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Another good night sleep, perhaps its all the fresh air. I am not complaining that's for sure. So I got up and did the usual...Neat thing is I really am not having to do a lot of thought in the mornings...just load in me route of the day to the GPS....and look at a map to see what I should expect. All the cool spots are points of interests too...so does take a lot of stress out of where to go in a gay.
Well Katoomba is the target of the day. It is in the Blue mountains. Apparently from a distance they have a blue tinge. Seems its a chemical reaction of something put of by a tree in the forests that causes it. We shall see. So after catching my socks...they are getting quick....a quick breakfast and I was loaded up to go in no time. The weather was not looking good however. Least its not too cold but it is grey out. So I got some gas......and decided to not bother looking into down town Canberra. I'd rather be on the open road.
The ride out was pretty boring interstate for a while...and slow...radar everywhere. I also had to take it easy as the rear tire is done....I need two days out of it so cruise control. Weird wear on it too....right side is chewed up...I do not recall more rights than lefts....bizarre. The center is like a flat ring....so if I lean at a certain angle....I would be on the edge of this ring...might explain the tire slipping out. Either way...I will never but Metzler tire. Enough of a rant....also along the way I had to top up the oil. 20 bucks a liter...sheesh, synthetic is not cheap.
Eventually I turned off the main hiway and was wandering along a curvy open road, hardly any traffic. So I just stopped every once in a while....to stretch...the neck is getting stiff I am finding. I do get a kick out of all the Hilux's I see he ere...they must be the national vehicle. Found my hands we ere starting to shake ...seems I was suffering from a latte withdrawals. next town....as usual....always a cafe on the main street. I parked....grabbed a piece of apple pie and a latte. OMG was the pie ever good. As I sat...first one...then eventually half a dozen bikes were parked by me. People with various types of riding gear milling about. I am seeing a lot of ladies riding bikes here. These breaks always are great for meeting people so as I was munching on me pie I get a G'day mate....look up and I thought it was crocodile dundee.....he even had a knife. He asked me where I was going I told em Katoomoba.....he did a grunt and told me "well mate...ya might get wet". With that he walked off. Greatttttt...
Sure enough not far out of town went around a bend and the myst started....I was climbing also so it was chilling of...eventually I had to put the rain gear on.....as I got closer to Katoomba it was really raining and a windy road....and full of traffic. I hit a traffic jam...so had to wander around the cars....makes it quicker...but its still a traffic jam ad it was pouring out. Seems a lot of Sydnians (if thats what you call em) come here for the weekend.
Eventually I rolled into Katoomba...and its quite the mountain town....very touristy. Seems to be a lot of Japanese here. Asian restaurants everywhere. So found me hotel...er B&B very cool. Island of tranquility. As I was walking in the courtyard garden...I was spooked by Cockatoos flying around me...and they are big. They have a feeder there and I managed to get a couple of feet from them. Really cool...and they are wild. I should say they look a lot happier in the wild than in a cage.
Amazing hotel, they got me sorted and I dropped my stuff....and I thought what the hell I should check out the lookouts to see what of the Three Sisters may be visible. Katoomba is a on the top of a ridge that overlooks a big valley below. There are lookouts all along. The hotel is only a few blocks from the look outs. So I decided to brave the wet to take a quick look, LOL was a whole lot of white. Nothing visible so I decide to just head into the main street to find a pub / restaurant. After a long wet walk....I found an Irish pub. Guinness steak pie, was awesome and of course I had to have Guinness. So while there I was getting into the Rugby game....always a Rugby game playing. Then a guy came in and asked them to change channels...to womens....uhhhh...some kind of basketball. Well...there is no back stop....so its just a hoop on a pole....whole lot of passing then the same gal seems to get the ball about 10 feet from the hoop.....and she stops....so does everyone else...and she takes her time to try to lob it not the hoop....bizarre......I gave the guy that asked to change the channel the hairy eye...and with that time to head back to the hotel. I have a jacuzzi tub so time for a soak.
Not a crazy cool ride day.... but still some nice roads and I am enjoying the scenery, never seem to know what to expect...would have been better in the dry. Did not see any kangaroos or wombats....I think that is a good thing. I also checked and the tire is holding up barely...the wet might have helped. Tomorrow is me last ride day...back to Sydney....sigh.
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