WOW! WHAT A WEEKEND

I Climbed the Harbour Bridge.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was built in 1932 and it spans Port Jackson commonly called Sydney Harbour. The Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The bridge is one of the longest single span arch bridges in the world. It is 503m/1650ft long. 134m/440ft high and 49m/161ft wide. The widest in the world. 8 lanes of traffic, 2 train tracks, a cycle track and a pedestrian walkway.

 It is widely known as one of the most beautiful harbours. So after bragging about the beautiful Sydney Harbour, I will get on with my story. 

My daughters (Sonya and Carol) bought me a ticket to climb the bridge for my 70th birthday a few weeks ago, when we were in Sydney but we didn't have a day free to do it then. So on Saturday I flew to Sydney, Bernie picked up me and his parents from Melbourne. Carol and David came for dinner too. I stayed overnight at Carol's. 

 Sunday morning Carol, Sonya, Helen (Sonya's MIL) and I climbed the bridge up to the flags on the top. If you look hard you can see little dots on the top arch which are groups of people climbing. It is a highly organised exercise due to the safety reqirements. You have to wear a special suit with clips on it for glasses, beanie, cap, handkerchief, gloves and a jacket. All items supplied by them. You cannot take anything with you  and that means NO CAMERA. You have a special belt with a radio, earphones and the line and ball gadget which locks you onto the bridge wire.

The ladders

First up you walk through the pylons, through "the squeeze" and then up four steep ladders to get from under the road to the top arch. That was the hardest part, after that it was fairly easy going up to the flags.

Carol, Sonya, Helen and me at the start of the arch.

The views were spectacular the wind was cold 9*C/40*F

 This was our group celebrating reaching the top. The first two were Aussies, then us four from Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and LA. The last of the group were from USA.

On the way down in our fashion garments.

My two wonderful daughters with their old mum on the bridge
with the Sydney CBD/downtown  as a backdrop.

After the climb Sonya had booked a table for lunch at the old Australian Hotel in The Rocks area (just near the bridge) Bernie, his father and the two babies came to join us. Carol and I had kangaroo pizza. Soon it was time to say goodbye. Carol drove me to the airport and I was home by 8 o'clock. Wow! What a fantastic weekend. One couldn't have a better present. A spectacular adventure and being cared for by my loving daughters.