Thursday, November 22 - Thanksgiving in Blackheath

Waratah Telopea speciosissima

Drumstick, Isopogon anemonifolius

Flannel Flower Actinotus helianthi






 

 We awoke to rain dripping on the roof of our cabin. I lit the fire in the little wood stove which warmed up our cabin and then rustled up some fried eggs & bacon and Hil made toast. We set off about nine, driving up the road through the town of Mt. Victoria, north and east to a turnoff to a picnic area and trail called Pierce’s Pass. We hiked down a steep dirt road about a mile. The area consisted of burned over and regenerating eucalyptus and low shrubs with exotic flowers and a great array of wildflowers. Rocky sandstone outcroppings emerged and we looked for the Rockwarbler, one of Bob’s desired birds, We saw lots of New Holland Honeyeaters and Pied Currawongs, but no Rockwarblers. The sandstone cliffs were covered with bright orange lichen which contrasted well with the grey-green foliage.


 

 

 

Banksia pod

The fog lifted and we could see across the valley to more outcroppings and high cliffs in the distance and we were hopeful that the day would clear. We drove to Mt. Tomah Botanic Garden, a branch of Sydney’s Garden, and walked around as the fog swirled back in. They had a good shop and restaurant so we spent time there, shopping and lunching on pumpkin soup and flat white coffee.

We returned to our lodge and Hilary and I did a couple of loads of laundry in the laundry room next to the “Barbie” - best deal in Australia: $2 for wash, dry, and soap!

At seven we set out for Ashcroft’s, a terrific restaurant run by two women that Bob and I had eaten at seven years ago- same restaurant, same women!

Mountain Devil    Lambertia formosa

Bob and Hil had macadamia & grapefruit salads and I had a smoked eel wrapped in filo pastry which was a little bizarre, but good. Then Bob and I had twice-cooked duck and Hil had coconut-crusted barramundi, all of which were delicious. For dessert we had the same dessert we had had years ago: vanilla caramel custard enveloped in a huge spun sugar cloud! Great!



Spun sugar cloud!!

We drove home in scary pea soup fog and rain, and went right to bed!