Welcome to WILKIES WIGWAM and the WILKINSON'S TRAVELS.

A New Years resolution was made with the help of some special friends we met in Camden. By the end of this the Campbell's may not be too special anymore!!!!!!

All of you who know me know that doing a daily write up may be quite a challenge. Oh well here goes.

NEW YEAR'S DAY

 The day was extremely hot so decided to visit the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens in Narrellan, not a great decision in hindsight. We donned our helmets and lightweight gear and off on the motorbike. a great ride and we were able to ride around the gardens on the bike. Thank goodness as too hot to walk. We had lunch at the tearooms and then I wandered up to an interesting garden layout, Mike stayed in the cool of the tearooms.

This is an Algorithmic clock using the sun with days and months on a stone slab in front of where I am standing. The only problem is it is not attuned to Daylight saving.

JANUARY 2

The day was great and the bike was calling so off we went on another ride this time to find so ocean.

We headed south to Mittagong, Bowral and across to Robertson and then through the Macquarie Pass to Shellharbour. The ride through the pass was unbelievable, some corners were so sharp there was a sign warning that  trucks may have to do a three point turn to get around. From Shellharbour we travelled up to Wollongong and onto Appin through the Bulli Pass (not nearly as much fun) and then home.

JANUARY 5

Today a little overcast so off to the Blue Mountains via Bells Line of Road. Several people had suggested that it was a great ride on the bike and they were not wrong. It was a magic day and the mountain views were unbelievable. Our first stop was at a lookout, Kurrajong Heights. The view was amazing but unfortunately the mountain mist made it hard to see too far into the distance.

Kurrajong Heights

From Kurrajong we wound our way around the mountains, going up and up, zig zaging at the same time. This is certainly a great road for the motorbike. Near the top of the mountains it started to rain and hail, oh yuk we ended up with very wet jeans for the rest of the day.

This is the type of view we had going up and down the mountains. It was so enjoyable I had forgotten how much we have missed the mountains.

Travelling along the ridges these sights just took our breath away.

We turned off at Bell and headed for Mount Victoria where we discovered a model shop with Trains and antique toys of all descriptions. the shop may have been small but it certainly had lots in it. After walking around, wet jeans and all we headed then to Katoomba. had lunch in Katoomba, jeans still wet but at least by the time we arrived home everything was dry and after 300k we were tired but had a wonderful day.

January 6

Had a quiet day today. Went into Camden and managed to get a hair  cut so feel a new woman now.Camden is a lovely town with lots of boutiques and coffee places.

January 7

Today we tried out the trains into Sydney. We caught the bus outside the caravan park in Camden and brought an all day pension ticket for $2.50 each and this allows you to travel on bus, train and ferry all day for the one price. We caught the train in Campbelltown and then travelled into Sydney (approx 1hr). So much easier than trying to find correct roads, Parking etc in Sydney. Train dropped us at Town Hall and we investigated the Chinese Garden (magnificent), onto Darling Harbour, strolled around the shops and went to the Australian Maritime Museum. From there we caught the mono-rail and did a short circuit above the city and left the mono-rail at The Galleries-Victoria and strolled around the 3 floors of shops. We crossed the road and went into the Victoria building where one window shops too expensive to buy although there were sales everywhere. The old architecture was magnificent and the stain glass windows were amazing. Back to Town Hall where we caught the train to Campbelltown and then the bus to Camden. On arrival home we were so proud of ourselves that we had managed to negotiate the transport system.

Views of the Chinese Garden. So tranquil in the centre of a noisy city.

January 8

Too exhausted to go any where but by afternoon we hopped on the bike and headed into MacArthur Square, a very large shopping complex on the outskirts of Campbell Town. Had a lovely afternoon wandering around the shops.