Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Did I Really Climb the Harbour Bridge?

Hello Elementary Friends,

As I was anticipating my 60th Birthday occurring while I am away from home, I decided that I needed to do something to commemorate it.  I am not typically a "dare devil" preferring a rather safe life style.  So, to make the milestone mean something, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and face my fears!  A climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was just the ticket!  

Here is a bit of history and some facts on the Sydney Harbour Bridge:

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's most well known and photographed landmarks. It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 meters above the harbor. It is fondly known by the locals as the 'Coat Hanger' because of its arch-based design.

A history of the Sydney Harbor Bridge

It was as early as 1815 that Francis Greenway proposed building a bridge from the northern to the southern shore of the harbor.

It took some time for this to become a reality with design submissions invited in 1900. All the submissions were considered unsuitable and so the momentum for the bridge crossing stopped.

However, after the First World War more serious plans were made, with a general design for the Sydney Harbour Bridge prepared by Dr J J C Bradfield and officers of the NSW Department of Public Works. The New South Wales Government then invited worldwide tenders for the construction of the Bridge in 1922 and the contract was let to English firm Dorman Long and Co of Middlesbrough.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge construction started in 1924 and took 1,400 men eight years to build at a cost of 4.2 million. Six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction. It now carries eight traffic lanes and two rail lines, one in each direction, but at the time of its construction the two eastern lanes were tram tracks. They were converted to road traffic when Sydney closed down its tram system in the 1950s.

An interesting past

The Bridge has an interesting past including its official opening on 19 March 1932. Before the NSW Premier, the Honorable John 'Jack' T. Lang, could cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the Harbour Bridge, Captain Francis De Groot of the political group The New Guard slashed the ribbon with his sword. Captain De Goot believed that the only person to open the Bridge should be a member of the Royal Family. Captain De Goot was detained, the ribbon tied together, and the Premier then officially cut the ribbon.

As many as 800 families living in the Bridge's path were relocated and their homes demolished without any compensation given when the Bridge started construction. Sixteen workers lives were lost during construction of the Bridge.

Climbing the Bridge

BridgeClimb started in 1998 and attracts tourists and locals alike to climb the monument. After climbing through catwalks and up ladders and stairs, the view is absolutely breathtaking. There are day, twilight and night climbs and a group of twelve will leave for a climb every ten minutes. The safety precautions taken include a blood alcohol reading and a Climb Simulator, which shows Climbers the climbing conditions that might be experienced on the Bridge.

By all reports, BridgeClimb is fantastic and one of the 'must dos' while on a trip to Sydney, with royals and celebrities such as Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark, Matt Damon, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Ferguson, Cathy Freeman, Kylie Minogue and Kostya Tszyu all having done the Climb.

Jacaranda Trees Welcome Katie in Grand Style!

For months now whenever I have spoken to someone about how beautiful the blossoming trees and shrubbery are around Sydney, I have heard this - "Just wait until November when the Jacarandas are in bloom!"  It has been amazing that these trees decided to welcome Katie to Sydney!

What in the world are Jacaranda Trees?

Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

It has been planted widely in Asia, especially in Nepal. Jacaranda mimosifolia is quite common in Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia, and has been introduced to most tropical and subtropical regions to the extent that it has entered the popular culture.

The generic name is also used as the common name.

Here is a website highlighting the Jacarandas in the Sydney area!

Jacaranda Trees - Sydney

Katie - in the Jacaranda Tree in our Front Yard!

Near Our House!

I will certainly fondly remember the lilac colored Jacaranda Trees next November just like I longed for the golden aspens of Colorado this year!

It has been a joy having Katie here for the past couple weeks.  I am very thankful that she was able to come to have a "taste of our life" here in Australia this year.  This weekend we have rented a beach unit at a seaside town named Kiama about a two hour drive from Sydney.  Then, Katie will fly home on Tuesday (22nd).  But, this time it will only be four weeks until I see her again!

Mitch and I have invited our Beaumont Road Staff to a traditional American Thanksgiving Luncheon to be served in the school staff room on Thanksgiving Day.  After Katie leaves, we will be busy making roast turkey, yams, dressing, etc - it will probably be somewhat of a challenge due to a lack of certain ingredients that we really need.  We will "make do!"  

Until next week, friends, may your lives be filled with both:

THANKS and GIVING!