The races are over; we survived!

The World Masters Games rowing was ended on Wednesday here. On the last two days, the west wind came up in the mornings and created dangerous conditions on the water, so racing was suspended. Sue's womens E8+ just made it through their race Tuesday, then the water got nasty. Harold missed both of his races, including the double with Tom Swan, because races could not continue. Several dozen boats had to be temporarily abandoned on the far side of the practice lake because the rowers couldn't bring them back against the wind.

On Wednesday morning, it was OK for a bit. Harold and Tom and Lori Swan and Lori Landstrom raced their quad in the last race that was held, because the wind got serious while we were on the course. It was a survival race, and we came through OK. No medals, but definitely some pride.

After about an hour they announced that racing would not be started again; the Games were over for us. It was really something just to be involved.




Dan and Erin got bronze in the mixed quad!









Liquor cabinet made from an old rowing shell.



We traded shirts and hats for a bit, then walked away. We spent the afternoon on a trip up through the Blue Mountains to Katoomba, an old coal mining area on the rim of some great sandstone cliffs. We rode a cable train down over the rim, explored the rain forest on a boardwalk, then came back up on a cable tram.

We all had dinner at a great steak house with a Little Big Horn western theme. Fantastic menu.

The next morning it was time to go get our camper van, and begin our trip to the beaches, but that's for next time.

Terri with a great blossum!

On the jungle boardwalk, we saw lots of great plants and a superb lyrebird.  That's it's name, but I guess it was pretty fine, as well.

This is a sulfa-crested cockatoo.  He was big and beautiful.

The tram ride back up.

TheThree Sisters, at Katoomba.

A cliff-side walkway down to a lookout?  I gotta go!!


(Actually written several days ago, obviously. We are having some trouble finding decent connections. Oh well, the beaches are lovely.)