Wednesday,Sept 18.

Rest Day.       Katoomba.

What a lovely place to have a Rest Day; and how the weather turned sunny and warm just to accommodate me. Still windy OK , but wind isn’t an issue on a Rest Day.

Had a lovely relaxing nourishing breakfast here in the motel at the civilised time of 8.30. Then I had a few issues to sort out with the bike. The puncture in the rear wheel had to be repaired....a tiny hole probably caused by a pinch. Brakes needed adjustment as a result of the wear over the last few weeks. And a spot of laundry needed attention.

My plan for today had been hatched out last May when I was in the planning process. I came across this walk that appealed to me but yesterday I found out that the start was 11km from my motel. Don’t mind going for a spin on days like this. The return trip turned out to be just on 25 km.

I dropped down to the Three Sisters on my way out to see them in the morning light. Arrived there as the bus loads of tourists alighted.....mostly Japanese, I’d reckon. In Aboriginal lore, three maidens belonging to one tribe were in love with three warriors from another tribe. Tribal law forbade marriage; war ensued. The Kuradjuri (wise man) of the maidens’ tribe turned them into stone pro tem to protect them. Unfortunately, the wise man was killed in the war and the maidens are still marooned. Sin an sceal, anyhow.

To get to Wentworth, I cycled along Cliff Drive which had a few lookouts (and lots of ups and downs).

Stopped in Leura to pick up a few things for a picnic in a supermarket with a familiar name.

By 10.30 I was at Conservation Hut, locked up the bike, deposited the helmet in the cafe and set out along National Pass. This is 3 or 4 hour walk with plenty of steps up and down and passes along half-way down the face of the cliff.

100 years ago local communities were competing with each other to develop the most spectacular circular walks. Capt James Murray of Wentworth designed this and supervised a team of 4 workmen (known as the Irish Brigade) during the two years it took to develop the walk and cut out steps from the sheer rock to pass beneath the falls. The walk was opened in 1908 and received awards for its restoration work in 2008.

My walk started by dropping down a series of stone and metal steps and under outcrops to come to Empress Falls. All the falls looked healthy after the recent heavier-than-usual rains. (Don't I know!) Fording of creeks was made so easy with recent work.

Microstrobos Fitzgeraldii.

Vegetation varied so much around every corner. Almost tropical rainforest in places, red gum trees clinging on for dear life, tiny flowers and the Dwarf Mountain Pine that is only found around here liking the shelter fron strong sun and high winds and its official name is Microstrobos Fitzgeraldii. There’s a story behind that somewhere.

The walk passes along the face of the cliff and sometimes it was possible to see the mass of rock above. Mostly sandstone but with shale and claystone also. All along there were magnificent views out across the vast spread of trees.

The term Blue for this locality refers to the constant blue haze about. Various theories abound including the phenomenon called  Rayleigh Scattering.....when the air is laden with small dust particles, water droplets etc, then when the intervening atmosphere is illuminated by sunlight, our eyes receive the blue scattered rays when looking at a distant object. There must also be vast millions of oil droplets released into the atmosphere here from the huge number of eucalyptus trees.

There were a number of major falls but also water being released from hanging swamps above that retain the water even here. It felt like rain to pass beneath these.

In the second half of the walk, I could see other walkers across on the opposite cliff face on a passage cut into the rock.

The major waterfall at the end is the Wentworth Falls. The river flows out over the top and today’s wind just whipped it away into spray. The walk passed just beneath the fall before tackling the Grand Staircase that the Irish Brigade hacked out of the stone with just hand tools.

Looking back I could see the route that I had just come. No wonder I could sit down and feel satisfied with myself. Strange....one of my highlights of this cycle across Australia is a walk. Is ait an mac an saol.

I passed over the head of the Wentworth Falls and the water just flowing out over the edge doesn’t know what's in store once gravity takes charge.

I did an extra loop (don't I always!) to view Weeping Rock with its gentle flow of water. Charles Darwin visited here in 1836.

I eventually had the bite to eat in the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area before the 20 min woodland walk back to the Conservation Hut to collect bike and helmet.

What a walk! At times I was reluctant to move on. Wanted to take in more. Then so often I just had to look back....the view was every bit as good.

Springtime is just the right time to view all this at its best. Things are just breaking out all over. And being midweek, I was spared the crowds.

Back in Katoomba, I dropped into Aldi to see the special offers. Next week they have a fold-up bike (all Shimano gear) with a case and all for $139 (that's about €100). And it 98% assembled. Interesting!

Cycled back to the motel by a different route for a last look out on this magnificent expanse. And came across a memorial to the Road Builders - many of them convicts in leg irons who laboured for 30 years to create the Great Western Highway from the Sydney plains through the rugged Blue Mountains to the new development in Bathurst

Had dinner in the local RSL tonight and now must pack up for the final day to Sydney tomorrow. I have over 3000 feet to lose although there will be a few minor hills.

What a Rest Day and a change of activity without any loss of enjoyment. One of the highlights of this adventure.

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