The day started a little later than usual leaving Lithgow Public School at 9.30. We attended an assembly with all the students from Year Three and Year Six. Principal Kerry Griffiths arranged a guard of honour to escort us from the playground. First there was a photo with the school captains and a meeting with a very brave young man who had his head shaved at a school assembly several years ago when his mum had cancer.
From the school it was a back road through Hartley Valley, crossing over a narrow winding road and down a very steep hill. I bypassed the Victoria Pass by taking Berghofer’s Pass, an old road that has fallen into disrepair. At the top I was able to see the same view seen by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson when they first saw the Western Plains. I had been a little disappointed that I was walking west to east across the mountains as the first Europeans to cross the mountains had gone the other way. Then I realised today that they had to walk back again, so I was retracing their footsteps just as they had done in 1813.
At the top of the mountain I stopped in at the Cedar Cabins to thank Carol and John as I hadn’t had a chance to meet them overnight. Lunch was in Blackheath before completing my walk to Wentworth Falls. We had dinner with friends at Katoomba and are looking forward to tackling the (mainly) downhill run to Penrith tomorrow. The little toe on my left foot is quite painful with every step, but today I saw Sydney for the first time through the mountains. Being able to see my destination should ease the pain.
We are still having problems working out why the camera is taking multiple images, but will upload some photos as soon as we solve the problem. The Forester has carried all our luggage and given Jan the opportunity to scout the territory and go ahead and organise things and the Rockports are really looking after my feet.
I am looking forward to starting the day tomorrow at Wentworth Falls Public School and meeting the Tumour Terminators; a group of students, parents and staff who go in the City to Surf each year to raise money for children’s cancer.
This post has arrived late because I haven’t been able to access WiFi here on the mountains. I will post it tomorrow afternoon.
From the school it was a back road through Hartley Valley, crossing over a narrow winding road and down a very steep hill. I bypassed the Victoria Pass by taking Berghofer’s Pass, an old road that has fallen into disrepair. At the top I was able to see the same view seen by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson when they first saw the Western Plains. I had been a little disappointed that I was walking west to east across the mountains as the first Europeans to cross the mountains had gone the other way. Then I realised today that they had to walk back again, so I was retracing their footsteps just as they had done in 1813.
At the top of the mountain I stopped in at the Cedar Cabins to thank Carol and John as I hadn’t had a chance to meet them overnight. Lunch was in Blackheath before completing my walk to Wentworth Falls. We had dinner with friends at Katoomba and are looking forward to tackling the (mainly) downhill run to Penrith tomorrow. The little toe on my left foot is quite painful with every step, but today I saw Sydney for the first time through the mountains. Being able to see my destination should ease the pain.
We are still having problems working out why the camera is taking multiple images, but will upload some photos as soon as we solve the problem. The Forester has carried all our luggage and given Jan the opportunity to scout the territory and go ahead and organise things and the Rockports are really looking after my feet.
I am looking forward to starting the day tomorrow at Wentworth Falls Public School and meeting the Tumour Terminators; a group of students, parents and staff who go in the City to Surf each year to raise money for children’s cancer.
This post has arrived late because I haven’t been able to access WiFi here on the mountains. I will post it tomorrow afternoon.
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