Friday 20th March
The journey back from Port Stephens was thankfully uneventful, but it was agreed that we would stop off at the Sydney Fish Market on the way home to see the different types of seafood available and enjoy a seafood platter for a light lunch. The first bit was right, in that we saw an amazing assortment of fresh fish, shell fish and the biggest crabs and lobsters you have ever seen in your life.
We opted for a seafood platter for three as John and Bev thought that we may struggle with a platter for four. What came up was far from a light lunch, it was more like a banquet for a large family. The plate would not have fitted on most standard dining room tables and it was piled with battered fish, two types of oysters, jumbo prawns, battered calamari rings and barbecued baby octopus, topped off with a pile of chips. A platter for two would have sufficed, so needless to say, there was a little left over. Our idea of eating out tonight had just gone out the window.
We enjoyed a quite night in with a few beers and some reminiscing. The weather outside was changing and a fresh southerly wind plummeted the temperatures down to a chilling 20 degrees or so. By the time we retired to bed the wind was blowing a gale and the rain had started.
Saturday 21st March
We were up and about reasonably early and straight after breakfast we were ferried to the local train station and we made our way into central Sydney on the train. Our first stop was Paddy’s Market. It’s one of those places, much like Victoria Market in Melbourne, where you can buy just about anything. From there we made our way to Darling Harbour and had our first refreshment break of the day, before heading into the Maritime Museum. Some of the exhibits are ships moored in the harbour and you can take guided tours. After our great experience last year with an ex military guide at the war memorial in Canberra, we thought that it would be a great idea to do the same here. Unfortunately, not all the guides are as good as the one in Canberra and out of 26 people starting the tour only about 6 finished it! However, it was marginally better than fumbling around on your own. From the Destroyer we went onto a submarine anchored next to it. It was a bit of a tight fit getting through the hatch, so we’re pleased we did it at the start of the cruise and not the end. There were three guides inside all of which seemed knowledgeable and imported it in a concise manner. The humorous bit here is that the guy who was explaining all about the nerve centre control room and all the complex system of plumbing and valves admitted that he had been a train driver and never been in the navy!
Having been round the external exhibits, we went inside and did a circuit of the static stuff, most of which was interesting and informative.
From the maritime museum and keeping a nautical theme to the day, we went across the harbour to the Aquarium. This was fairly crowded and a few screaming kids took the edge off what was a half reasonable establishment. It has a couple of fairly large outside tanks which are covered to protect their contents, but each has a perspex tube running through it in a ‘U’ shape, so you can effectively get in amongst the fish and sharks etc. Like most aquariums, it has it’s fair share of brightly coloured fish, but in this case it also has the essential venomous creatures found in these waters.
We were just in time to see the ‘little blue penguins’ being fed, which for previous blog followers, will know exactly where they come from. The great thing about this aquarium is that they did not hurry you through the exhibits, nor through the perspex tunnels, unlike some places we have been to. Perhaps it’s different in school holidays. All in all a fairly entertaining hour or so.
From the aquarium it was time to head back on the train to Engadine, where John picked us up from the station. It was curry night and we dined in an excellent curry house a few miles away in Jannali. Back home for a nightcap and into bed after a tiring day exploring.
Sunday 22nd March
We were up and had breakfast ready for our exploits in Sydney today, which included climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The weather had calmed down a bit and the rain that had persisted much of the night had also stopped. Yet again we were chauffeured to the station as we made our way to Circular Quay and headed off to the Rocks area and the Sunday street markets. We made some interesting purchases and have kept the local economy flourishing for a period of time. Amongst them is a racing kangaroo, which I’m sure will feature at future dinner parties.
Time for some food, so we opted to eat at a typical Sydney pub that we visited last year and headed straight for the roof garden, which offers views over the harbour & the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship that was occupying the same birth as our ship will on Wednesday. No alcohol with lunch as you have to pass a breathalyser test before being allowed on the bridge.
Just a short walk from the pub and we were entering the Bridge Walk entrance. We had booked earlier in the week, so there were no problems, in fact we were able to go on the next available walk, so just a few minutes wait and we were entering the door to start the walk.
First stop, to sign the disclaimer and be breathalysed, then it was off to be sized up for your elegant, tailor made jump suit. Our problem was that the tailor who made our suits should have gone to specsavers. Loose fitting may be better in that it’s cooler, but when you’re in danger of falling over the crotch, I reckon health and safety rears it’s ugly head. Once suited it was time to go through the metal detector, just to make sure you’re not trying to smuggle a camera in your smalls. Now to get kitted out - first stop accessories. Handkerchief attached to you with elastic, followed by a spec chain, also attached to you, then cap - guess what - yes - attached to you. Then to the harness, which attaches you and all the bits attached to you, to the bridge, just in case you decide to try and end it all. Think of the paperwork that would be involved!! Almost fully kitted out and it’s off to the climb simulator, which is cleverly camouflaged as a couple of sets of near vertical ladders with a gantry between them. The theory is to give you an idea of what’s in store to reach the arches of the bridge. I wanted to ask if anyone has ever failed this part of the initiation ceremony. Last stop - the radio, so you can hear what the climb leader is telling you. It’s also attached to your jump suit.
Off we go through a hole in the wall, hooked up to the safety wire and onto the catwalk. The Bridge Walk has finally started. The first 100yds is walking across a couple of old scaffold boards, which to my mind would be far more scary to most people that climbing the arches. Having reached the first granite covered pylon you then go across a gantry that is like thick chicken wire and it’s at this stage that anyone who is thinking of quitting usually does, as its the only place on the bridge where you can see the water underneath your feet. This is the point where you think how much you have paid to do the walk and it’s a very good incentive to carry on, as you do not get your money back if you bottle out. Onwards and upwards on the near vertical stairs. Four consecutive flights takes you to the base of the famous arch, which is the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Plain sailing from now on in as it’s just a shallow hill, walking on solid steel. On the way up, there’s the obligatory Kodak moments and the group photo right at the top. As you cross the centre girder, there’s more photo opportunities and a further drain on financial resources. That’s it, downhill from now on in. Across the rest of the centre and down the opposite arch, back to the west pylon and across the catwalks to return through the hole in the wall, back to reality.
After disrobing and getting dressed, it’s off to the photo shop to pick up your climb certificates and any photos you wish to purchase. It has to be said that neither of us felt any nerves or apprehension at any time and this is verified by the photos.
Time to head back to the railway station and return to Engadine for dinner and a final evening with John and Bev, our outstanding hosts and chauffeurs for the past week. It was also time to repack, ready to decamp to the Holiday Inn, Darling Harbour in Central Sydney on Monday.
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