Saturday 12th - Monday 14th August 2017 - Blackheath & Blackheath Growers Market

After the Smooth Chocolate Festival, on Saturday afternoon I took the train from Central Station to Katoomba (yes again) to escape the dreaded annual City to Surf on Sunday. I overnighted it as usual at the Blue Mountains YHA this time in an 8 share female dorm. What a mistake - usually relatively quiet this time round there was a party on Saturday night and therefore was extremely noisy and someone in the room (which was almost full) snored all night. On Sunday afternoon upon my return from Blackheath, the person in the bunk below me decided to hang a sheet right around the bed for privacy leaving me no way of climbing into the top bunk. I told reception and he said to just pull it off an8d let him know if they do it again. If they want privacy they should book a private room. Not just one person did this sheet thing , both lower bunks side by side did it.

Enough of my complaining it is time to tell you about my day in Blackheath and the Blackheath Growers Markets.

The train to Blackheath Station only goes every hour. I missed the train before 8 am along with someone else however there is a single bus on Sundays that leaves outside the Carrington Hotel bus stop at a little past 8 am that gets you to Blackheath although not directly in front of Blackheath Station which takes about half an hour.

So at the bus stop outside Carrington Hotel is myself and 2 other older men waiting for the Blackheath bus. At this time of the morning groups of Asian tourist start to arrive - they know the cheap skate way to see the Blue Mountains - don't buy a $30 + day ticket on Big Rd Bus or Trolley bus - travel on your Opal card on a Sunday when trips are capped at $2.50 for the day.

So the first tourist arrives and the bus to go to Echo Point & Scenic World does not arrive until 8.55 am so we recommend that he walk as it is a great walk and I said there is a garden on the way to look at too so he takes our advice after asking about the Big Red Bus. Then a second larger group of Asian tourist arrive and look at the bus timetable and also realise that the bus does not leave until 8.55 am however they stay and wait.

The bus to Blackheath arrives and it stops as far as it can from the bus stop and the first older man gets on then I run after him to get on the bus.I tap on with my Opal card but the bus driver stops me and ask if I knew where I was going - of course I did and replied with confidence "Blackheath" adding "to the markets".  The other older man then gets on the bus after me.

I said to the first older man "I think the bus driver thought I was a tourist because I'm Asian" and the second older man says "I think he did - I'm the tourist he should have asked me!"

Not all Asians are tourists!

Arrived at Blackheath and found the markets. I had a few things I wanted to get but felt like something to eat and naught naughty had a bacon and egg roll for breakfast with bbq sauce. It was the yummiest roll I have ever had.

I then went and purchased some vegetables and fruit. These stalls were all located outside in the garden area and I though this was a rather small market and that is why it closes at noon rather then 1 pm.

There were 2 fruit and vegetable stalks at either end of the markets and the one at the far end was smaller and organic. This stsll sold out of produce completely whereas the other stall still had quite a bit of produce left.  I purchased from both.

One stall I really loved was called Nina's Bees.  Besides selling wax wraps she also dold soaps and creams all containing local beeswax. I  purchased an eye balm for $12. It smelt wonderful and the texture on my skin was so nice. I read the ingredients on the back and it was all natural.

I think  by this time I had walked around the outside stalls 4 times and thought it was a little disappointed as it stated there were around 90 stalls online then I realised there were not just one room inside the community centre but an entire hall full of stalls aa well. This was more like it!!!!!!!

Everything you wanted was inside the community centre not outside in the garden - fresh cheese, a large selection of bread loaves, cakes, biscuits, seafood, milk, meat, honey,  savoury baked goods , sweet pastries, pasta, even alcohol!

Loaded with my goodies I made a quick toliet stop  after being told off by an organiser about taking photos of food - I had to explain that I wasn't taking photos of people just food and thst they were for my blog and was told to advise stall holders that that was what I was doing.

The shops - no supermarkets here!

The walks and gardens.

I wanted to stay longer and take a look around Blackheath but I thought my load of goodies would hinder me so I travelled back on the next train to Katoomba - did a little more shopping and walked back to tge YHA where I dumped my stuff in the kitchrn before getting on the train again to return to Blackheath and explore the parks and gardens - I think I got as far as the memorial gardens and Blackheath pool where I spent some time watching 4 ducks eating away at the large patch of green - nature's lawn mowers - the 4 ducks ate their way along a  strip - sitting from time to time to rest their full bellies but there was poop everywhere - no wonder the grass was so well maintained!!!

Took the next train back to Katoomba and made a chicken and vegetable soup with all the fresh vegetables I had purchased at the markets.

So tired! Great day out though. The sun was out and daffodils were starting to bloom everywhere.

Photos attached

The quaintness upon arrival at Blackheath Station. 

On my journey back to Sydney from Katoomba I boarded the 9.14 am train which was already waiting at the station for passengers.

Arrived back at Central Station about 2 hours later - a passenger on the train asks if it looked a little hazy outside and I was thinking the same then her travelling partner mentioned it was from the backburning which is quite likely before the Summer  months commence. As soon aa I alight the train at Central Station there was some event on where therr was a sea of prams parked on the concourse - it turned out to be rail safety week - that wasn't haze from backburning it was Thomas The Tank Engine letting off steam!!!

After a quick toilet stop I was asked to participate in a short rail safety quizz/survey. In return I was given a voucher to go online via social media and scan or upload a photo for a chance to win an ipad.

Normal trains departing Central Station, then there were the old steam trains on the next platforms and then there was Thomas The Tank Engine! "All aboard!" said the Fat Controller - well not quite he was nowhere to be seen but I believe the Minister for Transport was present at a media conference standing next to where Thomas The Tank Engine was!