Brisbane, QLD


Monday, July 16, 2012

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.

37 comments:

  1. Well done and worth waiting for. The first photo is fantastic, that magnificent view straight down to the heads! It is the most magnificent harbour in the World, maybe Rio de Janiero comes in second?? Yep, I am biased!
    Does all the clothing come in the costs? Certainly something to have, eh?
    I think now having seen your photos, I am a bit jealous.
    Cheers Sis
    Colin (HB)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations..Well done and what a view!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh wow, what a wonderful adventure. The views from the flags must have been amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are a real daredevil, great you made it. What is next, the Mount Everest?
    Marianne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Diane, you are all so brave. I have to say the photos from the top of the bridge are wonderful. Love the view of the city. A great 70th birthday present. Congrats on your climb to the top. Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great photos - I'd love to do that some day

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh dear, yes, the wind was chilly at times over the weekend, even though the weather was sunny. But this is such a wonderful achievement, Diane. I do not envy you, but I do admire you. And well done to you two girls. They knew you would be up for it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations, Diane! You are daring! What a wonderful birthday gift from your precious girls. You are so blessed to have daughters, and they're beautiful too! Have a great day re-living your climb. Jo

    ReplyDelete
  9. You made it!! Well done .... and so lovely to have experienced this great climb with your daughters ... fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fantastic. I have done it on a hot summer's day ... don't think I would like it on a windy winter day.

    I like your adventures ... even went back to your one to Carnarvon Gorge as research for my latest wayfaring trip.

    ReplyDelete
  11. great reportage and pics
    congratulations !!
    nice to meet your family too
    anni

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a marvelous adventure you shared with your daughters. The climb was a great birthday present and the views were indeed spectacular. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well - just - WOW! I want to do that. Not sure I'd make it but the desire is there. How fun.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations! You are very brave. I wouldn't do that if you paid me... not even for that amazing view!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Way to go Diane! It sounds like an amazing feat, right from start to finish. I don't know if I could do this or not, I'm afraid of falling from heights! ;-) Kangaroo pizza, no ty. lol

    Have a wonderful week you brave lady you!

    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh My Goodness.... I'd LOVE doing that..... Wow---that is awesome... Glad 'someone' took your pictures... I would be upset without my camera!!!!!!

    That Kangaroo Pizza looks good....
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  17. Holy .....! Amazing just amazing! I've never heard of doing this -- must be a Sydney thing only, what a fabulous adventure and how cool to share it with your daughters (and so cool that they KNEW you could do it!) Wow thanks for sharing. And as soon as I post this I'm going off to go see if I can find you (or more to the point, Kangaroo Pizza) on FB!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What an exciting gift from your girls! Such a fun thing for all of you to do together. Did you really eat Kangaroo?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes we really eat kangaroo except Sonya as she is a vegetarian.

      Delete
  19. Wow ! what an experience ! nothing for me,lol ! How nice of your daughters to offer you something so special !

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well done you! As I plan my forthcoming trip to Aus. I couldn't decide whether to book the climb or not but I think your experience has persuaded me that I should. Who took the pictures if you are not allowed to take a camera?

    ReplyDelete
  21. You are much braver than i would ever be - thanks for sharing your wonderful birthday adventure with your readers. What a spectacular view you had. You will never forget that day but I must say I'm glad to hear you're back on the ground.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow oh my gosh how awesome is that!! Yeah, now that you mention it, I think I do see you way, way, way, way up there. Oh maybe that's not you ladies. Just kidding. =) But it sure sounds like an out of this world weekend. Thanks for sharing Diane!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy 21st birthday! What adventures you do have - nothing slows you down!

    I'm afraid I'll not be doing that climb. I'm so scared of heights now I have trouble on little step ladders!

    Have a great week Diane!

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a great post, Diane! Love these photos!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Diane!
    No way would I ever eat Kangaroo or Emu meat!
    I would starve rather than eat the National emblems. Do Americans
    eat the Emblem of the USA, the Bald Eagle??? Or for that matter any other country that has an animal or bird symbol! I would become a vegetarian (God forbid, but I think they can eat fish???)
    I think that other countries have a sense of respect. I know that kangaroos and emus can be in plague proportions and constitute a nuisance and must be "culled", but to actually eat them - no way Hosa!
    I am in a state of mortification!
    Colin (HB)

    ReplyDelete
  26. I so want to do that climb! When I FINALLY get to Australia, I will do it! Congratulations, you adventurous lady. I love your grit and gumption.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm glad you were able to climb a mountain (sorry, Bridge)

    ReplyDelete
  28. YOU GO GIRL!!!! First of all, isn't it wonderful to have such thoughtful and fun daughters. What a great post and what wonderful memories. And I absolutely agree with you. The bridge, the harbor the Opera House, it all was so beautiful. We loved it all, and both agreed that it was more scenic than the Auckland Harbor, even though that is beautiful as well.

    ReplyDelete
  29. That sounds like a wonderful experience. Now that is what I call a birthday present.

    ReplyDelete
  30. YAY! How exciting this must have been for you Diane! I wish I tried it on my visit -- I felt reluctant to go alone as my husband worked, and now I'm sorry I didn't as it looked like so much fun! The photos are wonderful and you were so lucky to have climbed with Sonya and Carol!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh my gosh how fantastic, this is my very favorite bridge and I've often thought about climbing it, but just reading your post and looking at the pics my stomach is doing flip flops. Dreaded vertigo be gone!! This is definitely a memory to treasure Diane.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Just fabulous! You are such an adventurer Diane and that beautiful photo of yourself and your daughters on the bridge, just shows your zest for life and fun. Well done :D)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Well done. At a younger age than when you climbed, I would not try that. No camera, but I should think there would be photos of you available for a fee once you completed the climb.

    ReplyDelete