So.....we're kind of really high up.....

Today was ridiculous.  Mallory and I slept in, which given the amount of walking we did yesterday, felt AMAZING.  But then our hotel decided they urgently needed to test every emergency system them had ON OUR FLOOR AT EIGHT IN THE MORNING.  Jerks.  So, needless to say, that was less than enjoyable.  But by the time we actually got moving, the sun was out again! Yay!  

In our excitement, we decided it'd be a great plan to try to find the Sydney BridgeClimb place (without directions obviously), and wandered through downtown Sydney until we found it, and randomly booked a trip UP the Sydney harbour bridge.  I want you all to read that carefully.  UP.  Not ACROSS like most people do, no no.  UP.  

So we went wandering to get food to kill time until our appointment, only to see the sky begin to darken menacingly....CURSES!  We made it back to the place without it raining still, and began to go through our orientation.  In order to climb the Sydney harbour bridge, you apparently must put on ugly gray jumpsuits, and be breathalyzed, which was hilarious.  So to get government clearance to climb the bridge, the company had to pass all these safety standards, including the fact that every single thing you take up the bridge with you must be strapped to your body in some form or fashion.  It makes for some CRACKING outfits.  All in all, I had on a jumpsuit, rain pants, safety belt, safety clip which slid along the safety wire, radio, headset, kerchief, baseball cap, and a rain jacket.  GOOD LORD!  

Because the weather gods hate me, as soon as we were preparing to go on our little practice course they devised (to get people to not freak out on the bridge itself), it begins dumping water outside.  Great.  I was about to climb a giant maze of metal while there was lightning in the sky.  Excellent plan.  But, our Aussie guide pressed on, and we started walking through the under-belly of the bridge, which didn't get freaky until the floor became a see-through metal mesh, so I could see the water about a hundred feet below.  We kept walking and climbed all these ladders until we got onto the main arch of the bridge and started our climb, taking a few pictures here and there (they have to take the pictures since they don't trust stupid tourists like me to not drop their cameras).  By the time we got to the official top of the bridge, we were 452 feet above the Sydney harbour....which is REALLY high up.  Mallory and I got to the top and gave one loud "SSSSPPPPBBBAAAHOOOO!!" to Sydney.  I think the city appreciated it.  

I did learn a bunch of cool stuff though.  Apparently they used six MILLION rivets in the construction of the bridge, and it is the largest single-arch bridge in the world (I think).  They also said only 19 people died while building the bridge, and only one of those deaths was from physically falling off the bridge.  Weird.  Oh! and from the top of the bridge you can see the big mirrored glass skyscraped in the helicopter scene from the Matrix! 

Now it's pouring rain again, and Mallory and I are seriously contemplating just going to bed.  I'm SO tired.  But I must press on.  There are koalas to be held tonight, and I'll be DAMNED if I'm going to leave Sydney without at least poking one.  tee hee.

We have to check in to our other hotel before orientation starts on the 9th, so who knows what tomorrow will hold.  Probably more ridiculousness since Mallory and I have no earthly idea what we're doing with ourselves.  whoops