Blue Mountains Evans Lookout and Wentworth Falls

After the last hike, we were happy to find Evans Lookout. It had great views by just driving up and a short walk. Of course, like at Govetts Leap there were hours of hiking that could be done.
The mist in the distance is actually rain heading our way. Back to the car!
We drove a distance to Wentworth falls. We hiked only about 25 minutes for this amazing view!!
This waterfall was the best we have seen yet!. The camera cannot really truly tell the story as the waterfall continues beyound this point down the valley. It was wide and tall with different pooling and falling again. Amazing!

We had a great weekend and cannot wait to visit the Blue Mountains again. There is so much yet to explore and much we want to see a second or even 3rd time.

Blue Mountains-Blackheath-Govett's Leap

This is the other side of the drop. It was impressive!
John and the kids spot another waterfall in the distance. It is about where we started our hike.
John is explaining to the kids that these mountains, were not formed by the land having been pushed up by earthquakes or volcanoes, but were formed by erosion millions of years ago!
This is the way of our hike-from the waterfall to waterfall. It was a lot of down hill steps cut into the path so not too bad. However, the walk back up all of those steps was a killer.

Blue Mountains-Blackheath-Govett's Leap

After a much needed nights sleep in Blackheath, we headed to Govett's leap. This is on the north side of the mountain ridge. It is a cold (60-ish) and cloudy day.
The waterfall is called Bridal Falls. We decide to hike to the closer lookout which is just on top of the falls.
We walk down for what seemed like forever.

We came to this meandering stream. We walked across it on concrete stepping stones. At the end of the water is the fall!

Blue Mountains Scenic World-cableway

The view from the cable ride is yet another amazing perspective of the same valley. We stood on this ride as we ascended back to the top.
The single rock formation --that we looked down on from the skyway. In the distance you can see the skyway suspended on the cable.
The waterfall from a different view.
The three sisters again!

Blue Mountains Scenic World-railway

We did the ride across--Now we are to take the train down into the valley. This is the path of the old coal miners and it is steep! Kait and Sam are both a bit nervous! We leave the terminal and head down a steep grade between some rock.
This is our view as we begin our quick descent. John guesses it was about a 70 degree grade as we dropped down. It went fairly quick and was exciting as we "flew" past the trees and ferns.
In the valley, we walk through some old coal mining stations and equipment and then through the beautiful rainforest of large ferns and fig and turpentine trees. An elevated walkway keeps the forest fairly undisturbed by the trekking. John took this to prove that I am really on this trip. I end up taking most of the photos so there are few with me in them. We had an easy 30 minute walk to the cableway straight up!
This is the view as we board and begin to ascend to the top!

Blue Mountains Scenic World-skyway

Scenic World is an old Coal Mine that has been converted to take advantage of the wonderful views. There are three rides to see the mountains from different points. We took all three. The first one is the skyway--a cable car suspended over the valley. This is what it looked like as we boarded the car.
This is a picture of the cable car from the other look out. We took this up the mountain after hiking around down in the valley. Looking down from the skyway we saw this waterfall. The car had a glass bottom so it was truly breathtaking from up here!
This is a rock formation that had old stairs stuck to the sides. Apparently it was once a place to climb.

Blue Mountains-Katoomba

Saturday morning we left early for a 2 hour drive northwest to Katoomba, New South Wales. We arrived in the Blue Mountains not sure exactly what to expect and we were so overwhelmed by the beauty! We took 240 pictures and here are a few.
This is a the famed "3 sisters." An Aboriginal legend says that 3 beautiful maidens from one tribe were in love with 3 brothers from another tribe. The love was forbidden as the tribes were at war. A medicine man turned the three maidens into the rocks to save them for the men's return from battle. The medicine man died before he could bring them back to life and so the women are still stone. What a tale!!!
Here is a view down the valley. We are looking over southwest side of the mountain range.

After the clouds pass and the sun returns --you get a better view.

on the topic of birds . . .

This morning about 7:30 am, I went to wake up Kait. I opened her curtain and patio door and saw a flock of lorikeets (not parrots or budgies as I said previously--did a bit of research). I have seen them before, but not at home and not when I had the camera. I got pictures to share today. If you click on the picture--it will open up so you can have a bigger photo.
Using the zoom, I got in a bit closer.
This is part of the same group on a bush between the two backyards. I am sure the neighbors were really questioning my sanity taking pictures early in the morning of lorikeets. They are as common as robins at home. A robin would be extremely rare ! :)

Tropical Birds

Fettucini is Sam's pet Peewee. Last night, we had a storm and the wind blew the Rice Crispies(called Rice Pops here), that Sam leaves for Fettucini, all over the veranda. Today, Fettucini cruised all over the veranda collecting his treats. He comes by at least once a day for a visit.
This afternoon, I was able to get the boy across the street feeding the cockatoos. There are 4 of them on the railing. When I am walking around, I also see lorikeets(they look like parrots) that are bright green, red and blue. There are also King Parrots that are predominately red-they are a bit more scarce though.
This evening we were walking to the Cambodian restaurant. About 3 buildings from ours, we found the birds had settled. So, I ran back to our unit for the camera. I promised Tommy I would get some photos for Marisa. So, Marisa here is one up close.
Here is what it looked like in the tree. The red bird next to it is called a Rosella. There were several of them in this yard also.

Sam had Chicken Tofu soup for dinner tonight, he had soy milk with his breakfast. He has really diversified his eating. Kait had something like sweet and sour chicken and rice so she is also happy as long as she can have rice!

This kids survived the 1st short week of school --only Thursday and Friday. Now down to serious work!!