Day 75 Sydney

Not all days start well, and I think we are getting to the point where this trip has gone on a bit too long.  It isn't that we are bored, or that we are finding it difficult to fill our day.  Quite contrary, our days are full and exciting, and we relish the fact that there is still some pretty awesome stuff to come over the coming weeks.

The problem lies in the fact that we have been crammed together for too long now, and our patience is starting to wear thin.  Not just mine and Lisa's either.  We have been witness to some astounding tantrums, and acts of utter laziness.  The kids are starting to squabble and fight with each other a lot more, and in some ways we can't wait to get home so that we can just put the kids back into a routine with school. 

Getting journals done is like extracting teeth.  All we have really asked of the kids is that they write down their impressions, thoughts, emotions and some things that they have seen.  For two days, we have arrived home late, and therefore have not enforced journal writing.  It was hopeful that we could catch up this morning, but this excruciatingly difficult task would take us through until well after 10:30am. 

This was a pity as we had some big driving in store today.  We wanted to go out to Bathurst, and then stop at the Blue Mountains on the way home.  Due to the late start, we rearranged our trip and went to Katoomba first to check in at Scenic World.

Scenic World has some great attractions including the Scenic Cableway which is Australia's steepest cable car.  This attraction also boasts Australia's largest cable car which is able to accommodate 84 passengers which descends 215m down to the valley floor.

At the floor, there are 2.8km of elevated board walks throughout the forest, taking in some of the historical sites preserved from when coal was mined from the area. 

There were areas where water was seemingly bubbling out of the ground from under a rock creating a small stream, and stunning views no matter which way you looked.

We walked around the longest of the walkways, and climbed the stairs back to the Scenic Railway.  On the way we passed an old series of mine shafts, and the original railway that the workers would descend on, and also truck the coal out on.  The railway rises 205m, and operates at a pitch of 52 degrees.  This is the steepest operating rail in the world.  It makes for quite an interesting ride as it travels through 80m of natural limestone tunnel on the way.

The big attraction at Scenic World though is the Three Sisters rock formations, and the beautiful blue haze which gives the mountains their name.  The haze is a result of Eucalyptus oil evaporating, and mixing with dust and moisture in the air.  It is much more obvious during the Summer with the heat, but Winter has its benefits too.  Our viewing distance today was estimated at between 135 and 150km.  Pretty cool stuff.

These girls here are the Three Sisters.  It is said that their relationship is a bit rocky...it might be because they're always stoned.  Sorry...just working on my dad jokes.  It's the only real torment I have left for the kids.

There was supposed to be 7 original pillars, but we are a few million years late to see that party, so only the 3 remain.  There is a much better view of them across the ravine at Echo Point Lookout.  You can get there on attraction number 3.

The third big attraction at Scenic World is the Scenic Skyway.  This cable car traverses a 720m wide ravine with a 270m drop to the valley floor.  To make it more fun, there are glass tiles on the floor which change from frosted to clear at the flick of a switch.  This is a bit unnerving if you have an unnatural fear of heights.  I keep saying.  Heights are fine, it is the impact at the bottom I have an issue with.



Along the way you pass over the Katoomba falls, and they slow down nicely so we can snap our photos without having to push and shove too much.

On pushing and shoving, I am thoroughly sick of a specific tourist type as well...you guys know who you are...You shout at each other the whole time, usually whilst we are trying to listen to a tour guide or information piece, walk through our photos, stand around gawking at things without concern for anyone else, throw your rubbish on the ground, and are just bloody rude...I'm venting again right...sorry.

We took the Skyway across to the Katoomba precinct and walked down to the Cascades which feed Katoomba falls.  They are a shallow series of rockfalls which can only mean disaster for one of our children...water...mud...tree roots...loose rocks...

Anyhow, we walked back down to where the falls drop over the ridge, but failed to get any good photos, because aforementioned tourists were taking a million different pose photos, and didn't think to let anyone else have a look. So we walked around to Echo Point Lookout which must have been hard on young legs, because it was murder on my old knees.  That amazing blue haze can be seen in the background of this photo.


We again were hopeful to get a family photo here, but after unsuccessfully trying to photograph Rowan 3 times with a normal look on his face, we gave up in disgust and went back to the skyrail.  Our pass today allowed for 2 rides on each attraction, but when we got back we were told that the railway was closed to allow for work on their new attraction.  It was pointless going down and up the Cable Car again, so at this point it was decided that we should leave. 




Mt Panorama - Bathurst is another 90km West of Katoomba and it was getting on in the afternoon, but we decided to go and hope for the best.  The drive out was excruciating with road works holding us back at 60kmh for a great deal of the way.
We pulled into Bathurst around 4:30pm giving us half an hour to find the circuit, have a drive and take some photos.

Thank goodness for street signs, because GPS is completely useless in these situations.

Onto the circuit we drove and did a drive around to scout for good photo ops, and time the lap.

Being a one car race, and strictly enforced radar patrolled roadway, the times were certain to be blisteringly fast. Here's the Prado in pole position waiting for starters orders (She was out of the car taking the photo at the time.)



We accelerated much like custard running off a spoon, and threw the Prado through Hell's Corner and onto Mountain Straight.  I changed from second to third gear, and then back to second to keep under 60kmh, and rocketed over the crest passing some idle pedestrians at a blinding pace.

The big beast here almost left the road we came over so quickly, but I wrestled her back under control and sped towards the cutting. 

It is difficult to get a feel for the gradient of the climb, and how narrow the cutting is, but the corners are completely blind as you make your way up to Skyline.

Over Skyline we went, with the Esses approaching at an amusing speed.  The Prado nimbly skirted the curbing through the Esses, and dropped down through the Dipper and slammed on the brakes running into Forest Elbow.  I don't know how I kept the Prado out of the wall, but I deftly flicked her into third and coasted down Conrod Straight daring to inch up to 64kmh at one point before reining the big girl back under control.

I only had The Chase left to traverse before turning back onto Pit Straight and across the start finish line to post my lap time of 6 minutes and 59 seconds.

Now I might point out that the current lap record held by Greg Murphy is 2:06.89.  So I only need to shave about 5 minutes off the lap to get close...

Circuit length is 6.213km and rises 174m from pit straight to Skyline. 

I don't think I will ever be able to watch the race the same way, and honestly these guys are insane to drive that fast around the circuit.  There are lumps and bumps everywhere.  Add to the mix some 40 private residences around the circuit, and two way open traffic 24 hours a day, and Mt Panorama is a true street circuit. 

Strangely enough this is another must do thing if you can get the time.  I think secretly even Lisa enjoyed doing bog laps at Bathurst. 

We scoffed down some tea in Kelso, and then spent two and a half hours driving back to the caravan.  We actually got home just after 9:00pm tonight, so the kids will be rested tomorrow, but it is now 1:20am so my bed is calling too.