Gay of A Certain Age - The Big Five Oh! - Sydney 2

The day I was most looking forward to finally came.  This day, I was going to conquer my fear of heights and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  ...That is, if I didn't chicken out.  That bridge is pretty high up!  This was also the day I would get my biggest steps count.  I started out on foot from my hotel to the bridge.  I enjoyed the buildings... old and new

and I enjoyed the citizenry.

I stopped to rest a spell on a lovely street bench

Then, I finally made it to the Bridge Climb Sydney.  There, I prepared for the climb with a group of 10 others by getting safety information and putting on a blue jump suit.  We were instructed to remove anything that could fall from a pocket including camera, cell phone, fitbit, keys, coins... just to be safe, I just removed my pants and enjoyed the breeziness of the oversized suit.  Then, there was more instruction.    Finally, we started our ascent.  Even at the base of the bridge, we were pretty high up.

As we started climbing up the ladders and  ducking under and over beams, I distracted myself with the idea that this bridge climb would be a great setting for a zombie movie.  I also realized that I had to fight my desire to hug the ladder because at its slight angle, I kept banging my elbows and shins.  I found I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be.  The fact that there was a safety line that attached me to the guide railings at all times really helped me feel secure.  (I think I've mentioned that I attribute some of my fear of heights to watching Irwin Allen movies like The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure at a young age, so along with the zombie movie scenario, my mind was working on all kinds of scenarios of how things could go wrong while I was vulnerably tethered to a doomed bridge...)  The climb was peppered with stops for photos and information, like the fact that the bridge is exactly twice the height of the Opera House.

At the top, I was very pleased that I had achieved my goal.

I conquered fear my fear of heights and climbed very high up and did it all without the drama I worried would plague me as I did.  I also did it without my FitBit, so I have no idea how many steps didn't get counted.  We returned to the base and I was reunited with my stuff.  I continued my journey of the day.

With steps being counted again, I walked across the bridge

and made my way to the other end and my next goal.

Ever since I had first seen a picture of the huge face that greets park goers, I had always wanted a photo of myself at the entrance of Luna Park.  But first lunch and a cocktail...

Sated and rested I set upon the task of amusing myself at a little amusement park with a big face.

Once inside, I enjoyed the rides and the colorful and slightly twisted atmosphere.

I enjoyed some fellow park goers

and more fun

This BJ ride confused, as did this one

There were games with fabulous prizes and I tried my darndest to win one of these!

Alas, I didn't win a KISS doll, so I enjoyed a Campari & Soda

...while trying to figure out what was going on in this bit of decor..

With the sun beginning to set, I was happy that this day I learned that I could fight my fears and have a fun time!  I also learned a great deal of patience.  I wanted that shot of myself at the Luna Park entrance all alone, so I waited until the park closed at 6:00 and everyone was gone.  So, there I sat, waiting for a clear shot.  It took a long time, because people lingered and spilled out in spurts.  Finally, after what was easily an hour, I finally got a peopleless shot!

It surely was a test of patience, as almost every time I thought I was clear, someone would appear before the timer on my camera went off.  For those of you who think, "Gosh, So & So is such a patient person..." don't think that it just happens, patience takes work.

I started my trek back to my hotel across the bridge as the sun was setting.  I waited 'til it was dark, so that I could get a nice night shot of the Opera House

and walked to a spot to get me with the bridge.

I continued home, admiring more buildings

and citizenery

At my hotel, I was pleasantly pooped and ready for bed.  I checked my FitBit and saw that I had over 30,000 steps counted for the day - that's not even including the Bridge climbing steps!

It really was a great day of goal reaching and jumping!