Blue Mountains Journal

After a hard day's bush walking, shopping and eating there is time for one last glance at the view. That's it for people shots for a while. I've learnt a lot from this first foray and will try some more in the future. In the meanwhile its back to the beach over at Sweet Wayfaring today. Echo Point, Katoomba

As the day begins to slow to a close the waitresses take a well-earned tea break at the Megalong Valley Tea Rooms . Megalong Valley

A little further up the mountain buskers entertain the tourists and weekend shoppers. Katoomba St, Katoomba.

Or perhaps a cup of tea and sandwich in the park with a friend is more your style. Leura Cascades

Leura is also the perfect spot for a lazy start to the day with a wonderful selection of cafes like the Leura Gourmet. Leura

Stairway to Kevin is a well known music store upstairs in Leura Mall. I believe its specialty is folk and world music so perhaps not to the taste of this couple. Leura

If the up-market clothing and giftware is beyond your means, don't worry you are sure to find something affordable to delight you at the Leura Lolly Shop . Leura

If bush walking isn't your thing then shopping is a good alternative. Leura

I am starting a new series, showing you some of people who visit and live in the mountains ... and taking my first faltering steps with street photography. Most visitors to the mountains begin at a map, choosing a walking track to follow. Wentworth Falls

The sunny day had given way to misty rain so it was time to go back home. Heading back to the car I noticed this hardenbergia vine twining across the path, spring is about to explode in the forest. But first, we're going on a Sweet Wayfaring adventure by the sea ... see you over there.

At last we found a road with an interesting end. Here we are on the edge of the escarpment looking to the Nepean River. The eastern edge of the mountains.

We're in the lower mountains where the temperature is warmer. It's interesting to compare the type of forest here to say here or here which are upper mountains tracks. We followed the track a long way but the quality began to deteriorate and not knowing if the destination was worth it, we decided to back off.

One reason the gates are locked is to keep people away from the drinking water catchments. One track looked more promising, the map said there was a lookout at the end, 8 kms away. We bumped along the track for a couple of kilometres only to find another locked gate, and a sign saying the lookout was 6.2kms on foot. Forget that, it would wear out my boots!

I've was looking at the map and decided there were quite a few mountain roads I had not gone along so off we went to explore. Q. What's at the end of the roads? A. Locked gates