Okay. Deep breath. Running shoes put on, and fingers firmly crossed. After our half-day of failure, we are ready to head back out again, this time to tackle the Sydney Bridge Climb. After all, climbing up the top of a bridge to a height of 134m (440ft) - what could go wrong? 😉 Here's hoping our luck has changed.
Off we go, down to Pyrmont ferry station at Darling Harbour, heading out to Circular Quay. Once again, I am sitting at the prow of the ferry, the wind blowing in my hair as I eagerly take in the sights and sounds. What do I look like? No, I'm not even remotely like Rose in Titanic - I'm more like a dog with his head hanging out of the window of a car, tongue flapping in the wind. That's me, except exchange 'person' for 'dog', and 'boat' for 'car'.
Sploosh sproing boing, we are bouncing over the waves - wheeee! Let me tell you, I could get used to living here; I really could.
Because we are paranoid, we left early, and we arrive at Circular Quay about an hour before our climb. That gives us a bit of free time. JQ has been looking for postage for the last two days, and she claims a local vendor gave her some really indistinct directions to go over there and over there (imagine vague hand-waving motions accompanying the 'over there'), and there will be a post-office shop. Personally, I think the guy just wanted to get rid of her.
But let's give it a try anyway. I interpret "go over there" as meaning "cross the street", so we do that. There is a restaurant, and a big shiny building that has an AMP logo on it. Inside are shiny well-dressed men standing at a reception desk.
Excuse me, my friend is looking for somewhere to buy postage stamps, and some random guy pointed us in this direction. Can you help?
WTF - we just sell insurance; why would he send you here?
Because you look like very smart and capable gentlemen.
Gentleman #1: I will Google it for you.
Perfect! We find out there is an Aussie Post office just around the corner, but it's only open until 5, so we'll have to go another day.
I promise the two friendly gentlemen that if I ever need to buy Australian insurance, I will get it from AMP.
It's getting on to 5:30, so we head for the Bridge Climb headquarters. We wander in their general direction through the alleys and stairways of The Rocks, pausing to let JQ peruse some aboriginal art in an art gallery. When we arrive at Bridge Climb, they check us in, and tell us to be in a waiting area upstairs by 6:15 p.m. A staff member collects us, we sign waivers, and then have to change into climbing jumpsuits that are equipped with multiple hooks and latches. We have to lock up our phones, cameras, watches, etc. - none of that can come with you. The only thing we're allowed to keep are glasses/sunglasses.
Suiting up involves:
Okay, we passed - now it's show time!
All of us are lined up and marched through a tunnel, where we cross over a catwalk and approach the bridge pylons from inside. So exciting! It's like climbing Everest, or flying a space shuttle, except way easier and cheaper. 😉 (Note that "cheaper" does not mean "cheap." This is an expensive tourist activity - but with all the equipment and planning that goes into it, I can see why they charge what they do.)
We step out from the bridge pylon onto the metal walkways, and I am super-excited. We have barely got started, and it is amazing. We're standing way up high, but under the bridge, with all the girders and supports crisscrossing, and traffic zooming by on the decks overhead. Way down below is Dawes Point, and many many little people. Some look up and wave. Hello, little people! If I had my cellphone, I'd throw it at your heads! (No, I wouldn't. That was just to illustrate why people are not allowed to take any personal belongings along on the climb.)
For the first stretch, we proceed through some narrow platforms (narrow meaning two board widths). Then we're onto the metal mesh catwalks. Up some stairs, past the water bubblers (that's Aussie for "water fountains"), then kind of hopping and ducking through some tight spaces. I manage to whack my head, because that's just how I roll.
Then we get to the ladders. Four flights of steep ladders upward, from platform to platform. I manage to whack my knees a few times, because that's just how I roll. Then we're all gathered on the lowest part of the bridge arch, and we slowly make our way upward.
You get the most amazing views. Since we were doing the twilight climb, we've got a sunset happening on the west, and to the east, we can see a giant cruise ship backing out of port. It's not the same ship as yesterday, so I guess they get a new one in town every day. Everything looks incredible - the city is lighting up as the sun sets, and we're watching all the boats whizzing back and forth through the harbours, and traffic and trains going by on the bridge below. This is soooo much fun.
It is an easy climb - the hardest parts were the ladders. The rest is a super-slow easy stair climb upwards. It was more strenuous climbing The Rocks to get to the Bridge Climb than it is to do the actual Bridge Climb. They give you plenty of time to look around, and they take photos of you, so you really move at a slow pace and get to enjoy the scenery without overexerting yourself.
Since none of us have cameras, they take pictures for us (which we will, of course, pay for later).
We'd picked the twilight climb partly because we wanted to avoid the heat of day, but we also thought it would be fabulous to see the sunset from the bridge. But you really get a little bit of everything with the twilight climb. You get late afternoon daylight, then sunset, and when you're coming down, you've got night views of the city. It's the best of all worlds.
You go up one side of the bridge, cross the center span at the summit, then head back down the other side. Change back into civilian clothes, buy your pictures if you choose (we do!), and off you go.
We head back down through The Rocks to Circular Quay, where we find that all of the artworks are light up for the night. It's quite beautiful. We have to wait 45 minutes for the next ferry to Pyrmont, but both of us are quite enamoured of travel by ferry, so we're inclined to wait.
JQ is hungry after her climbing
adventure, so we stop at a gelato stand, and then head to our wharf to
eat ice cream and await our ferry ride home. Life is good!
When the Pyrmont ferry arrives, I take my customary place at the prow (think of that dog, with its tongue hanging out), but it's too cold for JQ, who apparently is already an Aussie at heart. She sits inside behind the glass, out of the "cold" wind. (I'd just like to point out that as I am writing this, it is an hour later from the ferry ride, and the temperature is still 22C. Not cold.)
I can see the stars overhead, and eagerly try to find the Southern Cross, but I am too stupid - I don't know where to look. I most definitely have seen it, because I stared at every star possible with my beady little eyes, but I can't "see" the constellation. I do see Orion, who has obviously come down to the southern hemisphere.
Once the ferry docks, it is only a short walk home. The day didn't start so well, but all's well that ends well, right? 😀
Off we go, down to Pyrmont ferry station at Darling Harbour, heading out to Circular Quay. Once again, I am sitting at the prow of the ferry, the wind blowing in my hair as I eagerly take in the sights and sounds. What do I look like? No, I'm not even remotely like Rose in Titanic - I'm more like a dog with his head hanging out of the window of a car, tongue flapping in the wind. That's me, except exchange 'person' for 'dog', and 'boat' for 'car'.
Sploosh sproing boing, we are bouncing over the waves - wheeee! Let me tell you, I could get used to living here; I really could.
Because we are paranoid, we left early, and we arrive at Circular Quay about an hour before our climb. That gives us a bit of free time. JQ has been looking for postage for the last two days, and she claims a local vendor gave her some really indistinct directions to go over there and over there (imagine vague hand-waving motions accompanying the 'over there'), and there will be a post-office shop. Personally, I think the guy just wanted to get rid of her.
But let's give it a try anyway. I interpret "go over there" as meaning "cross the street", so we do that. There is a restaurant, and a big shiny building that has an AMP logo on it. Inside are shiny well-dressed men standing at a reception desk.
Excuse me, my friend is looking for somewhere to buy postage stamps, and some random guy pointed us in this direction. Can you help?
WTF - we just sell insurance; why would he send you here?
Because you look like very smart and capable gentlemen.
Gentleman #1: I will Google it for you.
Perfect! We find out there is an Aussie Post office just around the corner, but it's only open until 5, so we'll have to go another day.
I promise the two friendly gentlemen that if I ever need to buy Australian insurance, I will get it from AMP.
It's getting on to 5:30, so we head for the Bridge Climb headquarters. We wander in their general direction through the alleys and stairways of The Rocks, pausing to let JQ peruse some aboriginal art in an art gallery. When we arrive at Bridge Climb, they check us in, and tell us to be in a waiting area upstairs by 6:15 p.m. A staff member collects us, we sign waivers, and then have to change into climbing jumpsuits that are equipped with multiple hooks and latches. We have to lock up our phones, cameras, watches, etc. - none of that can come with you. The only thing we're allowed to keep are glasses/sunglasses.
Suiting up involves:
- The special climbing jumpsuit.
- Shoes that cover your whole foot. JQ's sandals are not up to snuff, and she has to wear the stinky loaner bowling shoes. Ha ha! I wore my hiking runners, so I'm good.
- Glasses/sunglasses are secured with a safety necklace.
- A Bridge Climb cap, which is clipped to the back of our suits.
- A cloth hanky (for nose blowing, or for wiping away sweat on hot days, or for wiping away tears, if you are afraid of heights), which is clipped to one wrist and wrapped around.
- A big heavy safety belt, with loops and clips. Permanently attached to the safety belt is a sort of custom carabiner that will clip over the guide wires.
- A set of headphones so the leader can communicate with the whole group at once, with a receiver pack is loaded onto the back of our belt.
- Finally, if you're going later in the day (we are), you are given a headlamp, which you wear around your neck until needed.
Okay, we passed - now it's show time!
All of us are lined up and marched through a tunnel, where we cross over a catwalk and approach the bridge pylons from inside. So exciting! It's like climbing Everest, or flying a space shuttle, except way easier and cheaper. 😉 (Note that "cheaper" does not mean "cheap." This is an expensive tourist activity - but with all the equipment and planning that goes into it, I can see why they charge what they do.)
We step out from the bridge pylon onto the metal walkways, and I am super-excited. We have barely got started, and it is amazing. We're standing way up high, but under the bridge, with all the girders and supports crisscrossing, and traffic zooming by on the decks overhead. Way down below is Dawes Point, and many many little people. Some look up and wave. Hello, little people! If I had my cellphone, I'd throw it at your heads! (No, I wouldn't. That was just to illustrate why people are not allowed to take any personal belongings along on the climb.)
For the first stretch, we proceed through some narrow platforms (narrow meaning two board widths). Then we're onto the metal mesh catwalks. Up some stairs, past the water bubblers (that's Aussie for "water fountains"), then kind of hopping and ducking through some tight spaces. I manage to whack my head, because that's just how I roll.
Then we get to the ladders. Four flights of steep ladders upward, from platform to platform. I manage to whack my knees a few times, because that's just how I roll. Then we're all gathered on the lowest part of the bridge arch, and we slowly make our way upward.
You get the most amazing views. Since we were doing the twilight climb, we've got a sunset happening on the west, and to the east, we can see a giant cruise ship backing out of port. It's not the same ship as yesterday, so I guess they get a new one in town every day. Everything looks incredible - the city is lighting up as the sun sets, and we're watching all the boats whizzing back and forth through the harbours, and traffic and trains going by on the bridge below. This is soooo much fun.
It is an easy climb - the hardest parts were the ladders. The rest is a super-slow easy stair climb upwards. It was more strenuous climbing The Rocks to get to the Bridge Climb than it is to do the actual Bridge Climb. They give you plenty of time to look around, and they take photos of you, so you really move at a slow pace and get to enjoy the scenery without overexerting yourself.
Since none of us have cameras, they take pictures for us (which we will, of course, pay for later).
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|
We'd picked the twilight climb partly because we wanted to avoid the heat of day, but we also thought it would be fabulous to see the sunset from the bridge. But you really get a little bit of everything with the twilight climb. You get late afternoon daylight, then sunset, and when you're coming down, you've got night views of the city. It's the best of all worlds.
You go up one side of the bridge, cross the center span at the summit, then head back down the other side. Change back into civilian clothes, buy your pictures if you choose (we do!), and off you go.
|
|
We head back down through The Rocks to Circular Quay, where we find that all of the artworks are light up for the night. It's quite beautiful. We have to wait 45 minutes for the next ferry to Pyrmont, but both of us are quite enamoured of travel by ferry, so we're inclined to wait.
 |
| $8 gelato cones by the wharf. Yum! |
When the Pyrmont ferry arrives, I take my customary place at the prow (think of that dog, with its tongue hanging out), but it's too cold for JQ, who apparently is already an Aussie at heart. She sits inside behind the glass, out of the "cold" wind. (I'd just like to point out that as I am writing this, it is an hour later from the ferry ride, and the temperature is still 22C. Not cold.)
I can see the stars overhead, and eagerly try to find the Southern Cross, but I am too stupid - I don't know where to look. I most definitely have seen it, because I stared at every star possible with my beady little eyes, but I can't "see" the constellation. I do see Orion, who has obviously come down to the southern hemisphere.
Once the ferry docks, it is only a short walk home. The day didn't start so well, but all's well that ends well, right? 😀
Amazing! Obviously neither if you are afraid of heights. What a way to see the city! Although, its you, and this could all just be a green screen and you are really just at home in your house in the basement.
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