Water From A Rock

Up about 9:15, I didn't sleep very good because some guy was snoring badly (I think he's here again tonight) and the window was rattling something awful because of the wind. Showered, had breakfast and lounged around until about 11:45, then walked up to The Edge cinema to see the "Maxvision" (not IMAX) movie about the Blue Mountains.

In 1994, a small group of less than 30 "dinosaur" trees were discovered near Blue Mountain National Park (in an adjoining park). They are called Wollemi Pine, and they were around during the time of dinosaurs, when they became extinct. All we had were fossils. Well, a small grove of these trees was found, in 1994, deep in the bush. Naturally, it was an amazing discovery. They're not like any other trees in the forest, they are pines, but they have fronds, like a fern, and they're bark is alive. Of course, scientists took some seeds and are now growing them in lab/controlled conditions as well, but the small grove of natural trees continues to survive. In the movie, they captured the tree releasing its spores into the air, trying to reproduce. The narrative remarked that this was probably the first time mankind has EVER seen these trees release their spores. The trees location is a secret, and the film crew were blindfolded for the helicopter trip to the location. Very fascinating.

After the 40 minute movie, walked back to the hostel, had lunch, then caught the 1:30 Explorer bus to ScenicWorld, and spent the rest of the day there. Used my free passes to go on the Skyway, a short gondola ride above a deep gorge, then took the Scenic Railway down 415 metres to the valley floor. When the train ride starts, they play the Indiana Jones theme music, which is quite fitting, actually. It's a STEEP ride down, 52 degree gradient at it's steepest. Average of 44 degrees.

Walked around the boardwalk tour, then hiked to a landslide spot and finally caught the Sceniscender gondola back up about 4:00, and instead of waiting 45 minutes for the next bus, walked along the Prince Henry Cliff walkway back to Echo Point, where I just missed the bus by about five minutes, so walked back to the hostel. Went to the supermarket for rice and milk, then back to the hostel. The kitchen was way to busy, so I put off supper, wrote in journal, whatever.

After the kitchen calmed down, made supper, then watched TV for a few hours, then to bed.

The wind finally calmed down somewhat today.

Other notes:
- My toenail, that I had busted up in Thailand, still isn't fully regrown. It's about half way to being a regular toenail, but still has a while to go, methinks.
- In town here, they have the most bizarre museum. I haven't been in it (it doesn't interest me), for it is a Purse Museum!!
- During my hike on the boardwalk today, I saw (and filmed) water literally coming from a rock. Clean spring water was coming right out of this rock!!! For all the naysayers who say you can't get water from a rock, I say, YA RIGHT!
- The brown bird I saw yesterday, I know now is called a lyre bird. It mimics the calls of other birds, and almost anything else it hears. Apparently it has been heard mimicing dogs, cats, farm telephones and even a chainsaw!