...is it because I lied when I was seventeen??

I’ve had a very good day. Early start this morning as I wanted to go to Darling Harbour. I got the ferry round to there and went to the Aquarium. It was a really good experience, and there was loads of things to see. I had to rush a little bit as I needed to be back at the hotel for 2pm and the amount of mothers with kids hanging off every limb was unbelievable. Do they not go to school over here??
I came back to the hotel, and quickly got changed. Although the bridge climb is only round the corner from the hotel, I had to be there 20 minutes before it started to check in. As I walked up the hill I needed to use the public facilities. When I went in it was overcast, and miserable, but there was a bit of blue sky on the horizon. When I came out it was throwing it down. Again. I had to wonder how long I had been in there.
It was then time for my climb. The first 45 minutes are getting you kitted out. Climbing suit, rain pants, belt, and all the safety gear. And everything gets clipped onto you, so you get a hat, that’s clipped onto your jumpsuit. Glasses? But them on a piece of string and clip it onto your suit. I suppose as you are 150 feet above the road you have to be a bit careful! After that you have a quick lesson in how the guide wire works, and a go at climbing ladders to see of you’re up for it.
The climb isn’t that bad. You start off by going under the road above you, along a wooden plank about 12 inched wide, then start climbing. As you hit daylight going up the ladder, you realise that you are actually climbing between two lanes of traffic. It’s a bit unnerving but you just keep going. Yes its challenging, and yes I’m sure that in the summer its hot and sweaty. We didn’t have that problem. I don’t think it matters where you are in the world, they call it a monsoon!! It hammered it down, and the further up we got the worse it was. Luckily we were given pac-a-macs (clipped on of course) (does anyone still have one of those?) to wear. Another shining example of how small the world is. I was waiting to climb a ladder and there was a guy at the bottom telling you when you could go. He asked where I was from and I said “just outside of Birmingham” (its just easier) He asked which town, and when I told him, he said his auntie lived in Burntwood. How bizarre!
As you can see from the photo, its a great way to see the city, but not the best weather. It was actually a nice walk, and if it had been dry would have been so much better, but as you cant pick the weather, you have to get on with it. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! The guide was really good and very knowledgeable, and you get a commentary through headsets (clipped on), where he tells you about the history of the bridge and some useless facts (like did you know that 1400 men worked on the bridge and only 36 died).
Its been a really great day, and a definite highlight. Tonight I’m going to celebrate with a friend called Tooheys (the beer not the toffee liquor). I have been on top of the world, and it feels great.
See you soon, same bat-time, same bat-channel

Matt