Thursday, Sept 19.

Day 49.         Katoomba to Sydney.

Distance: 116 km in 5hrs02min at 23km/hr.

Distance so far: 4913 km (on cycling days) 

         plus 224 km on Rest Days brings the total over the 5000.  

Climbed: 2247 ft.

Elevation tonight: 140 ft.

AHR: 96 bpm.

Punctures so far: 6.

 Out at 7.15 am.      In Sydney hotel at 4pm.

Well, what a day. Feels absolutely fantastic to have completed the cycle adventure according to plan with nothing going wrong. Thank God.

Packing up in Katoomba this morning was something special. This would be the last such packing for some time. By this stage the packing (and unpacking) has followed a set pattern, but that will be no more.

Very windy this morning in the heights of the Blue Mountains and I just knew that I’d have to keep my wits about me on the highway down, at least until I was out of the big gusts.

At this hour the Great Western Highway was quiet and ther was more fall than rise - a drop of 500 ft and then a rise of 100 ft. That accounts for the amount climbed today when in fact I dropped well over 3000 ft in all. 

This Highway isn’t a motorway at this point. The bins were out to be collected; kids were assembling for the school bus and even some strange joggers were out on the hard shoulder. At certain turns I could see the lower ground way out ahead. 

I passed through two stretches of road works below Wentworth and below Faulconbridge. The temporary roadwork signs asked motorists to watch out for cyclists.

 Looking up at the Blue Mountains isn’t like looking up at the Galtees that rise sharply out of the Golden Vale. The Blue Mountains just rise gradually step by step and you actually never see the ridge. Still, I knew that I was descending because the temperature was definitely rising and certain parts of protective gear was being removed.

At Glenbrook (almost at the bottom of the descent) I swung off to the left to visit Paul with whom I cycled from Perth to Melbourne. This was my morning tea (at 43 km) and we caught up on things on the balcony with tea and cake. T’was lovely to meet up again.

From Glenbrook down to Penrith was the steepest part of the descent and demanded concentration. 

So today’s cycle consisted of three parts - the descent, the motorway into Parramatta and the side streets to the Opera House.

Once I hit the plains, I just had to halt at the ’Welcome to Sydney ’ sign. Cyclists often celebrate such events by lifting the bike over their heads in a victory salute. I wasn’t going even to attempt such a thing with those panniers behind.

After passing over the broad Nepean River in Penrith, the road got flatter and busier. Now, I was on the plains, although there was the odd slight incline as I still passed through rural countryside. Now, I was on a 6 lane motorway (later to increase to 8) but cyclists are allowed to cycle on the non-urban parts of freeways. 

All cyclists have to leave the M4 at Parramatta and from here on I was in more stop/start traffic. I had a cue-sheet made out to help me navigate through these to the city centre and it worked out just fine with only the odd occasion when I had to enquire. I didn’t make any major errors or lose time.

After a few zigs and zags through a residential area I got my first sighting of the Olympic Park. Immediately after the Olympics in 2000, this area tended to be a bit of a white elephant, but it has recovered and rediscovered itself. Today it was busy and the covered arena (Alphones Arena)seems to be booked out for upcoming concerts.

One worker there when he realised i was visiting, gave me a concise guide to the complex. He had his truck in preparing for an event at the weekend.

At one end of Olympic boulevard was a magnificent set of fountains in full flow. I took a few shots and almost immediately they switched off. Wasn’t I the lucky one.

Next, was the main Olympic stadium (ANZ Stadium) where all the track and field events as well as opening and closing ceremonies. The inner part of that stadium can be shifted to cater for Aussie Rules (oval) or soccer/rugby (rectangular).

Nearby in the Cathy Freeman Park stands the cauldron that held the Olympic Flame. Inscribed on the ground all around are the medal winners of Sydney 2000.

All the 74,000 volunteers who were vital to the event are celebrated in the Volunteer Walk. All their names are inscribed on these pillars that snakes its way from the cauldron to the stadium. Further on I passed the Aquatic Centre and the new Netball arena.

As I pedalled on  I soon caught my first view of the high rise of the CBD. At this stage I was ona cycle path by the water and realising that ceann-scribe was close at hand. Local events were being advertised big time for the locals. With each turn those high buildings just got bigger and bigger.

Near the end of Lilyfield Road I spotted the unmistakable shape of the Bridge. Just one of many bridges I crossed today. First major one to cross was Anzac Bridge that takes Pyrmont Road over the water. 

Just a few more small streets and I was on the Pyrmont Bridge between Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay. This bridge is a colourful populous place and I took my time around here and got some few cycling routes from a London courier who had been on Sydney for a few weeks.

After Pyrmont Bridge it was into the cavernous streets of the city. much darker now. A left off King Street brought me down along George's Street for more than. Kilometre and then a right swing onto Circular Quay. This is one-way (the other way) but it’s just a matter of pulling the bike up on the path and walking on. Such freedom! 

There were crowds coming and going off the ferries as I proceeded around by the water’s edge towards my trip destination. The Bridge totally occupied the scenery to my left hand.

Vast crowds (mostly aged couples) were coming against me and I knew that an event had just finished. I turned a bend and there it was......Sydney Opera House, the official end of this adventure. It shone in the mid afternoon sun and those emerging crowds seemed to give it more life. One patron told me that she had just experienced Wagner No 2 and how it had lifted her.

I walked over and back relishing this moment and quite a few asked me if I had completed some cycle or other. I must admit I felt quite pleased with myself and just had to punch the air.

Now to get to the hotel that I’d booked. Again the bike proved its versatility and was hauled up one-way streets, up onto footpaths, up steps etc.

I finally reached the leafy suburbs of Potts point and located the hotel on Challis Avenue. I was relieved to be here and still smiled although I had to haul the bike up to my room was on the third floor.

What a day! What an adventure! To get here and to get here safely is something else. 

Now for a few days to explore this city (using the bike of course) and meet up with some more people. Will start on that tomorrow.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.