Saturday 10 May 2008

Freedom

Donald & I for the first time in 5 years or so escaped without kids to the Blue Mountains.  With my mum looking after the boys Donald & I headed off on the bikes towards the Blue Mountains on Wednesday.  We rode through Windsor and Richmond then up the Bells Line of Road to Lithgow.  It was a cool ride heading into the sunset, and I mean cold.  My teeth were chattering all the way up the mountain, unlike Donalds bike, Black Betty doesn't have heated hand grips.  We stopped at the view at Kurrajong Heights which was just so clear.  






On our way up we saw the steam trains from the zig zag railway near the road and Donald tried  to take a photo with his helmet on.....not so great, but you get the picture.



The sun setting made riding into the sunset not as romantic as it sounds, particularly on winding roads where you could hardly see the road in front of you for the glare.  We made it to the Lithgow information centre just before closing and found a lovely spot to spend the night.  Seclusions boutique spa cabins just a little way out of town and past Lake Lyell. Gorgeous rustic log cabins in the hills with spa and fire place.  The cabins were really lovely, with polished wooden walls and benches and a rattan/straw like covering on the ceiling.  Donald and I have dreams of building a place like this some day, maybe a little bigger, especially to fit the 3 kids in as well.
  


The fire place made the room very cosy.





It was much cheaper staying mid week than on the week ends.  Seeing as we were the only ones there we got an even better rate.  They provided an assortment of things for breakfast for us to make ourselves, but no dinner.  So we went back into Lithgow to the Workies club for a grill and some pool.  Donald thrashed me at pool.




Not being used to sleep in's I got up early and caught another sun rise.






We packed up at 11am an went back into Lithgow to visit the Small Arms Museum, Donalds choice, but it ended up being fascinating.  The museum is situated right next to the Steel factory where they have been making rifles for the Australian army since 1908.  The collection of rifles and hand guns is just amazing.  Not that I'm into guns but the history of the factory is fascinating.  Donald is the war history enthusiast, so he was in heaven.  Time got away from us in the museum so we headed to Katoomba for a view of the Three Sisters.




We were very fortunate with the clear, dry weather, not only for the bike riding but for the spectacular views of the mountains.



After which it was a late lunch in Leura before battling the traffic home down the mountain.

  

6 comments:

Roger said...

What a fabulous trip - who knew motorbikes could have heated handles!

Stacy said...

Sounds like a wonderful couple of days. A night away sounds so lovely - will have to wait a few years for that one (back home with family babysitters).

So is that what the 3 sisters look like with blue sky behind them and no fog? They are truly lovely!

Glad you had a good early mother's day!

Lisha said...

You've heard of heated car seats in European cars, well good German engineering provides heated hand grips on a BMW motorbike, it feels so nice too!

Mari said...

Looks like Black Betty is performing admirably!!
Amazing looking cabin and surroundings, glad you managed to have a getaway!

Carli said...

Love your pool style Lisha - go sister!

sirpa said...

Sounds like a wonderful get away trip! I didn't know about the heated hand grips either, but makes sense. Although no-one here would imagine anyone using them in Australia ;-)