Awaking to a morning filled with bright sunshine, and cool fresh mountain air… ahhh, lovin’ it already! I had no idea what time it was as I awoke, but once our entire dorm was stirring (8 of us, in all) I managed to dig out my watch (after days without use) and realized it was only 7:40am – I was stoked to have the entire day ahead!
I walked into town in search of a coffee shop, and found myself in the Elephant Bean Café only a few minutes later – it’s a good climb up Katoomba St (the main drag,) but it’s only a few blocks long – love the mountain towns! My new friend working as a barista in the café was quick to catch onto my order, and asked me if I wanted my coffee NY, Brazil or Idaho style – at this point I’ve figured out that I can ask my Aussie baristas to pull a short, sweet shot of espresso and fill it up Americano style – vs. the Australian “long blacks” that leave you with a sour taste and way too much caffeine feelin’!
After stocking up on some extra water, fruit and a deli sandwich for lunch, I hired (yes, this is “rent” in US English) a mountain bike - shocked to be asked if I wanted a Trek or Gary Fisher…a clear sign that I’m near REAL mountain trails! – and took off back through town and onto Narrow Neck – my ride for the day. A GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS DAY – PICTURE PERFECT – few clouds in the sky, sun shining brightly, cool mountain air with a light breeze (at my back for the start… always preferable ;) )…and with a quick right off Cliff Dr, I was descending down a windy dirt road into the start of my adventure. I was referred to this ride by a new friend I met in the hostel the night before, and he forewarned me that it contained hills that were too tough to ride up… and I was thinking this wasn’t conceivable, as it’s a fireroad – but come to find out – at one of the very first climbs – he was speaking the truth! It is virtually impossible to keep the front tire of the bike on the ground – that’s how steep it is! (and one of, if not THE, steepest fireroads I’ve ever ridden.) Up & down, and up & down… through the cover of the different Eucalyptus trees… over a little sand… maneuvering through chunky little loose rock… and all 17kms to the end… an ideallic view, off the edge of a cliff – overlooking Sydney’s water reservoir and pure wilderness… the “LIVE” (instead of “dead”) silence was absolute; the birds were serenading a chirping sound in the distant valley below that sounded like the chirp of fire alarms as the battery is dying, but much sweeter; the sun was warming the upper center of my back, and the wind blew lightly – keeping it warm and breezy – a perfect Autumn day. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself… I was all alone – I saw absolutely nobody on my entire journey to the ridge’s end… and I wanted to do everything… to nap, to eat lunch, to write, to take photos, to do yoga, and explore all of the edges… which led me to lunch, yoga, exploring and photography!
Only 1-2 km’s into my 17k return to Katoomba’s town center, I realized that I had a slow leak in my back tire… and was thankful that I had 2 bike pumps… until I realized that neither was doing the job! And if the pump wouldn’t work, my spare tube wasn’t worth anything either. I was so content with where I was and the weather I simply sat in the dirt and messed around with the tire for a bit… still no luck! And that’s when ‘my angels’ appeared… 2 local guys who were on their way out to the end – who used their pump and had me back on the trail within minutes! The ups were starting to kill my legs by the last couple hills – to my surprise. I think it was a sign that it was time to hike when my tire returned to a completely flat state 200yards shy of the paved roads that would lead back into town. I messed around with the bike a few more times, but simply resigned to the fact I would be walking… which simultaneously took care of my plan for an afternoon hike! (be careful what you wish for, right?!)
A much-loved (and needed) hot shower, a load of laundry and a cup of fine coffee later I was back in business! I made a side trip to the local co-op to refill my water bottles, picked up some veggies at the supermarket, and returned to my hostel for a night in with friends! The Blue Mountains YHA (youth hostel) is ranked #2 in the world – and it is well deserving of this status – with its beauty, cleanliness and functionality – it is more than inviting!
I feel the urge to climb into my bunk bed… and sleep with the sound of sweet rain outside! J
I walked into town in search of a coffee shop, and found myself in the Elephant Bean Café only a few minutes later – it’s a good climb up Katoomba St (the main drag,) but it’s only a few blocks long – love the mountain towns! My new friend working as a barista in the café was quick to catch onto my order, and asked me if I wanted my coffee NY, Brazil or Idaho style – at this point I’ve figured out that I can ask my Aussie baristas to pull a short, sweet shot of espresso and fill it up Americano style – vs. the Australian “long blacks” that leave you with a sour taste and way too much caffeine feelin’!
After stocking up on some extra water, fruit and a deli sandwich for lunch, I hired (yes, this is “rent” in US English) a mountain bike - shocked to be asked if I wanted a Trek or Gary Fisher…a clear sign that I’m near REAL mountain trails! – and took off back through town and onto Narrow Neck – my ride for the day. A GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS DAY – PICTURE PERFECT – few clouds in the sky, sun shining brightly, cool mountain air with a light breeze (at my back for the start… always preferable ;) )…and with a quick right off Cliff Dr, I was descending down a windy dirt road into the start of my adventure. I was referred to this ride by a new friend I met in the hostel the night before, and he forewarned me that it contained hills that were too tough to ride up… and I was thinking this wasn’t conceivable, as it’s a fireroad – but come to find out – at one of the very first climbs – he was speaking the truth! It is virtually impossible to keep the front tire of the bike on the ground – that’s how steep it is! (and one of, if not THE, steepest fireroads I’ve ever ridden.) Up & down, and up & down… through the cover of the different Eucalyptus trees… over a little sand… maneuvering through chunky little loose rock… and all 17kms to the end… an ideallic view, off the edge of a cliff – overlooking Sydney’s water reservoir and pure wilderness… the “LIVE” (instead of “dead”) silence was absolute; the birds were serenading a chirping sound in the distant valley below that sounded like the chirp of fire alarms as the battery is dying, but much sweeter; the sun was warming the upper center of my back, and the wind blew lightly – keeping it warm and breezy – a perfect Autumn day. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself… I was all alone – I saw absolutely nobody on my entire journey to the ridge’s end… and I wanted to do everything… to nap, to eat lunch, to write, to take photos, to do yoga, and explore all of the edges… which led me to lunch, yoga, exploring and photography!
Only 1-2 km’s into my 17k return to Katoomba’s town center, I realized that I had a slow leak in my back tire… and was thankful that I had 2 bike pumps… until I realized that neither was doing the job! And if the pump wouldn’t work, my spare tube wasn’t worth anything either. I was so content with where I was and the weather I simply sat in the dirt and messed around with the tire for a bit… still no luck! And that’s when ‘my angels’ appeared… 2 local guys who were on their way out to the end – who used their pump and had me back on the trail within minutes! The ups were starting to kill my legs by the last couple hills – to my surprise. I think it was a sign that it was time to hike when my tire returned to a completely flat state 200yards shy of the paved roads that would lead back into town. I messed around with the bike a few more times, but simply resigned to the fact I would be walking… which simultaneously took care of my plan for an afternoon hike! (be careful what you wish for, right?!)
A much-loved (and needed) hot shower, a load of laundry and a cup of fine coffee later I was back in business! I made a side trip to the local co-op to refill my water bottles, picked up some veggies at the supermarket, and returned to my hostel for a night in with friends! The Blue Mountains YHA (youth hostel) is ranked #2 in the world – and it is well deserving of this status – with its beauty, cleanliness and functionality – it is more than inviting!
I feel the urge to climb into my bunk bed… and sleep with the sound of sweet rain outside! J
No comments:
Post a Comment