SYDNEY
We left Torquay, VIC on the 29 June. Because the weather had been a little miserable my plans of traveling up the coast line and camping changed to driving directly to Sydney where we would be staying with the Kruize family. The drive was a none eventful 11 hour drive with the occasional stop for fuel, stretching of the legs and letting Bella play fetch for a few minutes. I did not eat much that day because i was on a mission to get to Sydney and the only real stops on the way were McDonald's or KFC, of which i am not a fan!
We arrived pretty late in the evening, but were welcomed by Steve, Beth, their two beautiful daughters, Zoe and Brydie, and a large plate of awesome slow cooked beef casserole, washed down with a well earnt beer or two. Stories of our lives were swapped as i ate my meal and the girls acquainted themselves with Bella at the same time introducing her to their dag Olly. (It took some time for them to become friends because he does not like bigger dogs, and now Bella was in his house) Once again the only signs that 16 years had passed, were the two kids had grown and matured into young adults.
During the past ten days i managed to catch a couple days where the weather was half decent enough for me to get my camera out and shoot a few pictures. Steve works in North Sydney so i caught a ride with him to work in the morning and started my day of walking an area where i used to live. The area is called Lavender Bay.
From their i walk around the foreshore to Milson's Point, then up onto and over the Harbor Bridge. Some spectacular views of the Harbor and everything that is going on around it. People commuting by train, ferry, buses, cars, bicycles and then like myself on foot. Walking across the bridge is something you have to do if you ever visit this city, the scale of the bridge and the views from up their are just out of this world. No picture can ever convey the feeling that you get when you look over at the Oprah house and the city skyline.
Once across the bridge i visited the Sydney Observatory and then made my way around to Circular Quay, lots of history in this area. I did not hang around there for too long as it is over run by tourists, a quick walk past the Opera House lead me into the Royal Botanical Gardens and around Farm Cove to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. (Great vantage spot for some nice pictures, if only the sun was out)
That was it for the day, my feet were tired and i still had to get home. I walked back through the gardens and CBD back to the bridge, across it again to catch the train from North Sydney to St Ives. I have not been on public transport for a long time and it blew me away watching everyone with their mobile devices. No interaction between people, just busy texting, and consumed by the electronic age we now live in.
The next day i rested and just enjoyed hanging out at home, the weather was raining and perfect to just stay indoors.
