Bridge Climb

Saturday turned out to be an even worse day with heavy rain in the morning and overnight - the pool is getting very full! Again, the afternoon saw a bit of a break in the weather, so since Laura was working today we took the rest of the girls to Manly Oceanworld. We had last been here in 1993 and it was one of the first aquariums to have an underwater walkway to view sharks, stingrays, turtles and various fish. It was interesting (and I could watch the fish for hours!) but the place is looking a bit old and tired now, which is probably not helped by a newer and bigger aquarium at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

Yesterday - Easter Sunday - started off brighter, which was good since this was the day of the Bridge Climb for Caroline and Sophie, as well as Sue who was going with them. Sophia was collected in the morning as she was attending a family get-together at her Aunt & Uncle's (plus she wasn't keen to do the climb). Laura was also out at friends, so the rest of us drove to Cremorne and caught the ferry across to the city.

Rebecca and I left Sue and the girls at the start of the climb, where they had to get kitted up and briefed about the whole process, which lasts about 3 hours. The two of us then went to the Pylon Lookout (one of the towers on the bridge) to wait for the others to emerge onto the bridge. We had a short wait before they appeared within a group of about 12 climbers and a guide - initially we were above them and could take photos of them going up the bridge to the top, before they crossed over and came back down the other side.

Sue and the girls really enjoyed the experience and the fantastic views from the top of the bridge across the harbour and the city suburbs towards the Blue Mountains. It was quite windy up there but the weather stayed dry and mostly sunny, which was lucky after the past few days. It was a well-oiled operation and not too strenuous, apart from a few steep and vertiginous places.

View some more photos of the climb.