For our 10th we went up to the Blue Mountains, about 1.5 hours away. Nice drive through the bush and up into the hills. We stayed in a wonderful B & B that was literally across the road from the main overlook in Katoomba, the biggest town in the mountains. From there we ventured everywhere on hiking trails, scenic cable cars, near-vertical trains, and cabled ascenders. Mostly hiking.
The big hike took us down from the Echo Point overlook, down the Giant Staircase, around the valley and up the cable car to the top again. Then we hiked along the cliff until we got back to where we started. Lots of tiredness! Let me tell you, it was a gorgeous day. The valley started out covered in clouds, and as the day moved out the burned off and the blue appeared. Apparently oils given off by the eucalyptus trees mix with the dust in the air to create little droplets like water vapor. That vapor diffuses the light and the primary result is the blue light getting through. That makes everything have a blue tint - hence the Blue Mountains!
Sunday it was dreary (boy did we pick the good day to hike!) and we had been all over the mountainside anyway, so we drove another 1.5 hours to Jenolan Caves - a big cave system just a bit to the west of Katoomba. The road reminded me of the drive up the mountain to my parents place in California...only windier and narrower. Clarice was pretty tired of all the twists and turns by the time we arrived.
We first toured "The Orient" cave filled with colorful stalagmites and stalagtites. Then we took the free audio tour of the Great Arch and Devil's Coach House caverns before going on a last tour of "The Imperial" cave. We basically spent the entire afternoon underground. Lots of fun! Check out the slideshow on the left for more photos!
The way home it was rainy and foggy making driving slow and treacherous. We split the driving and got home later than we had planned, but no worries.
That was out anniversary. Not what we might have imagined last summer, but totally a cool experience! Have a great weekend everybody!
Jon
4 comments:
Happy Anniversary! It may not have been what you imagined, but I think that is a pretty darn cool way to spend it. :)
WOW just think 10 years ago I was an usher and a groomsmen. Good times.
Congrats on the 10 years!!!!!!! Enjoy yourself and thanks for keeping us posted. How fun it is to see what you are doing.
Ethan is waiting for that train ride movie :) Congrats on 10 years!
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