CLIMB THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE? - YES I DID!!

​Yes, that is me on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and no, it is not a product of Photo Shop, I really did do the Bridge Climb lol!!
I was lucky enough to get to Sydney this past week, accompanying my husband who was going on business.  This was my first visit to Australia, a place I have been longing to get to for quite a while now.

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I saw Oprah climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge on her show and it just struck me as a fantastic thing to do, even though heights, as my family will attest, is not my strong suit! Not knowing if I would come back to Sydney in the future, I decided to go for it. (If she can do it I thought, surely I can too)

My husband bless him would have loved to have done it with me but work constraints made it impossible, undaunted, I went on my own (I think he was quite impressed with my guts haha!)

BridgeClimb started in 1998 and is a major tourist attraction in Sydney.  You can do daytime, twilight and evening climbs.  The regular climb takes about 3.5 hours but included in that time is getting kitted up with a jump suit, safety harness and going through a few safety tests.  One safety test is passing an alcohol breathalyser, so much for dutch courage!!!!  They also make you climb up and down a few ladders and catwalks so you have a feel  of what to expect before you set off.

It was pretty freaky walking along narrow catwalks two planks wide or sometimes open metal mesh with the sound of cars and trains roaring overhead.  Thankfully you are strapped to a line the entire time so there is no danger of falling.  The guides are all superb and make it a lot of fun.

As a 'must do' while on a trip to Sydney, royals and celebrities such as Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark, Matt Damon, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Ferguson, Cathy Freeman, Kylie Minogue, Kostya Tszyu and Oprah of course, have all done the Climb.

I am pretty proud of myself and am boring everyone half to death by telling them "I did it" When you are put into your group ready for the climb, they ask you to introduce yourself and give the reason why you are doing the Bridge Climb.  My response was two fold, firstly, I figured as I am going to be 50 next year it is less painful and expensive to climb the bridge than to get a tatoo! Secondly, I said I wanted to make my kids proud - well this one was for you Martin and Heather!  I love you. :)
http://www.bridgeclimb.com/

It was pretty cold and windy up there at the top of the Bridge but you are given the option to wear a fleece jacket over your jumpsuit.  Ironically, the two Brits in the group managed to go sans fleece! YEAH!
 
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's most well known and photographed landmarks. It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour.

Fondly known by the locals as the 'Coathanger', the Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 70th birthday in 2002, with its official opening in March 1932.

Click here to see more of my Sydney pictures.

Here is a link if you are interested in reading more about the history of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
 http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/sydney-harbour-bridge

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