A Birthday Celebration. Part 2
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 town, on the western side of the mountains.
After a short stop at the tourist information centre, we continued west, before again turning right and a stop at Maiyinga Marragu, Blackfellows Handcave. Here we walked and climbed, for about 500 meters, to reach the cave. It is a very large overhang, with great acoustics and rock art 1,000's of years old. We walked the length of the cave, until a fallen tree blocked our way. The area is beautiful, quiet and the art stunning.
Once back in the beast, Simmo gave us a taste of real 4WD, taking us on a track that would 'kill' an average car. Deep ruts, trees down, puddles, added to the experence. Thankful that both the beast and the seats had good suspension, as we were josteled around. Loved it!
Back on a normal road, Simmo suggested that we head to lunch. Into the Lisdale State Forest, full of pine trees, we had to pass through, to get to the Marrangaroo National Park. All the signs said 4WD ONLY.
Bouncing along, we came to the Cox's River. Flowing across rocks, Simmo said that we were going to cross it, as one does, if one wants to get to lunch! More driving and at the bottom of a hill, there was a picnic table, our lunch spot, beside the river.
We went for a stroll and Simmo cooked lunch, of BBQ salmon and salads, with a bottle of sparking wine and fresh fruit. Delicious. The table was set with a white cloth, plates, cutlery and serviettes, very civilized.
Once lunch was finished and packed up we took the reurn trip, back to the highway and Hartley General Cemetery, with a stop at the Lolly Bug for coffee and lollies. We were looking for an old family grave and we found it. Blackheath Cemetery was our next stop for more grave hunting. We found these as well.
Blackheath Cemetery.
Late afternoon and Simmo dropped us back at Leura House, thrilled to have had such an awesome day.
Now you are probably wondering, if it was such an effort to get in the beast, how did I get out? Well, I'd hold onto the door and slide out.
Dinner at the Hotel Alexander, sitting in the courtyard, was the perfect end to a perfect day.
More in the next post.
Bye for now,
Lilian.
Copyright should read 2018.
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 town, on the western side of the mountains.
A Sandstone Pagoda.
After a short stop at the tourist information centre, we continued west, before again turning right and a stop at Maiyinga Marragu, Blackfellows Handcave. Here we walked and climbed, for about 500 meters, to reach the cave. It is a very large overhang, with great acoustics and rock art 1,000's of years old. We walked the length of the cave, until a fallen tree blocked our way. The area is beautiful, quiet and the art stunning.
Blackfellows Handcave.
Once back in the beast, Simmo gave us a taste of real 4WD, taking us on a track that would 'kill' an average car. Deep ruts, trees down, puddles, added to the experence. Thankful that both the beast and the seats had good suspension, as we were josteled around. Loved it!
Back on a normal road, Simmo suggested that we head to lunch. Into the Lisdale State Forest, full of pine trees, we had to pass through, to get to the Marrangaroo National Park. All the signs said 4WD ONLY.
Bouncing along, we came to the Cox's River. Flowing across rocks, Simmo said that we were going to cross it, as one does, if one wants to get to lunch! More driving and at the bottom of a hill, there was a picnic table, our lunch spot, beside the river.
We went for a stroll and Simmo cooked lunch, of BBQ salmon and salads, with a bottle of sparking wine and fresh fruit. Delicious. The table was set with a white cloth, plates, cutlery and serviettes, very civilized.
Cox's River
Our transport.
The road in.
Once lunch was finished and packed up we took the reurn trip, back to the highway and Hartley General Cemetery, with a stop at the Lolly Bug for coffee and lollies. We were looking for an old family grave and we found it. Blackheath Cemetery was our next stop for more grave hunting. We found these as well.
The bug at the Lolly Bug, Hartley.
Late afternoon and Simmo dropped us back at Leura House, thrilled to have had such an awesome day.
Now you are probably wondering, if it was such an effort to get in the beast, how did I get out? Well, I'd hold onto the door and slide out.
Dinner at the Hotel Alexander, sitting in the courtyard, was the perfect end to a perfect day.
More in the next post.
Bye for now,
Lilian.
Copyright should read 2018.
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