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Canberra. The Nations capital. First impressions, the whole place is set up on spin. Went to a tourist place, Gold creek, I think it was. It had a little village with an old school house, but it wasn't. Every building was a cafe or takeaway, a cheap and nasty imitation of an Australian village. A pommy pub, and an English garden, $40 entry to the garden. Don't try to get around without a GPS, the street signage is worse than Newcastle. Still, we saw what we came to see. Parliament house, one of the most magnificent buildings around, I reckon. We sat in on the senate, and the house of reps. heard the snowy haired & bearded Aboriginal senator talk on national security and democratic principles, and Nick xenophon [ not sure how to spell that] talk on the same. Both gave good speeches, clear and concise, to about 5 other senators. In the house of reps., some minister gave a long winded speech on changes to mariners compensation. Dry and boring, but it interested me.
The absolute highlight was the War Memorial. It's been about 40 years since I was last there, and what a change they have made. Magnificent. Stayed for the Last Post ceremony, Flying Officer Mitchell. School kids from Qld., NSW., and Tasmania were there and laid wreaths. A moving ceremony. Had dinner at the lime leaves Thai restaurant. Recommend it highly.
A highlight on the way in was a detour to a place called Collector. The Bush Ranger hotel actually. Under new management, built around 1860, started off as the Kimberleys hotel. Got its reputation when Ben Hall & his mates Shot dead Constable Nelson, 1865. A pub worth visiting.
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Been busier than a ram in a rutting paddock. dropped in to Bowral to visit the Don's cricket club. A picture perfect place, Bowral, as a matter of fact, this whole area is. Amazing what some good rain does. Funny thing, the closer you get to Sydney , the bigger the dickhead factor in drivers is. Visited the rellies, now in Katoomba, the place is buzzing with tourists from all over, a good vibe here, every one for a good time. Did the steepest train ride in the World. Twice. Walked for about 3 hours, very tired now, but absolutely worth it.
Didn't know Katoomba town is over a massive coal seam, the railway was the way coal was bought up, in the day. Instead of catching the train back up in the end, and going across by trolley, we elected to walk all the way, up Furber steps,past the water fall. I ache all over. Went down to take photos of the three sisters after dark, they are lit up. Blowing a gale, it was freezing. GREAT!, 30 degrees in Brisbane, 8 degrees here at 6 0'clock at night. Jenolan caves tomorrow, then heading north. Where we belong.
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Any one who comes up to this area would do well to read this article. It explains in relative lay-mans terms the geology of the Blue Mountains, which are not really mountains at all, but an uplifted dissected plateau. At least I now know why lapstone hill was so named.
[ame]http://coxsroaddreaming.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Geol-Blue-Mtns_CSB_edited.pdf[/ame]
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Had a look thru the Jenolan caves, Diamond cave to be precise. All I can say is...WOW. Many more caves to look thru, and we will down the track. Impossible to describe, you have to be there. On to Coffs Harbour, a little bit weird there. Plenty of shut businesses, lots of random youth wandering about. But still clean, a heads up was every window in the motel room had that piece of dowel, so the window could not be opened fully, from the outside. No problems, though. Then on to Byron Bay. What can I say, a young single persons paradise I expect. Lovely people, mixed up with some weird ones.
Had dinner in the RSL, cheap and good [ a heads up, in Katoomba, the local RSL has cheap good meals, at least half price the mainstream hipster joints charge. Heaps of trendy Europeans here, and don't the locals take advantage of them. ] The pub for me in Byron? the Railway, next to the old disused railway station, looks like they have incorporated the old rooms with the addition of a large area covered by a roof, beer garden, if you wish. Every one there looked like a local, and that's what I look for. I mentioned that it felt like the real Byron, and was told there were no back packers, or lunatics. When I pointed out the two indigenous drunks having a pretend fight [ no punch landed, lots of screaming] in the park opposite, I was told they were the floorshow, and every one ignored them. Reminded me of Darwin. Choice. I felt at home, relaxed, and SWMBO and I diddy bopped along with Bob Marley. Nothing stronger than white wine, and the locally brewed beer. And some laid back, happy people. LG
