Bathurst

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Hi have decided for this post I am just going to use my diary as there are bits and pieces in each day and they won't make sense unless I put everything in, so hope I don't bore you too much

Wednesday 6/11/2013

Moved to Bathurst today, was another hilly drive. Couldn't camp at the showgrounds as it was full so we are at the Big 4 Panorama Van Park.

Thursday 7/11/2013

Up early this morning to have the truck at Mazda for its 1000km service.

 

Wandered around the streets, found a Doctor and Pathology for Fred's needle so appointments are all made, found a Bowls Club and booked in a game and then a nice coffee til it was time to pick the truck up. We got excellent service from Mazda, hope they are all like that.

Next stop was the Tourist Information Centre for info and maps. Then we went to drive around the Mt Panorama Circuit

but they are doing an upgrade on the road so were only able to drive ½ way up and then turn around and come back down but we were still able to get a feel for what it would be like driving around the esses and down the straight. 

Fred of course had to stop and chat with the workmen manning the road barriers which gave me a good chuckle, the stop -go bloke was a big giant of a man and Fred looked like a pygmy beside him. He was very nice and let us walk past the Barrier up to the Lookout to check out the view.

From there it was home to the van to read what we had gotten from the Info Centre and plan the rest of the week.

Friday 8/11/2013

Went into town for Fred to have his blood test but they wouldn't do it as he had fasted for too long.

While I was waiting for Fred to come from Pathology I saw a mother duck and her 8 baby ducklings crossing a busy street using the pedestrian crossing I was quite panicked and heading over to do something to rescue them but a couple who were closer than me stopped the traffic and herded them to safety.

When Fred joined me we went for a coffee and then went for a look through the Mineral and Fossil Museum, and much to my surprise I found it as interesting as Fred.

Then went and had a picnic lunch in the park Fred then went for a game of bowls and I went home and caught up on some chores and had a nice relax.

Didn't take a single photo today.

Saturday 9/11/2013

Fred went back into town and had his blood test, then we went across to Lithgow for a look around, drove out to Hassan's Wall Lookout, there were fantastic views out over the Hartley Valley and of course the rock formations were stunning

Next stop was Blast Furnace Park which are the remains of what was the first blast furnace built in Australia in the 1870's. 

There are story boards dotted around the various sections of ruins explaining what the ruins represent and a little of the history of the factories in the area.

Lunch was next which was a picnic in Queen Elizabeth Park.

We were going to the Glow Worm Tunnel but it was closed so decided to do the scenic drive down the Wolgan Valley instead and what a good choice it was. The drive in through the Gap is breathtaking, on one side there is a towering cliff face and the other side is straight down into a gully, I took photos but they just don't give a perspective of how stunning it is, 

once through the Gap the drive winds along beside a creek in a really pretty valley to Newnes which was once a town and now only has a old pub no longer licensed

and a national park camping area and from there you have to turn around and drive back out again and that was the end of a lovely day.