Trip to the Blue Mountains
I managed to escape from steamy Sydney one day and take the train to Katoomba. I have a friend living there and arranged to meet up with her for lunch. I only just managed to catch the train, as even though I had allowed adequate time, or so I thought, by the time I limped through from the Eastern Suburbs line, quite a long walk, then went to the Country trains concourse to check which platform the train departed from, then hastened back to the far end of the concourse to the platform the guard was brandishing his flag. Fortunately he saw me waving and running and waited for me.
I boarded the train and settled down for the 2 hour journey. I had been longing to go back to the Blue Mountains, as some of my happiest memories are associated with experiences I had there. When I arrived it was deliciously chilly, and on the point of being cold; this was a pleasant change from the steamy 27C in Sydney. Rowan had said she would meet me, I waited near the station for 30 minutes, still no sign of her, tried to ring but she was not home, which indicated that she was on her way. Just as I was on the point of giving up she arrived, I think she must have looked at the departure time rather than the arrival time.
We went to a vegetarian cafe where I ordered a salad sandwich. When it arrived rather than the lettuce, tomato, etc. that I had expected it was a 2 inch thick layer of salad greens, probably very healthy, but far too much to eat. It was good to talk though, as we meet seldom these days. Rowan gave me a book from the publisher who is bringing out her novel later in the year.
On the trip back I took the following pics, not very good quality, taken through the train window which had been lovingly vandalised.
This pic shows how heavily overcast it was up in the mountains, no wonder it was cold.
As the train descended the sky grew lighter...
...and eventually there was some sunshine as well.
This was a substation beside one of the train stations, which had been decorated with a mural. I saw 4 of these but this was the only one I managed to photograph.
I boarded the train and settled down for the 2 hour journey. I had been longing to go back to the Blue Mountains, as some of my happiest memories are associated with experiences I had there. When I arrived it was deliciously chilly, and on the point of being cold; this was a pleasant change from the steamy 27C in Sydney. Rowan had said she would meet me, I waited near the station for 30 minutes, still no sign of her, tried to ring but she was not home, which indicated that she was on her way. Just as I was on the point of giving up she arrived, I think she must have looked at the departure time rather than the arrival time.
We went to a vegetarian cafe where I ordered a salad sandwich. When it arrived rather than the lettuce, tomato, etc. that I had expected it was a 2 inch thick layer of salad greens, probably very healthy, but far too much to eat. It was good to talk though, as we meet seldom these days. Rowan gave me a book from the publisher who is bringing out her novel later in the year.
On the trip back I took the following pics, not very good quality, taken through the train window which had been lovingly vandalised.
This pic shows how heavily overcast it was up in the mountains, no wonder it was cold.
As the train descended the sky grew lighter...
...and eventually there was some sunshine as well.
This was a substation beside one of the train stations, which had been decorated with a mural. I saw 4 of these but this was the only one I managed to photograph.