suec
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Post by suec on Oct 18, 2014 11:44:03 GMT
_ To celebrate a milestone birthday I wanted to climb the sydney harbour bridge and have a room with a view of the bridge and opera house I managed to do both this is the view from our quay west apartment lounge window we walked in and just said wow and stood there staring out the window for ages. A great start to a short birthday break.  |
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Post by Boop on Oct 18, 2014 18:17:34 GMT
_ To celebrate a milestone birthday I wanted to climb the sydney harbour bridge and have a room with a view of the bridge and opera house I managed to do both this is the view from our quay west apartment lounge window we walked in and just said wow and stood there staring out the window for ages. A great start to a short birthday break. WOW indeed.......that is a terrific shot!! |
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Post by chech on Oct 18, 2014 22:13:14 GMT
Sweeeeeeeeeeet!!  |
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suec
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Post by suec on Oct 26, 2014 10:08:40 GMT
_ I really enjoyed my trip to Sydney we flew up with Jetstar a budget airline that charges for everything but for an 1hr 15 minute flight it was fine. Caught a shuttle bus to our hotel had a tour of Sydney getting there cost $30 return. You can take the train in but but it wasn't running as they where doing track work we stayed at quay west apartments in the rocks area on the 16th floor and boy what a view. Room wasn't ready so we left our luggage and headed off to explore. We walked down to circular quay and caught a ferry over to Manly about 20 minutes you get great view of sydney harbour bridge and the opera house re photo above taken on the ferry to manly we could see people already climbing the bridge we were getting very excited . We walked down to the main beach and walked along the beach going in and out of the water it was sunny and warm walked back to the ferry stop had lunch there then caught the ferry back and walked up the hill to our hotel to see if our room was ready it was so we went up. Rested,(stared out window) as we had been up since 3am to get to the airport. Around 4:30 we got changed and headed off to the Sydney harbour bridge climb base which was about a 15min walk.
 If you look closely you will see some people walking on the bridge.
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suec
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Post by suec on Nov 12, 2014 11:04:32 GMT
 Manly beach You had to arrive 15 minutes before your allotted time ours being 5:25 so we got there at 5 pm and went to the toilet, then went again we checked in down he bottom then went up the stairs to wait at 5.25 they called us in 1st room fill in the forms and get breath tested and make sure we have recently eaten so we have engery to climb the bridge a short spiel also about other stuff. 2nd room you get your lovely blue and grey suit and told to take all jewellery watches and pants off. Then into room no3 were you get changed I had to get a bigger suit but they didn't have the next size so I got a bigger one that I had to keep pulling up as the crotch was below my knees this was your last chance to go to the toilet then you put everything in your locker and the key around your neck. we crossed over the walkway to room no 4 were we had to circle around we were then given our belts to put on, then we moved on to get hats, jumpers ,hankies , torch, that are all attached to you with tabs. You can't take your camera even my glasses were attached to me. The we rigged up with radio and earphones so we could here our guide. We then were shown how to climb the ladders properly and how to move your line your attached to the bridge with along the ladders and around the bends. Once we could do that we went through the magic door attached ourselves to the railings and head off on the walkway to climb the bridge. You are walking on planks with railings on both sides we were up the front right behind the guide there were 13 in our group max is 14 one person wasn't allowed to climb as she was feeling unwell so she got her money back even thou she wanted to go. Ours was a unusual group as we were all Aussies and just 2 lots both climbing for birthdays our 3 and there 10. As you walk along every now and then you have to step over or around beams we were walking above some public gardens popular for weddings and photos we played spot the bride we got up to about 6 before we started across the water.We came to the first pillar walked around it via stairs and planks then hit a area that had a few duck under while stepping over beams including where you leave the planks to go to the 4 ladders /steep steps that you have climb to get to the start of the arch. Only one person at a time is allowed on each ladder so you climb up not sure how many steps didn't count them but a lot,to the first landing then start on the next steps and then the next person starts to climb. At Last at the top of the 4th ladder you swing around and wow your at the bottom of the arch looking up to the flag blowing in the breeze at the top. Down lower and going up the steps it quiet narrow but up on the arch it widens out that two people could walk side by side. The steps are low it's easy walking to the top and you stop at lot to admire the views, get your photo taken with the opera house in the background,to talk about the bridge and how the builders would walk up by using the rivets as steps we tried it Hard! Interesting stuff. The sunset. As amazing everything glowed we were nearly at the top and had more photos taken with the sunset as the background.then we made to the top had time to look around have more photos taken then walked over to the other side and looked around while waiting for the others it was windy at he top but not cold to me it wasn't a hurried walk we had lots of time to look at he views. by now the city lights where starting to come and twinkle in the sky very pretty. We then started to head down it was getting dark a bit tricky to judge your step we put on our head torches that helped the lights were getting brighter the city looked cool, and the boats on the harbour sparkled beneath us. We stopped for more photos and a video then all to soon we were back at the bottom of the arch on the other side and started to go down the ladders this time between the train tracks I wanted a train to go past but no one went over answer were under the bridge waiting for the others it was very loud. We then follow we the planks back around the a pylon over the park back to the magic door our walk was over time to get changed and go look at all thoughts photos you get a free group one the I brought one more you can buy a pack but I didn't as we walked out I looked at the clock it was 9pm so from when we got there till we left 4 very enjoyable hours. Now off to find some tea we are starving |
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Post by Boop on Nov 12, 2014 21:47:07 GMT
You had to arrive 15 minutes before your allotted time ours being 5:25 so we got there at 5 pm and went to the toilet, then went again we checked in down he bottom then went up the stairs to wait at 5.25 they called us in 1st room fill in the forms and get breath tested and a short spiel. 2nd room you get your lovely blue and grey suit and told to take all jewellery watches and pants off. Then into room no3 were you get changed I had to get a bigger suit but they didn't have the next size so I got a bigger one that I had to keep pulling up as the crotch was below my knees this was your last chance to go to the toilet then you put everything in your locker and the key around your neck. we crossed over the walkway to room no 4 were we had to circle around we were then given our belts to put on, then we moved on to get hats, jumpers ,hankies , torch, that are all attached to you with tabs. You can't take your camera even my glasses were attached to me. The we rigged up with radio and earphones so we could here our guide. We then were shown how to climb the ladders properly and how to move your line your attached to the bridge with along the ladders and around the bends. Once we could do that we went through the magic door attached ourselves to the railings and head off on the walkway to climb the bridge Sounds kinda scary suec! I would be disappointed not being allowed to take a camera..... |
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Post by Tonnet on Nov 12, 2014 22:16:39 GMT
The problem is that any loose object would become a 'bomb' to traffic below.
I was very fortunate as a child to have one of the crane drivers living opposite us and did that walk quite a few times. It was lovely sitting in the crane cabin watching the world go by at your feet. The cranes are used to move the painters' scaffolding about the structure.
I believe it takes seven years to complete a coat of paint on the span. |
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Post by tiffany on Nov 14, 2014 12:57:53 GMT
Sounds like a great experience Sue. What a great way to celebrate your birthday!
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suec
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by suec on Dec 2, 2014 12:10:56 GMT
Have added some more but having trouble with photos will up load some but then won't let you upload any others and just keeps inserting the same photo ? Not sure what I am doing wrong.
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