Category: Australia

Finally, I’ve Climbed The Bridge

  • May 23, 2022

Sue came down to Sydney today and surprised me with a belated birthday gift: we were climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

The entire endeavour took just over 3.5 hours including about an hour of setup and safety training. We had to strip to our underwear before donning full body climb suits, a safety harness, two hats, a radio, rain pants and a rain coat. We were part of a group of 14, and by request we were at the front of the line (since I knew I’d have a lot of questions).

We couldn’t bring anything with us which meant no phone, so I grabbed the above pic from the internet just to show scale. At all times you are connected to a rail that would catch you if you fell, and every action is rehearsed in a ‘simulator’ even before you start the climb.

The views from the very top were of course breathtaking (that’s another pic from the net above) but even underneath (the road) or inside the main structure there was lots to see including the harbour about 450 feet below.

There’s me at the top to prove I did it! I loved everything about the climb and highly recommend it if you’re ever in town.

  • Posted in Australia
  • Robert

Sea Legs

  • May 22, 2022

There were pernicious rumors a while ago that I was, shall we say, ‘weak to boats’. To put it bluntly, the rumors suggested I was a jelly-legged half-man that fainted at the first sight of a wave crest when sailing across the briny deep.

I scoff at these rumors, and today was proof of that!

I woke so early it was still yesterday and since I couldn’t return to sleep I read and sorted my luggage until sunup. Then I walked down to the pier at Circular Quay and bordered a ferry bound for Manly!

It’s only a 22 minute trip but for a couple of those minutes the ferry crosses the harbour entrance, which is famously choppy. At this point the boat bounced up and down and left and right and I rode it like a king. My sea legs were as sturdy as ever, and not even for one moment did I faint! And it’s not like the boat didn’t have the potential to sicken: I beheld some green-faced passengers who seemed to be praying for land, and I gave them a steely glance as I inwardly laughed at their pathetic weakness.

It was very early and nothing was open in the Manly shopping street, but the beach was beautiful and I walked it’s length before returning to ride a ferry back to the Sydney piers again.

Oh and check out the vending machine above: for only $2 you can buy a mask from a possessed girl with glowing eyes!

Back in Sydney I ate and wandered around and eventually ended up playing a ufo catcher machine in Chinatown. And believe it or not I won!

Not bad for about $30 wouldn’t you agree? 😉

33 Hours

  • May 21, 2022

I flew to Australia today, and yesterday. The trip took me 33 hours and was a living hell.

I dutifully followed Covid regulations and advice, and wore a mask virtually nonstop the entire time. Few others did.

That’s a photo of Jack, a service dog that sat in the footwell of my seat-neighbor on one of the domestic flights. Once his owner fell asleep he scooted over and used my feet as his pillow for almost the entire 4 hour flight. I didn’t want to wake him since he was cute 🙂

I walked around Atlanta airport for 3 hours and didn’t come close to visiting all 192 gates. I did stumble upon a nifty display of collectible licensed lunchboxes though!

By the time I got to LA I was ruined both in body and soul. It was with a heavy heart I staggered onto the ‘big flight’ which then progressed in the usual way: seemingly endless tedium. But I made it in the end, and 33 hours after leaving home I made it to my Sydney hotel.

Of course the jetlag is intense, but this time since I was loathe to remove my mask I suspect I was dehydrated and famished as well when I got here. Happily that’s been remedied, but I think it will take a few days for the blisters at the top of my ears (from 30+ hours of mask wearing to go away).