Bushwalking the Blue Mountains

It's funny how natural it is for me to be the third wheel.  Some people avoid it all costs but I truly cherish it and invite it into my life.  I was an excellent third wheel to my friends Kathleen and Jeff in NYC and I think I am also doing an exceptional job at tricycling it with my mates Trish and Michael.  Trish and Michael have a romantic winter weekend each year at the beautiful Blue Mountains and I ever so gently weasled my way onto their holiday. Ha! They are too nice to say "NO" to me and I just keep telling myself that they keep me around for entertainment.  Thanks Trish and Michael! (I hope everyone can pick up on my sarcasm b/c I am rarely serious so please take all of this in good fun.)  Here are some pics of us (They are really silly as you will see from these pics, no wonder we are friends).

Bushwalking: (v.) hiking; walking; trailblazing; a steady walk through the brush, forest, woods, field, meadow in Australia.

Trish and Michael are fierce bushwalkers.  Michael used to be a guide in the Blue Mountains so he knows all of the trails.  We were going to do a steep hike but unfortunately the trail was closed due to erosion.  SHUCKS! Just when I thought I got out of that hike we went on a "leisurely' 11 kilometer hike.  It took us 4.5 hours.  I was sweating like a fat lady in a sauna.  Linda would have been proud of me.  Too bad I still couldn't use my arms from the beating she gave me on Friday but have no fear...it was all legs.

In all seriousness it was beautiful.  Australians put a lot of effort and take a lot of pride in their natural habitats and they take care of them.  It is refreshing to see.  Take a look at the views and trails.  I have selected my favorite shots.

There were running waterfalls and little streams. There was even a waterfall that you could walk under.

It took us all day to walk the trail.  We stayed at a youth hostel and it was really quite fun. There was a beetles band at the pub and we stayed until 2 am singing "Hey Jude" with the locals.  As you can see, things got a bit silly. After several bottles of wine we named their kids: Thomas and Annabelle.  They are not pregnant but trying and I am sure the children will be thrilled to hear that they were named at the Blue Mountains after 3 bottles of red with their parent's third wheel.  I am happy that I am useful.

The next day was a bit rough as you can imagine but we managed to see the three sisters which are a landmark for the Blue Mountains.  They were really pretty. 

We traveled to a little village and then made the 2 hour drive home.  We tried to see kangaroos in the wild at a national park but we didn't see them.  Next time. :)  Of course, when I got home I locked myself out of Jan Cuke's so I had to wait for her to come home.  All was well but there always has to be a little bit of drama I guess.  Visit the Blue Mountains on your trip to Oz.  It is well worth it.