Lilian's Tree

  Monday 14 April   L –  LITHGOW   - (Co. Cook) 33°29’S 150°09’E Named  after William Lithgow, Auditor-General of New South Wales, in  1827  by the explorer Hamilton Hume.  Lithgow is on Farmers Creek, 150klm (95mi) west of Sydney. It is situated in the scenic Blue Mountains and characterised by seven valleys.  These being, Lithgow, Wolgan, Kanimbla, Capertee, Megalong, Hartley and Tarana. The Capertee Valley is the second largest valley in the world, only the Grand Canyon is bigger. Lithgow Capertee Valley Capertee Valley

Happy Birthday, to ME! After an early morning cuppa, on the balcony and breakfast we were ready for our adventure. I had booked to go 4WDriving with Simmo's Offroad Tours,  www.simmosoffroadtours.com      Simmo, (alias Greg) arrived at 9.30 in a HUGE Land Crusier, (the beast) and my adventure began. How does one get into this beast, ladylike?  Answer, You Don't! One foot on the running board, grab the handle and haul yourself up. Once settled we were off, heading west. Our drive took us out to Mt Victoria, (1,052m), the top of the range. Turning right onto Station Street/ Darling Causeway, we continued  to the end and then turned left into Chifley Road. (Ben Chifley was an Australian Prime Minister, born in Bathurst.) At the old Zig Zag Railway, we turned onto our first dirt road and headed into Wolgan Valley and the Sandstone Pagodas. These are sandstone formations that look like pagodas. Stunning. From here we headed to Lithgow, (950m), the first big ...