Sunday, Sept 22.

Sydney.

Another day without the bike; today was family. Met up with my niece, Helen with her husband Adam with Rafferty, Estelle and Abigail. They checked into the hotel last night and we headed down to Woolloomooloo Bay for breakfast in Cafe Siena. All of Sydney was already alive.

We were on a mission as we walked on through the Botanic Gardens towards the Opera House.

The Sydney Marathon was finishing there and our target was to cheer Helen’s brother, Columban on to the line. Thousands upon thousands were coming in after their exertions and creating a great atmosphere. The half-marathon had started shortly after 6am, and the full 42.2 km race an hour later. An early finisher bestowed his medal on Rafferty as we waited by the barrier.

Finally, Columban crossed the line (his 9th marathon in the last year) and we all shared in his joy. All the runners waited around on the steps of the Opera House for a while meeting up with family and friends.

 Most headed off then to the grassed area around Government House for stretching and relaxing. Amazed at the vast number of volunteers and organisation involved in such an event.

We dropped down to crowded Circular Quay for lunch and then took a ferry for Darling harbour. These ferries run continuously across/up and down the harbour. It was a chance to relax and see the sights from a different angle. After passing under the bridge, the ferry passed by Walsh Bay, another farmer collection of wharves that have been redeveloped.

Darling Harbour is full of attractions - restaurants, conference centres, museums, aquarium etc. We opted for Wild Life Sydney, a full zoo concentrated in a small area with regular short talks by the staff on the stranger species of Australia. Rafferty handled the snake at the end of one such input. The koalas weren’t disturbed from their sleep by the crowds - they sleep for 20 hrs each day. Estelle felt like joining them exhausted with all the going. 

The whole complex was covered by netting and birds/parrots flew freely about. It was such a vast collection in a confined space and we stayed there till the complex closed at 5. Some of the stranger creatures were there - Tasmanian Devil, Cassowary and the strangest of bugs.

With the evening closing in we crossed Pyrmont Bridge and boarded the ferry by the Maritime Museum.

Darkness was just falling as we pulled into Circular Quay on the crowded ferry. With weary limbs, we took the bus back to the hotel.

It had been a most enjoyable day with Helen and family and great to be there for Columban as he came in.

.....and thank God for a lovely day.