Day 4 – 26th july 2013

Crisis averted! Last night we suddenly noticed that the laptop wasn't recharging itself and with only 30 mins power left and the prospect of 3 days tucked away in the Blue Mountains- believe me that was a crisis. Anyway an early morning trek into Sydney resulted in a new charger unit- seems to be a thread running through our foreign expeditions. Think this calls for some serious research when we get home in anticipation of future travels.

Anyway- at least it gave John something to focus on this morning, instead of trying to chase me out before dawn. We had a lovely ride out from Sydney to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains this morning- best value we have had all week- 2 hour train journey for 8.20AUD (about £5 based on the current conversion).

Katoomba is out to the west of Sydney - a quaint little place reminiscent of an old frontier town. Full of vintage and outdoors shops, as well as a variety of eating places. They put knitting around the tree trunks here (and the metal posts) - it's that sort of place.

We are staying at the Katoomba Backpacker , which thankfully is close to the station so we don't have to lug the rucksacks up the steep main street. The hostel is huge but seems pretty quiet so i have the log fire all to myself whilst i write this. It's over 43 years since i stayed in a hostel so should be fun.

We had a walk down to Echo point earlier to view the three sisters rock formation (They are the three pointy rocks on the pics.) Tomorrow we are due to walk all the way down to echo point again to pick up one of the trails through the rainforest. I'm already anticipating a snooze by the fire here tomorrow night- i'm gonna be worn out.