Day 8b - Gardens and Sun (Tues, Feb 27)

With JQ heading home, I am heading out on my own once again.  Although it's getting a bit later in the afternoon, I decide to see if I can squeak in a visit to the Chinese Garden of Friendship.  It's a bit further out, but I follow the signs, and arrive there relatively quickly.  When I walk in, they do warn me that the park is closing within the hour.  "No worries, mate," I say in my best imitation Aussie, "I'll be quick."  (Nobody can speed-hike like me and Stephen. 😎)  It's one-and-a-half acres (or something like that), says the desk clerk.  I have no idea what that means.

The garden is a lovely quiet stop in the middle of the city.  The garden is filled with winding paths and pavilions, and there are a lot of birds enjoying the shade and water.  Pictures for you below!



After leaving, I head back to Darling Harbour, walking through Tumbalong Park.  It is really hot today, so I opt for the shade wherever possible.  I was thinking I would pop in at the Aquarium, but sadly they have closed admissions by the time I get there.  I'd thought they might be open later in Darling Harbour as it is a big tourist center, but apparently not.  Since I'm already in the area, I walk down to Barangaroo - which is the best name ever, by the way.  I love saying it.  JQ has to listen to me say Barangaroo many times a day.

SUN IS BURNING.  WAY IS LONG.  HOT IS ME.

Anyway, having reached Barangaroo and finding nothing interesting to do here, I decide to continue on to the Barangaroo Reserve.  I'm not quite sure how far away it is, but it's one of the newer parks in Sydney, and I keep seeing it from the boats, so I decide to go.

Did I mention that the day is hot?  I am having to detour around big construction projects, and shade is hard to come by.  I should have brought my hat.  I think my individual skin cells are dying.

I reach the Barangaroo Reserve at last.  It is a three level park, one along the shore, one midway up the hill, and another at the very top.  There are many joggers running up and down the stairs, because they have obviously escaped from some asylum somewhere and are unaware of the heat.  Which is crazy.

I do go up to the top to view the Stargazers Lawn, which would be very nice for stargazing, as suggested, but the current star burning in the sky and the lack of trees make it not a nice place for anyone but crazy joggers.  So I head down to the middle section, where there are at least some trees to hide behind.  It is admittedly very beautiful here.  The waterfront is so new that all of the stone blocks are still block-shaped and haven't got any algae growing on them yet.

Well, I'm at Barangaroo Reserve, and the ferries pass by here, but they don't stop.  I'm not inclined to head back, as I would have to thread my way through construction zones, and that downtown area may be less populated later in the day, so I decide to walk on to Circular Quay and catch a ferry home from there.

The path continues along the shoreline, then winds into some of the commercial neighbourhoods near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Lots of trendy restaurants and bars mixed in with shipping businesses that line the wharves.

I climb a big long set of stairs up the hill beneath the bridge, and arrive at Dawes Point.  Finally, I have crested the hill, and there are now big trees, lots of shade, and park benches awaiting me.  From Dawes Point, you can look up at the bridge, as it passes overhead, and you also have a great view of the harbour and the Opera House on the other side.

Dawes Point used to be Dawes Point Battery, where they were armed and ready to repel an invading force of whatever/whoever.  The cannons are still on the hill.  Now they are only used for tourists to pretend to fire at cruise ships, if they so choose.

I kick back and relax in the shade for a while, watching the boats skim around in the harbour, and then head down to the quay.  I was going to catch the HO HO CO CO (Hop On Hop Off Captain Cook) home, but I just saw one pull away from the Harbour Masters Steps, so it will probably be a half hour before another one appears, but that's okay.  It's more than okay - it's the perfect excuse to go buy some ice cream!  (Those ice cream/gelato guys are making a killing off of us.)

Time to sit down, eat ice cream, and watch the birds.  There's a young seagull pestering his mom, following her around with the high-pitched squeak of "feed me", even though that bird is almost the same size as her.  (The young one has the spots on its wing and tail - Mama is the grown-up white and gray.)  Then there's a long-necked bird sitting on one of the pilings at the pier, but even though I wait patiently, it will not stick its neck out for me.  That's fair, I guess.

Anyway, my Captain Cook boat doesn't show up, and I eventually figure out that the last boat stopped running around 6 p.m.  Looks like it's the good old ferry for me!

By the time my ferry arrives, the sun has set, and we have a lovely twilight sky with the moon shining overhead.  With the boiling sun now departed, it is a perfect evening.  By the time we reach the Barangaroo ferry station, it is pretty dark out, and all the buildings are alight.

Next stop, Pyrmont!  The ferry starts heading over there, then toots his horn and stops.  The boat starts to drift a bit, and the ferry toots again.  I am looking around, other passengers are coming out to look around.  We are wondering if there's something in the water?  No one seems sure.

Nope, it's just that another boat was in his parking spot.  TOOT, says the ferry, with the sound of annoyance at having to give a third warning.  Finally, the other boat departs, and we are able to dock and disembark.  All's well that ends well.

Back at home just after 8 p.m.  👍