Although the official end of the trip was our arrival in Sydney, most of us had wanted a more significant occasion to punctuate the end of our epic adventure together. In true Ozbus style, it was a slightly disorganised, disparate get together down the pub, where we reviewed the trials and tribulations, the highlights and lowlights of the trip with those we had grown closest to on the journey. Some will continue their adventures together, others will start a new life together, others will return to their old lives. None will be forgotten.
I still have a few more adventures up my sleeve before I return home and my first challenge is the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. Anyone who knows me well, knows these 2 things about me:
1. I get nervous at heights
2. I always challenge my fears
Apparently, one of of my forefathers, was involved in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, so I feel honour bound to hand over the AUD200 (150 quid) for the terror of scaling the dizzy heights. My biggest fear is that I will chicken out.
During lunch with a former colleague I keep staring up at the little ants tethered together as they slowly traverse the high arc of the bridge to the apex and back down the other side.
The butterflies in my stomach get more lively as the appointed hour approaches. Three and a half hours are allocated! OMG. It must be steep to take that long. Our group of 9 are ushered into a small room for a safety briefing. 3 strapping German lads, an English couple, an Asian couple, an Aussie and me. We sign our lives away, enter the room where we are allocated our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and are shown how and when to use it.
Into another room, where we have a practice run on some steps and an overhead gangway.'Anyone nervous?'. Me and the Aussie indicate nervously. 'You'll be fine' we are assured. We do not feel re-assured.
Why are you here? I ask the Aussie. 'A friend bought me the experience' he tells me nervously. 'Some friend' I sympathise.
All too soon it's time to be off. The 3 Germans push to the front. Eek. I wanted to be closer to the guide in case it all goes wrong. I get in behind them. My Aussie buddy is trailing at the end, I feel for him.Once we are in line we cannot change position and he is far from the guide's support. Maybe he's not that nervous.
We set off, dragging our safety harnesses through the safety line. The first hurdle is a narrow wooden scaffold bridge over the main harbour road to get to the main Bridge parapet. It's only 2 planks wide and the road is clearly visible 30ft below. Pretty soon we have negotiated various obstacles along the way and are about to start the main ascent. Our guide turns to give us some history. before moving on but it is clear our Aussie cannot take another step. Assistance is called to take him off the bridge so we can continue. Now I am thelone nervous person. The English couple behind me are quite chatty and we talk about their Aussie experience and my epic bus trip as we climb. My nerves dissipate but we still have a steep open ladder and the external arc to climb. The German in front of me keeps turning to check I'm ok. We climb up the open ladder until we are above the traffic on the bridge. It doesn't seem so high after all. We start the ascent up the arc bu the girders are solid beneath us and extend well beyond the handrails on either side. We are tethered to a line in case of high winds or slipping but the weather is beautiful and the views across Sydney are stunning. As we go, our guide stops to tell us about the roled of the 1600 workers on the bridge including the catchers, balancing on metal plates 130m above the water with nothing to hold on to, as someone chucks white hot rivets across for them to catch in a bucket. It's amazing that only 3 died from falls in the 9 years it took to construct. I feel very safe compared to them and do a little victory dance when I get to the top. As we make our way back down the other sode and the celebratory bubbly my friend has waiting for me. I feel sorry for the Aussie who didn't make it. He had already done the scariest bit.
I still have a few more adventures up my sleeve before I return home and my first challenge is the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. Anyone who knows me well, knows these 2 things about me:
1. I get nervous at heights
2. I always challenge my fears
Apparently, one of of my forefathers, was involved in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, so I feel honour bound to hand over the AUD200 (150 quid) for the terror of scaling the dizzy heights. My biggest fear is that I will chicken out.
During lunch with a former colleague I keep staring up at the little ants tethered together as they slowly traverse the high arc of the bridge to the apex and back down the other side.
The butterflies in my stomach get more lively as the appointed hour approaches. Three and a half hours are allocated! OMG. It must be steep to take that long. Our group of 9 are ushered into a small room for a safety briefing. 3 strapping German lads, an English couple, an Asian couple, an Aussie and me. We sign our lives away, enter the room where we are allocated our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and are shown how and when to use it.
Into another room, where we have a practice run on some steps and an overhead gangway.'Anyone nervous?'. Me and the Aussie indicate nervously. 'You'll be fine' we are assured. We do not feel re-assured.
Why are you here? I ask the Aussie. 'A friend bought me the experience' he tells me nervously. 'Some friend' I sympathise.
All too soon it's time to be off. The 3 Germans push to the front. Eek. I wanted to be closer to the guide in case it all goes wrong. I get in behind them. My Aussie buddy is trailing at the end, I feel for him.Once we are in line we cannot change position and he is far from the guide's support. Maybe he's not that nervous.
We set off, dragging our safety harnesses through the safety line. The first hurdle is a narrow wooden scaffold bridge over the main harbour road to get to the main Bridge parapet. It's only 2 planks wide and the road is clearly visible 30ft below. Pretty soon we have negotiated various obstacles along the way and are about to start the main ascent. Our guide turns to give us some history. before moving on but it is clear our Aussie cannot take another step. Assistance is called to take him off the bridge so we can continue. Now I am thelone nervous person. The English couple behind me are quite chatty and we talk about their Aussie experience and my epic bus trip as we climb. My nerves dissipate but we still have a steep open ladder and the external arc to climb. The German in front of me keeps turning to check I'm ok. We climb up the open ladder until we are above the traffic on the bridge. It doesn't seem so high after all. We start the ascent up the arc bu the girders are solid beneath us and extend well beyond the handrails on either side. We are tethered to a line in case of high winds or slipping but the weather is beautiful and the views across Sydney are stunning. As we go, our guide stops to tell us about the roled of the 1600 workers on the bridge including the catchers, balancing on metal plates 130m above the water with nothing to hold on to, as someone chucks white hot rivets across for them to catch in a bucket. It's amazing that only 3 died from falls in the 9 years it took to construct. I feel very safe compared to them and do a little victory dance when I get to the top. As we make our way back down the other sode and the celebratory bubbly my friend has waiting for me. I feel sorry for the Aussie who didn't make it. He had already done the scariest bit.
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