DAY 45 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13, 2010

ALTHOUGH WE VERY MUCH EXPECTED TO AWAKE IN TIME TO SEE THE SHIP ENTER THE SYDNEY HARBOR, SLEEP WON OUT. WE OPEN OUR EYES TO A DARK ROOM, REACHED FOR THE FLASH LIGHT TO SHINE ON MY WATCH, JUST IN CASE IT WAS 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WE DETERMINED THE SUN WAS UP. QUICKLY TURNING ON THE TV, WE TURNED TO CHANNEL 46, FOR THE BRIDGE CAM VIEW. WE WERE FIRMLY DOCKED, NO SWAYING OR DIPPING, JUST CALM. THE CAMERA DOESN’T GIVE THE BEST PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS AROUND THE SHIP, BUT WE KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN SYDNEY.

WITHOUT HASTE, WE GOT READY FOR BREAKFAST BEFORE OUR TOUR GROUP MEETING AT 9:30 IN THE LOUNGE. REACHING OUR FAVORITE 9TH FLOOR OUTDOOR DECK THE VIEW WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. AS WE LOOKED TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS THE PIER, WAS THE VISUAL ICON OF THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE WITH THE SUN GLISTENING OFF THE SHELL LIKE PANELS THAT FORM THE ROOF. TO OUR LEFT WAS THE MASSIVE SYDNEY HARBOR BRIDGE WHICH STRETCHES ACROSS THE BAY CONNECTING CENTRAL SYDNEY TO THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS.

LOOKING CLOSER AT THE BRIDGES YOU COULD OBSERVE GROUPS OF 12 TO 15 PEOPLE WALKING ALONG THE TOP EDGE OF THE BRIDGE. FURTHER EXAMINATION SHOWED SEVERAL GROUPS ALREADY COMING DOWN THE STRUCTURE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. BRIDGE CLIMBING TOURS OPERATE ABOUT EVERY 15 MINUTES AT A COST OF $250 $AU. THE LOCAL AUSSIE’S AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO THE BRIDGE AS THE “COAT HANGER.”

WE WASTED NO TIME IN FEEDING OUR BODIES, THEY ARE SO UNDERNOURISHED ON THIS TRIP, AND PREPARED FOR THE ALL DAY EXCURSION TO AN AREA 60 MILES FROM SYDNEY CALL ED BLUE MOUNTAIN. THE NAME IS DERIVED DUE TO THE BLUE CAST CREATED BY THE EUCALYPTUS TREES WHICH GROW SO PROFUSELY IN THE FORREST.
SOON AFTER GETTING OUR STICKER SIGNIFYING WHICH GROUP TO FOLLOW, LIKE GOOD LITTLE SHEEP, WE EXITED THE BOAT, MARCHED THROUGH THE TERMINAL AND TO OUR BUS. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS TOUR IT REQUIRED 3 BUSES, THAT WAS ALMOST 1/4 THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE CRUISE. THE THREE BUS CARAVAN PULLED AWAY FROM THE TERMINAL AND BEGAN WINDING THROUGH THE NARROW STREETS OF THE ROCK DISTRICT. THE ROCK, AS IT IS KNOWN, IS AN OLDER SECTION OF THE CITY FILLED WITH SHOPS, BARS, RESTAURANTS AND 100’S OF KIOSK ON AUTO FREE STREETS.

THE PLACE IS ALIVE WITH LOCALS AND TOURIST ALIKE ALL DAY LONG. IN THE EVENING WHEN THE KIOSK CLOSE DOWN THE RESTAURANTS DRAW THE CROWDS. SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS HAVE AWESOME VIEWS OF THE BAY, THE BRIDGE, OPERA HOUSE AND CITY, OTHERS ARE JUST GREAT PLACES TO EAT WITH PLENTY OF ATMOSPHERE. BUT, I DIGRESS, ON WITH THE TOUR.

THE CARAVAN HEADED THROUGH THE CITY SOUTH MAKING BEND AFTER BEND UNTIL REACHING ANOTHER EYE CATCHING BRIDGE. IT WAS A MODERN STRUCTURE WITH LARGE SUPER STRUCTURES AT EACH END. LONG IRON COIL CABLE STRANDS REACHED FROM IT’S TOP DOWN TO THE ROADWAY. THE BRIDGE IS AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS MADONNA’S BRA. THE REAL NAME IS THE DARLING BRIDGE. BUT, I DIGRESS, AGAIN.

BEFORE LONG WE WERE HEADING WEST THROUGH SMALL AND LARGE TOWNS ON OUR WAY TO THE WILDLIFE ANIMAL REFUSE. MANY OF US WERE QUITE SURPRISED AT THE EXTRA STOP BECAUSE IT WAS NOT LISTED IN THE ITINERARY. IT TURNED A TREAT NOT TO BE MISSED.

THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS ARE KOALAS AND KANGAROOS. ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE DOZENS OF VARIETIES OF BIRDS, WALLABIES, AND CROC’S. THE PLACE IS DESIGNED TO LEAD YOU THROUGH EACH SECTION EVENTUALLY ENDING UP WITH THE KOALAS AND KANGAROOS. YOU NEVER SAW SO MANY ADULTS RUN SO FAST STRAIGHT TO THE KOALAS. (THEY ARE NOT BEARS) IT WAS PICTURES WITH THE KOALAS. IT WAS BETTER THAN SITTING ON SANTA’S LAP.

KOALAS SLEEP 20 HOURS EACH DAY, UNLESS YOU CONSTANTLY FEED THEM. MANY OF THE SMALLER KOALAS WERE SOUND ASLEEP, IN TREES, IN THEIR DISPLAYS. THEY ARE JUST AS CUTE SLEEPING AS WHEN AWAKE AND EATING. OUR STOP LASTED A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR BEFORE BOARDING THE BUS FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

WE TRAVELED FOR ANOTHER 60 MINUTES, SOME ON HIGHWAYS BUT MOSTLY THROUGH SMALL MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES, UNTIL WE REACHED THE SUMIT. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS...EATING. THE FACILITIES INCLUDE A GIFT SHOP, RESTAURANT, CABLE CARS AND WHAT THEY REFER TO AS THE TRAIN. (MORE LATER ON THE TRAIN)

THE CENTER SECTION OF THE RESTAURANT REVOLVES TWICE EVERY HOUR PROVIDING A PANORAMIC VIEW FOR THE MOUNTAINS, FORREST AND VALLEY AS YOU ENJOY YOUR MEAL.

THE LUNCH WAS BUFFET, AND ALTHOUGH INCLUDING THE USUAL ITEMS, CHICKEN, VEGGIES AND ALL DAT STUFF (PGH TALK) WE TRIED ONE OF THE SPECIALTIES, STIR-FRIED KANGAROO. NO, IT DIDN’T TASTE LIKE CHICKEN, BUT, IT WAS VERY GOOD. GEORGIA EVEN TRIED IT. WHILE WE ATE OUR GUIDE GAVE US THE TICKETS FOR THE TRAIN RIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND THE RETURN TRIP ON THE CABLE CAR. WE WERE FREE TO GO AS WE PLEASED AS LONG AS WE WERE BACK ON THE BUS AT 3:00.

IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THE TRAIN DOWN AND THE CABLE BACK TO THE TOP AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID. AS WE WAITED FOR THE TRAIN TO ARRIVE YOU BEGAN TO IMAGINE WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN DURING THIS ADVENTURE. THERE WAS NO TRACK FOR THE TRAIN...JUST CABLE. THE CABLE WAS NOT STRUNG ABOVE YOUR HEAD BUT INSTEAD RAN ALONG THE GROUND

THERE WERE ABOUT 100 OF US WAITING AND THEN WE SAW THE CABLE BEGIN TO MOVE. THE “TRAIN” WOULD SOON ARRIVE BUT WHAT WERE WE TO EXPECT. WE HEARD THE NOISE AS IT GOT CLOSER, LOUDER AND LOUDER IT BECAME AND THEN EXITING THROUGH THE SMALL DARK HOLE OF VEGETATION CAME THE “TRAIN.”

THERE WERE THREE CARS CONNECTED, EACH WITH 6 OR 7 ROWS OF PLASTIC BENCH TYPE SEAT. VERY LITTLE LEG ROOM FOR TALL GUYS AND EVEN LESS HEAD ROOM FOR SHORT PEOPLE LET ALONE A TALL GUY. WHY YOU ASK? THE CARS ARE COVERED WITH STURDY WIRE MESH, TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING OUT. I THINK WE HAD MORE PROTECTIONS THAN MOST ROLLA-COASTERS. WE MADE OUR COMMITMENT AND IF WE EXPECTED TO WALK ALONG THE BOARDWALK IN THE FORREST BELOW, WE HAD NO CHOICE.

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ROOM FOR SEVERAL MORE PEOPLE IN OUR ROW NOBODY BOTHERED US SO WE STRETCHED OUT ON AN ANGLE TO SPARE THE LEGS. THE MAN IN CONTROL GAVE THE SIGN WE WERE ABOUT TO EMBARK DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE. THE BREAK WAS RELEASED AND WE WERE OFF LIKE A BULLET OUT OF A GUN. IN LESS THAN A SECOND WE WERE IN TOTAL DARKNESS AND THE ANGLE OF OUR DROP BECAME NOTICEABLE STEEPER, EVEN IN THE DARK. OCCASIONALLY A RAY OF LIGHT, AND BACK TO DARKNESS. YOU FELT DROPS OF LIQUID, HOPEFULLY WATER, HIT YOUR HEAD, HAND OR ANY OTHER PART OF YOUR BODY NOT COVERED WITH CLOTHING. IT WAS BACK TO RAYS OF LIGHT BUT THE FORREST GROWTH WAS SO THICK IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHEN OR WHERE THE TRIP WOULD END. I’M NOT SURE OF THE TOTAL TIME ELAPSED, COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 45 SECONDS, BUT, AND EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN’T HAVE CURVES AND LOOPS, IT WAS AS THRILLING AS ANY COASTER RIDE.

HAVING REACH THE BOTTOM, WE GAZED AT THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY BEFORE US. THE DRAK GREEN FOLIAGE OF THE TREES MIXED WITH THE LIGHT GREEN FOLIAGE OF THE VARIOUS SPECIES OF PLANTS WHILE WILDLIFE SOUNDS CAME FROM ALL SIDES. WE BEGAN TO FOLLOW THE BOARDWALK THROUGH THE THICK UNDERBRUSH, STOPPING FREQUENTLY TO READ THE SIGNS OR STARE INTO A CAVE OR MINE. FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT NOT OFTEN, THE SUN WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE TREE TOPS REACHING THE FORREST FLOOR FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE WIND WOULD PICKUP AGAIN. LARGE PIECES OF FALLEN ROCK FROM THE CLIFFS ABOVE WOULD BE PERCHED AT PRECARIOUS ANGLES ONLY FEET AWAY. WHATS HOLDS THEM IN PLACE AND WHAT IF IT SHOULD BEGIN TO MOVE WERE THE THOUGHTS RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD. ON OTHER OCCASIONS YOU COULD PEAK THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE TREES TO SEE THE JAGGED CLIFFS ABOVE. THE COLORS, ALTHOUGH NOT LIKE THE GRAND CANYON, RANGED FROM REDS, TO BROWNS AND EVEN BLACK.

THE BOARDWALK MEANDERS FOR ABOUT 3/4 MILE, FREQUENTLY WITH OFFSHOOTS FOR THE FOOLHARDY, LEADING YOU TO YOUR ESCAPE TO THE TOP, THIS TIME BY A LESS TAXING, MORE SERENE AND PICTURESQUE CABLE CAR.

NOT EVERYONE MADE IT BACK TO THE BUS BY 3:00, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IT SEEMED ALRIGHT...THE SHIP WASN’T LEAVING TONIGHT. WE HAD ONE MORE GLORIOUS DAY IN SYDNEY TO ENJOY. OUR TRIP BACK TO THE SHIP INCLUDED A FEW SMALL MOUNTAIN TOP TOWNS WITH NUMEROUS ARTSY ENVIRONMENTS AND BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED LAWNS, MANY OF WHICH BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF THE FALL SEASON SETTING IN.

WE ARRIVE AT THE SHIP TERMINAL AT 6:15. STILL NEEDING TO BUY STAMPS FOR OUR POSTCARDS, WE EXITED THE BUS WILLING TO ROAM THE AREA BUT THE RAIN BEGAN TO FALL. WE MADE A QUICK CALCULATION AS TO THE TIME OF DAY IN THE STATES AND REALIZED IT WOULD BE RUDE TO CALL AT 2:00 A.M., HOWEVER IT WAS STILL FRIDAY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ONLY 11:00 P.M.

BEFORE LEAVING THE SHIP THIS MORNING, WE CHECKED THE SYDNEY ACCESS NUMBERS FOR IDT. WOULD THE NUMBERS BE BLOCKED HERE AS THEY WERE IN NEW ZEALAND OR WOULD WE HAVE SUCCESS. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE NUMBERS WORKED. WE TALKED TO SCOTT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND BY THE TIME WE FINISHED THE RAIN HAD STOPPED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO EXPLORE THE SHOPS AROUND THE PIER AREA.

THE FIRST STOP WAS THE ATM AND THEN IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG TO FIND A PLACE SELLING STAMPS. WE PAID $9.00 FOR 6 STAMPS, AN EXTRA .60 CENTS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE QUICK STOP STORE. WE CONTINUED TO STROLL ALONG THE MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE FERRY DOCKS. AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WE TURNED ONTO GEORGE STREET AND BEGAN OUR TREK PASSED SEVERAL PUBS WITH LOUD MUSIC. MOST OF THE SHOPS WERE CLOSED AND ALL THE KIOSK STANDS ON ARGYLE STREET WERE EMPTY. WALKING FURTHER ALONG GEORGE STREET WE ENCOUNTERED A SET OF STAIRS LEADING TO THE OBSERVATION AREA AT THE END OF THE SHIP TERMINAL. THE OPERA HOUSE WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM US, UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW, AND THE BRIDGE WAS NEARLY ABOVE OUR HEADS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WERE THE SERIES OF OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS TO OUR LEFT.

WE HAD ASK OUR TOUR GUIDE IF SHE KNOW IF THE AREA CONTAINED A RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE. THIS DREW A BLANK NOT ONLY FROM HER BUT THE BUS DRIVER ALSO. SHE DID, HOWEVER, RECOMMEND WOLFE’S. WELL, WHAT TO OUR WONDROUS EYES DID APPEAR...YOU GOT IT...WOLFE’S. WE CHECKED OUT THE MENU, MADE AN INQUIRY, AND WAS INFORMED THEY WERE FILLED FOR THE NIGHT. “WE OPEN AT NOON TOMORROW, DON’T NEED A RESERVATION FOR THEN.”

BUSINESS CARD IN HAND WE STARTED FOR THE NEXT PLACE WHEN WE HEARD, “HEY, WE JUST HAD A CANCELLATION, WE CAN TAKE YOU NOW.” ALL THE TABLES ARE UNDERCOVER, BIG TENT LIKE MATERIAL, AND LUCKY FOR US IT WAS, AS WE GOT COMFORTABLE IT BEGAN TO RAIN, MAKE THAT POUR. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, STOMACHS FULL, SATISFIED AND NOT A DROP OF RAIN TO BE FOUND, WE TOOK A FEW NIGHT SHOTS AND HEADED FOR THE SHIP FOR A GOOD NIGHT OF SLEEP.