Sydney to Cudgegong (Lake Windamere) - 253km/4.5 hoursThe plan was to leave home around 10 and have a nice leisurely drive stopping at Katoomba and the Three Sisters for lunch and then on to Windamere Lake in time for happy hour. Well that was the plan!! The drizzle that so kindly persisted all morning hampered our plans for a quick get away! 12:30 came and went before we said goodbye to the dog, got the kids in the car and then, after a false start driving around the block to pick up the jerry cans I left in the garage, we were off on our adventure of a life time!!
The trip was quite uneventful really. With no trouble pulling the van, we were soon heading west on the M4 towards the Blue Mountains. The kids were very good - keeping themselves entertained with their colouring-in books and playing spotto (yellow car) and punch buggy every now and again. What really sealed the deal was the final unveiling of the new headrest DVD players I had installed the week before!!
We decided to skip our amended itinerary of afternoon tea enjoying the magnificent views of the Megalong Valley as the rain was teaming down. The fact that it was 6 degrees outside may also have played a small hand in making our minds up!! The weather on the western side of the Great Divide looked far more promising than what we were leaving behind in Sydney. Although it was still cloudy, the sky was much brighter and there were even patches of blue sky.
Pressing on through Lithgow, where we saw our first "Big" - the Big Miner's Lantern - we turned north along the road to Mudgee. Bladders couldn't hold out any longer so a quick toilet stop and a leg stretch was taken just shy of our destination. Looking east with the setting sun behind us, we were treated to a spectacular rainbow whist waiting for Timmy to finish doing his business on the long drop roadside dunny.
After the toilet break, it was just a short sprint to the finish line for the day - Cudgegong Waters Park on the shores of Lake Windamere. Unfortunately we arrived just after the office closed (by my watch though it was still 3 minutes to five) but all it took was $2 in the boom gate and we were in!
Tomorrow - the gold fields of Hill End and Sofala.
How long was the long drop for Timmys cable? Keena has been very anxious since your departure. Trying to follow us around the house as we walk room to room and down stairs.
ReplyDeleteWas that Matt in the passenger seat in the setting off photo..... did Leanne drive?? Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip and hopefully you've left the rain behind for the next THREE MONTHS, although hopefully you haven't left it in the Close, unlike the jerry cans - hehe.
ReplyDeleteLisa, Tony & Alex