The sixth of December will mark the 10th Anniversary of our last (and only), visit to Australia, and despite the passing years memories of the trip are still extremely vivid for both Pat and I.
Primarily, the focus of the trip was to meet our second Australian grandchild, Ben, and to re-engage with Bella and with Stoddard and Noleen as parents in their own environment, rather than as very short term visitors to SA as they were when we first met granddaughter Bella.
This entry then will be the first of a few structured around some of the really amazing experiences we had ‘Down Under’, and why so many of those memories continue to (and will probably always), linger in our collective consciousness.
First and foremost (obviously), was the reunion at the airport, followed by the indelible sighting of the Sydney Opera House as we drove across Sydney Bridge ………… then down across the Spit on our way to Manly and their home right near the junction of Manly and Freshwater, with both beaches just a few minutes walk away. In no time at all we were happily ensconced in Bella’s bedroom, which I believe she surrendered not without protest at having to move in with her brother for the duration of our stay.
Both Stodds and Nols really went out of their way to show us around and introduce us to the Sydney way of life. We visited many of the beautiful beaches, including Manly, Manly Cove, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Dee Why, Narrabeen and Mona Vale………..all the way up to Palm Beach at the Northern Tip of the Pittwater where they now have their home. Pittwater is like an extremely large version (20 or 30 times), of Langebaan, with the most beautiful blue water stretching South just a little bit inland along this beautiful peninsula roughly a third of the way back to Manly. At the time, when on a separate trip up to the viewpoint on the West Head above the Pittwater, I recall thinking (and perhaps mentioning), that that finger of land just across the water over there is where I would like to live if Sydney were my hometown.
A highlight on a couple of occasions was the Manly Ferry into the city and that incredible approach to The Sydney Opera House with the Bridge just slightly behind and to the right. Boarding the Ferry then was another shock to my South African senses. There were literally hundreds of bicycles parked at the terminal by people commuting into the city, and apart from one or two which stood out like sore thumbs, the rest had no locks or chains. There were also a large number of motorcycles parked at the terminal, a large number of which had their owners helmets hanging from the handle bars, and quite a few of which I noticed also had their ignition keys dangling from their slots. Can you imagine that degree of trust here?
Until one has had the experience of both crossing and sailing in Sydney Harbour very few people are aware that it has more than 240 kilometers of coastline with everywhere a variety of unspoiled beaches, beautiful terraced areas with amazing homes, little pockets of forests and numerous yacht clubs. We soon discovered that the yacht clubs were open to all-comers who lived more than 5 kilometers away - you simply sign yourself in and make the best of the facilities, which in a city where dining out at any level is a pretty expensive business, proved to be the most cost effective means of getting a good meal at an affordable price - particularly in SA Rand terms…………and on the water too nogal!
During our first few days there Stoddard booked me a ride on Australia 21 - an America’s Cup Challenge yacht from a few years earlier. There were a few tourists on board who weren’t sailors, but for those of us who were it was the experience of a lifetime. As it happened there was an Open Class Harbour Race about to begin as we went out and the Skipper decided it would be fun to join in ………….. right up my alley! The wind piped up to around 20 knots and made for a really glorious three hour experience on relatively protected flattish water which, in Table Bay, would have been quite unpleasant, but which in this amazing harbour had us speeding along at a comfortable 21 knots downwind, and around 15 - 16 knots upwind. With just myself and another old-timer working the coffee grinders we weren’t the most efficient boat out there, but managed a very credible second behind a really modern 60 footer. Certainly a day to remember …………. thanks again Chum for getting me on board. It really was the very best way to get a feel for this amazing harbour, and enjoy a rollicking good sail at the same time.
One of the things that Pat and I were very aware of was the number of really fantastic little fresh fish shops that were evident in all the suburban shopping centers and main streets. Without exception all of their wares would be laid out in the most beautiful fashion - all fresh and pleasing to the eye - just waiting to be bought and enjoyed……………….and then of course there was the Big One - the Sydney Fish Market in Blackwattle Bay on the South West side of Darling Harbour. What an absolutely incredible experience - what an assault on the senses - pristine in every sense of the word where one would expect the smell and offal of a Hout Bay or Kalk Bay harbour - tiny little things in comparison to this amazing market which must take up at least four rugby fields of floor space. Here we bought a “walk around” meal which was simply as good as it gets.
Sydney Fish Market
There were of course a number of other amazing experiences in Sydney …………. Christmas with the family - New Years Eve and the fireworks which we were lucky enough to watch from the Prime Position of the platform base of the Sydney Mast on Bradley’s Head ………….. and the Cicadas that heralded our arrival at the Head that wonderful evening as we walked down through the forest from the bus station. Also our flight on the Sea Plane above the harbour and around to Bondi Beach - and the start of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. But more about these next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment