Sydney 4

This was a big one, the Bridge Climb! After meeting Jenny & Adrian for lunch and having another walk about, including the Botanic Gardens to see many flying foxes (fruit bats) in the trees, we went for our twilight climb of the iconic Sydney Bridge. With rain passing over as we left the hotel, we went equipped for the wet, but we were to find that we could abandon our wet weather gear for the custom stuff with tie-lines and more, that we would adorn to climb the bridge. We found the whole organisation of the climb exceptionally well organised, all your gear - audio headphones, fleece, rain jacket, beanie, radio receiver, head torch etc - all clipped to your safety harness or coveralls. You felt well equipped for the venture. The guide was terrific and gave us lots of information throughout the climb. You start along the approach spans below the roadway and train lines above, then climb past them to proceed up the famous curved support spans eventually to the top. A few squalls of rain came through during the upward climb, but it was mostly dry although somewhat dull. The views were fantastic over the harbour, the Opera House, Circular Quay and the city. There was no sense of apprehension throughout. Crossing over the top to the inland side for the downward climb brought different views, but we could see the rain coming in! And it did. We were most of the way down to the road level when the heavier rain hit but, with rain jackets on, we didn't hang about too long to get below the road deck and shelter. It brought a new dimension to the experience and it was getting well dark by this time too. It's an extremely slick organisation that can take up to 1,700 people over the Bridge in a day, and we were lucky to have a group of only 6 of us. By the time we had unclipped all our gear, removed our coveralls and walked back to Circular Quay, it was time for a couple of beers, a quick bite, and and back to the hotel for the early start to the Blue Mountains tomorrow. It's all go!