After another train journey back from the blue mountains where I yet again fell asleep I arrived at central station.
I arranged to meet russ at a bar calle the 3 wise monkeys. He had had a friday night bear session after work so I told him not to hurry. In the state of someone that has been to the blue mountains absailinf I drank guiness at this really trendy pub. He takes me top all the great places, especially when i am not dressed for it.
After that it was athai meal and a realtively early night as bridge climb was the next day.
Next day russ took me to his local breakfast haunt. Gosh was it nice. a veryu lovely quality breakfast whith chorizo, spinach (yes spinach) egg and polenta. Very good.
After that he gave me a tour of the city, invluding where he had to pick up his mail from his po box...I nearly found out where his dentists was. The amazing thing was he took me to the olympic site. That was huge. I can't imagine us oing anything liker that at home. It was like a serperate city. He also took me to where hios new property was being built, not far from view of olympic city. That looked very cool even if a bachelor pad.
After trying to find a parking space and work out change involving getting a coffee we go for the bridge climb. First we get told to do a toilet stop as it will be 3 hrs before we can go again. Then we get suited up in very stylish boiler suits and water proof trousers. Next we pick gloves or hats which are all attached by a series of clips, to the suit. After that it's the mechanism that gets us attached to the bridge. It's a series of latches and wheels on a rope. You have to drag it with you and round a series of bends. There is no way with that on your going to fall off. Last but not least its radio and headphones so that you can hear the guide. I think his name was ryan, very funny and very camp.
After him we had to attach ourselves to a mock bridge and parctice going up and down ladders. Ryan took the mickey of everyone's foot wear as we did this. An hour later and we are ready to go. We start walking and its nice and sunny. We have to dash outside to the foot of the bridge in front of joe public. Then once in attach ourselves to the system. OIf course me being the semi blond I am couldn't attach it and all I am hearing is give it an hour from the guide. Yep its only alex she's the one holding us up. Think I must have turned scarlet at that.
The only scary thing was the walkway under the bridge where you could see through teh floor and feel the cars/trains up above. The guide kept stopping every few munites as there were other groups in front. To give you an idea the price is $175 for a group of up to 12. These groups go up every 15 minutes so the bridge is always full of at least 4-6 groups at one time...how much they making?
The climb was great and I thought well worth it. The views were amazing and just to say you have done the bridge climb was something else. It didn't appear as steep as I thought. Especially on the looking down part, it was quite gradual.
Just as we are nearly down the wheather changes. It starts raining and is bitterly cold and gettign windy. I thought I would put my fleece and water proof guear that they supplied and was attached to my back. But no that felt like too much hastle.
So we finished went for a coffee as now freezing and headed back to the car. Just in time for a stop at the bottle shop and watch the rugby. New Zealand alblacks V Austrailian Wallabys. So while drinking beer and trying to get ready for an evening out we watched the game. I did get a bit excited and sorry Jono cheered fopr the wally's. Well I was in OZ. They didn't win anyway, they lost by quite a bit if I remember. Anyhow just as the game finnished we had to leave to catch the ferry into town to meet friends.
We just made the ferry and it was free. Great! Off we go to abnother bar to meet Kevin (irish guy from frazer trip) and jason Jono's best friend. I thought the rest of teh irish were going to join but apparently not...off doing other things. It was a good night anyhow. Plenty of beer! Then this guy who knows jason showed up and bated me for politics, which I fell for so it was a long drunken conversation and I think we got back about 2 ro 3.
Next day was a quiet day. Another great breakfast at Russ's haunt. Relaxing at his then a movie in the afternoon. The movie was into the void I think. The story of the two guys in Puru who climbed the face of a basically unclimable mountain and one of the guys broke a leg then fell into a casim but managed to crall his way back to the camp. Amazing almost documentary film.
After then back to the thai restaurant for another great meal. We went there after the guiness at the three wise monkeys the night back from the blue mountains.
Then Russ drove me to the buss terminal where I got the bus to Melbourne. It was freezing and he waited an hr with me for the bus. I thought that was nice!
Posted by alexd at July 23, 2004 03:58 AM