel down only to climb back up

End of a hard day.

Wentworth falls were probably the highlight for both Doug and I, which we came across sort of by chance on our last day in town. Spectacular views while you walk along a track that is carved into the cliff face. Amazing views of the valley. The walk continued around the cliff face under the waterfall. We would have liked to have done this but would have taken 4 hours and we didn't have enough provisions with us.

Weeping Rock on the way to Wentworth Falls

Boys living on the edge

Keep going, nearly at the top

Katoomba is a very old town with some lovely old cafes dating back to the 1920's. Art Deco Style. Which I just loved. Then there is The Carrington, a magnificent, majestic grand hotel with a libary, billards room, Sir Henry Parkes room, a chiffle room, ball room, dining room and lounge room (where Doug and I had drinks around the fire after a night out at The Avalon (restaurant) 12 yrs ago).  

The Carrington

A little chilly in Katoomba

Boys will be boys

Preparing for the Easter Bunny.

Thankfully he found them

Orange 31/3/12 to 4/4/12

Just leaving Orange for Katoomba. We have spent 4 nights in Orange and cool nights they were. The days, however, were really quite hot.  We have had our first hiccup with the caravan park losing our booking. We weren't to sure if they could fit us in, as lots of things happening that weekend in Orange ie; different sporting carnivals.  Our spot was very slopey and with no water. Doug borrowed and scrounged timber /bricks from the neighbours and around the park to chock the van wheels so we didn't wake up in a new location.

Orange was quite a surprise to me, driving in over the hill and seeing all of this colour. Lots of deciduous trees, lovely old buildings, terrace houses and beautiful grand parks but, surprisingly, no BBQs. .
Our planned BBQ become sausages in the fry pan at the caravan.

One day we did the drive into a little town called Millthorpe where we went to the twice a year markets then wondered the streets of the town. Very old with cobbled stone roads and little 2 story buildings that reminded me of an American western. The boys found a great lollie shop and Doug had his morning coffee at The Millthorpe general store/newsagency/takeaway/cafe/post office. Apparently its a 3 day town only open's frid/sat/sun.

Then it was on to Bathurst where we did a couple of hot laps of Mount Panorama, Doug and the boys commentating the laps with the stop watch on. Best time 6min and 36 seconds (lap record 2min 6sec) .
The tv doesn't do it justice, as to how steep the climb is and how narrow the track is in parts.

On our last day we decided to do some wineries. Visiting 2 different ones in the Mt Canobalas Region. Boys got to sample some of their grapes before made into the wine and Doug and I got to taste the wine. The second winery(borodelle) had a apple orchard with heritage apples (from Russia and some that were in Shakespears plays, very old, over 130 varieties) We were able to wander freely through the orchard and try the apples before we bought. First time ever for the boys and me, pretty cool. The boys got a bag each of all different types of apples which they are slowing getting through.

We walked the dam wall at lake Canobalas,  and of course visited the local skate park where Jacob has now mastered dropping into the bowl (it's a big bowl) and Nate has mastered jumping  the box which is about a meter long jump (I couldn't watch) and Doug mastered going up the bowl (about 30 cm from the bottom) on the scooter which I also did not want to watch, due to his past track record.

Pitt lane Mount Panorama

One of the beautiful sunsets in Orange

 Apple Orchard at winery in Orange

Lake Canobalas 

Orange Skate Park

The colourful trees of Orange.This photo doesn't do it justice.