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It was a cool oasis. The rocks rose above me on three sides, the cool mountain water cascading over the edge above. The grotto was shaded from the sun, and the temperature was several degrees lower. I sat there feeling the oneness with nature, entering a trance, my brain pulsing with the beats of the cicadas’ song. Alone in the Blue Mountains.

Waterfall at Burralow Creek

Today was a loop on tracks, avoiding the main Bell Line of Road as much as possible. Once I left the main road, I plunged into the bush, bumping down into the steep valley, to the drone of the cicadas. The Burralow Creek camping ground was almost empty, just one car, which belonged to some Indians I met on the way to the waterfall.
‘Go to the waterfall at night,’ they told me. ‘There are glow worms.’
That’ll have to be next time.

Waterfall at Burralow Creek

Waterfall at Burralow Creek

Waterfall at Burralow Creek

On the way back up out of the valley I scared a couple of horses pulling carts. Not what I expected to see off the beaten track in the Blue Mountains.

The Mountain Lagoon road was another road that wasn’t the main one, and so I took it. The lagoon is not that special, but the road was pleasant enough.

Mountain Lagoon

The side track to the Colo River lookout was a bit up and down and sandy in parts, but afforded a beautiful view out over the Colo River.

Colo River

The road remained dirt until quite late in the piece, which meant it was tranquil until I hit the Bell Line of Road again just before the end. I even had a little adventure fording a stream.

Fording the stream

AND, my trusted ‘Drahtesel’ bicycle is not 60,000km old. Quite an old bike now, although not much is left of the bike that I left Eindhoven on. The pedals are the same, and the pannier carriers are the same. Not a lot else.

60,000km for Drahtesel, the bike

Waterfall, mountain lagoon and river crossing, all completed by sunset. A beautiful ride in the mountains Sydney calls its own.