Australia Day 3

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What a great day! We got in about 12 hours of sightseeing activity today. Although the early morning sky looked threatening we opted for travel by ferry today. A nice 30-minute ride from Sydney to Manly provided great views of the Sydney skyline and the many parks that line the shores. Once in Manly we got this bright idea to rent bicycles so we could see more of the area in a few hours than we could on foot. I think the young attendant at the bike hire shop was chuckling as he sent us out, with upside-down maps on the handlebars, on a route that started out with lots of hills. After viewing a couple of secluded coves and a lot of huffing and puffing, we abandoned the suggested route to the Sydney Harbor National Park and headed back towards town and Manly Beach, where the terrain was significantly flatter. We saw some beautiful parks and beaches, met a nice mailman who introduced us to a Water Dragon (see photo) that had stopped us in our tracks, and ate the lunch we had packed while resting under a large tree at Shelly Beach. We wanted to think everyone was looking at us because we were the only bicyclists wearing helmets, but probably they just thought we were a couple of crazy old people. We were beginning to think so ourselves--what made us think this would be an easy mode of transportation? The bike shop attendant noted we were about his parents' age (he is 27) and THEY wouldn't ever go bike touring! Once we turned in the bikes we headed to the store to buy degreaser for Mike's pants (he had some difficulty with his bike) and then to a local brewery to revive Maureen (we were thinking of you, Kyle!).

Then back on the ferry to Sydney, and on to another one to Darling Harbour. We walked along the wharf a while, then had happy hour drinks and appetizers (confusingly called entrees here) before a very nice seafood dinner while watching the sun go down. It was nighttime for the ferry ride back to Sydney, and the lights and views of the city were spectacular. Then on to the train to get back to our neighborhood and a long walk back to the apartment.

We're taking some Advil and heading to bed to rest our tired, old bones. Tomorrow's a big day--we pick up the rental car!

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Photos

Opera House
On the ferry to Manly

4 Pines Brewery
No, she's not drinking 2!

Fresh Flounder for Mike
Dinner at Nick's Seafood on the Cockles Wharf

Night Skyline
Leaving Darling Harbour by ferry

Comments

[Nuno Moreiras]

nice photos
Hey! Nice photos, loved the water dragon...! cheers

[Lyndsey]

Bikes are always a good choice
You're already smarter than we were...renting bikes! What a novel concept. Good for you for wearing helmets...safety never takes a holiday! I'll have to send you the Australian "vocab" list I put together when I was over there, might save you from situations like the appetizer/entree. Glad you're having a great time, love the blog!

[Kyle]

I think this picture sums up why the Bike rental guy was chucklin' so hard....

[Wiskeys]

Little Manly Point
Yeah, I think you're right. Plus, I couldn't resist this photo op, and I don't think Dad "got it."

[Wiskeys]

Helpful Info
Lyndsey, your information has been so helpful! Today we made the Bondi/Bronte beach walk and I swam in one of the ocean pools--we wouldn't even have known about this otherwise. Please send the vocab list to my email if you can find it--I'm struggling in this area!