Monday 29th March

TODAY WE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE!!!!! We have the photos and certificate to prove it! There is a lot of preparation for the climb which starts with declarations that you are fit and have no ailments to preclude the climb – fortunately there was no definition of what they meant by ‘fit’ so we signed with alacrity. We dressed in our grey suits with all the accoutrements attached, including the all important safety harness! The weather was pretty humid but dry and not very windy. Having ‘clipped on’ to the safety wire we climbed and descended about 1400 steps up and down ladders and gantries. The hard bits were at the beginning and end to get on/off the top arch of the bridge; once we were on this the climb was pretty easy. The top of the bridge is 139 metres above the water and as expected the views were excellent (the only way you can prove this is to do it yourself!!). It was novel to watch the helicopters flying along the harbour below us.
When our legs had returned from their jelly state, we walked around and took some photos of the Opera House. It is an interesting building which looks more stunning on the skyline than it does from close to. There were lots of schoolchildren going in at the time for a concert.
On our return to the hotel we had to rest our weary legs and within a few minutes Ben was snoozing (Liz says fast asleep but this is not true). Liz had to go out to Woolworths up and down the hill to get the supper. Now we are ‘fit and toned’ we hope to hit Bondi Beach!!