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canyonwalkerAustralia Travelog #42
Blackheath, NSW - Sat, 30 Dec 2023, 7:30pm
When we finished up our (second) hike at Katoomba Falls this afternoon it was only 5:30pm. "Only" 5:30... and we'd already been out all day! But I have a saying, "As long there is light, as long there is water, as long I have energy, I walk." Though that may have been eclipsed this week by There is no back, only forward. 😂 Either way, I still had a bit of spring in my step. It was too early to call it a day.
Alas as we got about 1/4 mile out the sky rapidly darkened and scattered drops of rain began to fall. Would we want to continue into worsening weather? As we were discussing that question at another overlook we queried a pair of hikers who were returning from farther out. One of the trails is closed, they warned us, and to get a good view of anything you have to walk about 4 miles roundtrip. That made our decision for us: we returned to the trailhead and the car.
Victoria Falls
I was still not ready to call it a day, though. There was one more hike I'd spotted on our maps out in this direction, Victoria Falls. And there was a 4x4 road leading straight to it.
The road out to Victoria Falls felt very remote. ...Not because it was a rough road; it was actually pretty mild as far as 4x4 roads go. It was compacted dirt and well graded. Though as we'd purchased all the optional insurances on our rental car I thought about hooning it through just to see what would happen. I chose against hoonery because it was so deserted out here. If we wrecked we might have to wait hours for help, regardless of insurance.
When we got to the trailhead we found that the map calling it "Victoria Falls Lookout" was a cruel joke. A sign at the "lookout" at the end of the road explained that there was no vista there... and that even to glimpse Victoria Falls would require a strenuous hike of a few hours. We noped out of that and drove back across the 4x4 bunny trail to the Great Western Highway.
Hawk's not a fan of fish at all, but this big sign of theirs that promised burgers and chicken meant that both of us were sure to find something we like.
It turns out "BBQ Chicken" actually meant fried chicken nuggets with barbecue sauce... but that was perfect because that's actually one of Hawk's favorite fast-food meals. I was ready to order a burger but then spotted "Chicken parma" near the end of the menu. I asked what kind of sandwich that was, figuring it was almost certainly a chicken parmigiana sandwich... and it was. But with mayonnaise. Ugh. Who puts mayo on a parm sandwich?!
I ordered my sandwich hold-the-mayo, and the cashier was incredulous. "You really want it with no mayonnaise?" he asked, as if he'd never met a person who thinks mayonnaise is disgusting and is a cultural affront on an Italian-style sandwich. "Correct," I told him. "Do you still want the tomato sauce, then?" he asked, still incredulous. Fuck him and his culturally ignorant, mayonnaise eating ways. At least the kitchen staff prepared it correctly. I mean, not ruining it by slathering mayo on it is easy. The chicken tasted freshly fried, so overall the sandwich was great.
Now it's time to head back to the hotel for the evening.
Blackheath, NSW - Sat, 30 Dec 2023, 7:30pm
When we finished up our (second) hike at Katoomba Falls this afternoon it was only 5:30pm. "Only" 5:30... and we'd already been out all day! But I have a saying, "As long there is light, as long there is water, as long I have energy, I walk." Though that may have been eclipsed this week by There is no back, only forward. 😂 Either way, I still had a bit of spring in my step. It was too early to call it a day.
Govett's Leap, Again
We drove west to the town of Blackheath and then out to Govett's Leap. Yes, this is the second time we've been there; we visited Govett's leap yesterday, too! But yesterday my ankle was really achy and today it is... only mostly achy. We were ready to try a hike a mile or so around the rim to see another waterfalls!Alas as we got about 1/4 mile out the sky rapidly darkened and scattered drops of rain began to fall. Would we want to continue into worsening weather? As we were discussing that question at another overlook we queried a pair of hikers who were returning from farther out. One of the trails is closed, they warned us, and to get a good view of anything you have to walk about 4 miles roundtrip. That made our decision for us: we returned to the trailhead and the car.
Victoria Falls Goose Bin Chicken Chase
I was still not ready to call it a day, though. There was one more hike I'd spotted on our maps out in this direction, Victoria Falls. And there was a 4x4 road leading straight to it.The road out to Victoria Falls felt very remote. ...Not because it was a rough road; it was actually pretty mild as far as 4x4 roads go. It was compacted dirt and well graded. Though as we'd purchased all the optional insurances on our rental car I thought about hooning it through just to see what would happen. I chose against hoonery because it was so deserted out here. If we wrecked we might have to wait hours for help, regardless of insurance.
When we got to the trailhead we found that the map calling it "Victoria Falls Lookout" was a cruel joke. A sign at the "lookout" at the end of the road explained that there was no vista there... and that even to glimpse Victoria Falls would require a strenuous hike of a few hours. We noped out of that and drove back across the 4x4 bunny trail to the Great Western Highway.
Dinner at the "OK, Boomer" Chippy
It was nearing 7pm as we got back to civilization, aka a paved road with painted lane markings on it. It was time for dinner. Back in Blackheath, a few miles back toward our hotel, we'd spotted a few restaurants that looked worth trying... including a fast-casual fish-and-chips shop right alongside the main road.Hawk's not a fan of fish at all, but this big sign of theirs that promised burgers and chicken meant that both of us were sure to find something we like.
It turns out "BBQ Chicken" actually meant fried chicken nuggets with barbecue sauce... but that was perfect because that's actually one of Hawk's favorite fast-food meals. I was ready to order a burger but then spotted "Chicken parma" near the end of the menu. I asked what kind of sandwich that was, figuring it was almost certainly a chicken parmigiana sandwich... and it was. But with mayonnaise. Ugh. Who puts mayo on a parm sandwich?!
I ordered my sandwich hold-the-mayo, and the cashier was incredulous. "You really want it with no mayonnaise?" he asked, as if he'd never met a person who thinks mayonnaise is disgusting and is a cultural affront on an Italian-style sandwich. "Correct," I told him. "Do you still want the tomato sauce, then?" he asked, still incredulous. Fuck him and his culturally ignorant, mayonnaise eating ways. At least the kitchen staff prepared it correctly. I mean, not ruining it by slathering mayo on it is easy. The chicken tasted freshly fried, so overall the sandwich was great.
Now it's time to head back to the hotel for the evening.
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