Blue Mountains Texture: Tuesdays of Texture

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
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© irene waters 2018

The Blue Mountains were named because in the heat of summer the eucalpyt trees release their oil shrouding the mountains in a blue haze. It is winter at the moment and instead of heat the houses have their fires roaring and those like me from the north shiver as we take in the beauty of the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the distance.

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© irene waters 2018

The three sisters are named Meehni, Wimiah and Gunnedoo. Legend has it that the three sisters fell in love with three men from a neighbouring tribe but they were not allowed to marry. The men decided to capture the sisters and a battle ensured. One of the elders turned the girls to stone in order to protect them but he was then killed. As the dead elder was the only one who could turn the girls back they have remained in stone ever since. It is uncertain as to whether this is Aboriginal legend or one made as a good story for the kids by a white settler.

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© irene waters 2018

In reality the cliffs of the Jameison Valley were created over time by wind, rain and river erosion. The resultant cliffs made it very difficult for the early settlers to reach the other side. The first explorers to find a way across the mountains diarised thoughts and a flash fiction story are found here.

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© irene waters 2018

Here you can see the location of the bridge that I posted for Silent Sunday.

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© irene waters 2018

A wonderful view of Mount Solitary and the three sisters from Echo Point.

About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist

I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
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20 Responses to Blue Mountains Texture: Tuesdays of Texture

  1. Sharon Bonin-Pratt says:
    July 3, 2018 at 6:13 am

    Still find these interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. ksbeth says:
    July 3, 2018 at 6:20 am

    Wow, I never knew this

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  3. Tish Farrell says:
    July 3, 2018 at 6:41 am

    What a breath-taking landscape, Irene, and even more amazing about the eucalypts making a blue haze.

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  4. Dawn M. Miller says:
    July 3, 2018 at 8:01 am

    I’ve never heard of this.
    Very cool!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Charli Mills says:
    July 4, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    What a sight (and smell?) to experience when the eucalyptus oil hangs blue in the air. I’m fascinated to learn more about this place. Great detail about the dogs — it sets the era, frame of mind, and determination.

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  6. sheetalbravon says:
    July 5, 2018 at 12:25 am

    I loved the story and it ended making this post even more special . New Zealand is turning out to be a fascinating country.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
      July 8, 2018 at 1:17 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed the story and it added to the post. The Blue Mountains are in Australia rather than New Zealand and both countries are fascinating although Australia is so big it is difficult to get around where New Zealand it’s a piece of cake (or should I say pancake).

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      • sheetalbravon says:
        July 8, 2018 at 8:40 pm

        Ah! I seemed to have got my Geography mixed Irene , so thank you for that . Here I was reading of your pancake seaside rock erosion in New Zealand and the very next post I happened to zoom in was this beautiful tale and I got the country wrong . Well, I’m glad I’m hooked to your posts , there is always something new or forgotten I’m taking away with me. Cheer!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
        July 12, 2018 at 6:26 pm

        No problem. I just didn’t want you to at some point in the future go to New Zealand and be disappointed when you couldn’t find the Blue Mtns. My trip to NZ was a couple of years ago now but the photo suited the prompt . I have just had a trip to the Mountains. Glad you enjoyed them anyway.

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      • sheetalbravon says:
        July 12, 2018 at 11:11 pm

        Hahaha! That would’ve been a disappointment on an epic scale. Seriously though, when I first read of the Blue mountains, I was reminded of John Denver’s song ‘Country roads’ where he sings of Blue ridge mountains and Shenandoah River. So many places to go and so much to see. You are indeed very fortunate Irene😊

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      • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
        July 14, 2018 at 5:51 pm

        So true – so many places, so much to see, too little time.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. robbiecheadle says:
    July 5, 2018 at 2:45 pm

    A lovely story and amazing pictures, Irene.

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