Its a long way somewhere: The Blue Mountains

We have now been in Aus about five weeks and what we are both enjoying the most is the scenery.

The country is not that old so there are no great churches to visit or temples to see and we are loving it. The riding is great and the roads are safe so we are just enjoying being on the bike and riding through this wonderful country.

Just one more place to see

The wildlife is fantastic and we have never seen so many colourful birds and strange looking things that hop and jump.

Its hard to tell in these pics but these mountains have a blue hue to them, the distinctive blue haze which has earned the Blue Mountains their name is quite different and of a deeper hue than that found in any other part of the world. Although constantly varying in intensity, this attractive haze is always present. Known as Rayleigh Scattering, after Lord Rayleigh, who first investigated the phenomenon, it is caused by scattered rays of light coming in contact with fine dust particles and droplets of oil dispersed from the eucalyptus trees in the valleys of which there are many and the smell is wonderful.

The changing light as the fog passes by

This view was not there when we drove up but within minutes the fog cleared and the sun shone.

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains

At an average of 1000 meters above sea level, the air is fresh and clean and the nights crisp and cool. They are part of the Great dividing Range which can basically be described as a huge dissected sandstone plateau. Over 400 million years ago this range was part of an enormous geological area beneath the sea called the Sydney Basin.

Chenty gets up close with one
of the locals

And me? well no comment here!!

The birds here are so different to what we would see at home

The Blue Mountains has become one of the most consistently popular holiday regions of Australia, numerous visitors return year after year to enjoy the wide range of sporting facilities and outdoor activities in this healthy, invigorating climate.