SH Bridge Bimble
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 18 Feb 2016 23:57
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Sydney Harbour Bridge Bimble
  We had finished being tourists for
the day when Bear asked, can we walk half way across the
bridge. Half way sounded OK and how could I refuse his happy face.
Silly me, when will I ever learn. We walked from The Rocks, found the stairs (by
the time we had reached the memorial plaque my feet
were squeaking. The plaque reads: On 28 May 2000, more than 250,000 people
walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconcillation, in the
months that followed, a million more Australians participated in similar walks
throughout this nation. Mayi budjari yams. The start
at half past four on a sunny but windy afternoon..........
 Looking down on the cruise ship parked in Circular
Quay.............
 ..........taking
on a few supplies.
  We just love the busyness and watched the toing and froing for a while. Then
walking over the most expensive hotel in Sydney, the
Hiatt.
 Happy boy. Nearing the first set of pylons.
 Bridge
walkers coming down their final arch.
 The next memorial
plaque.
   We watched a
yacht, reliving the excitement of our first approach.
 The Opera House looked lovely as
always.............dwarfed by a cruise ship.
  We were at the
memorial plaque at the viewing pylon, we may as
well walk the rest of the way and get the bus at the other end, the bus stop is
just beyond the bridge, OK why not – famous last words.
  We enjoyed the
shadow cast by the bridge on the water below.
   On we went, Bear
at the half way point. I nearly threw a tourist off the only bench but
managed a weak smile instead......
 Time to enjoy the
midway view.
 Always busy,
always changing.
 Under the
Australian flag nearing the second pylons.
 What a
view.
  Over the other
side. Nearly the final
look back.
 A quick look at the Australian Naval ladies.
  Lads getting very
wet and the more sedate way to travel in the VIP
water taxi.
  We just had to have one more look at Circular Quay. Bear
with the Opera House.
  Maintenance is a
constant.
   The thoughtfully named Church by the Bridge, down the steps at
the end – I see no bus stop. Through the
underpass, nope, no bus stop.
  Looking back at
the bridge and walking past the Chinese Christian
Church at Milson’s Point. I need an ice
cream.
   I see a
train, I like the old fashioned lamp, I like
the railway bridge but mostly I enjoy the sit down
outside the newsagent while I wait patiently for my Calippo, enjoying the rest
so very much. A lovely young man in a perfectly clipped public boy voice told me
the worst. “Oh, you’ll have to walk to the Mall at North Shore for a bus to
Cammeray, about twenty minutes should do it, is there anything else I can help
you with ???” How about a new set of feet because my current ones are
fraying.......is what I was thinking, how about I wipe that chirpy enthusiasm
from your good-looking face, but I managed a very polite thank you – somehow. I
impart the information to the now-less-than-smiley boy. Oh. Oh dear. I’m sorry, I thought the bus stop was just at the end
of the bridge. But, you did ask a non-very-well-English speaking
guard who would have said yes to anything you wanted to be at the end of the
bridge, even a spaceship......... Oh. I should have
brought the timetable with me. Clearly. On we went. My feet ache, how about yours ??? Have you ever seen
anyone in a frantic panic trying to seek a weapon with which to inflict damage.
Bear has, walk on quietly Bear, quietly.
 Past the posh car
shop, I knew where I was now, just a fairly steep slope to do, cross the
road and up the hill to the bus stop. Would you like to
look through the Mall??? Do they sell new feet in there then.
Grrrrr.
   Before we crossed the road we saw
a stone with a plaque. It was nice to lean on the
stone and read intently, in the shade about the
first Wesleyan Methodist Church erected on the north shore stood on this site,
then a small triangle of land by Lane Cove Road, Walker Street and an extension
eastward of Blue Street.
James Milson, “desirous of
assisting in the erection of a chapel or place of religious worship for the use
of the religious society or church denominated by Wesleyan Methodists at St
Leonards on the north shore of Sydney.” (Bless him, why use six words when
thirty six will do) sold 22 perches of his 50 acre grant to the Methodists
on the 9th of December 1863 for ten shillings of British money. There is a local
legend that he not only required that a Church should be built within seven
years but also that the Church bells should peal every Sunday (well of
course he did).
The foundation stone of the
Church was laid on the 17th of August 1864 by an American Wesleyan preacher, The
Rev’d William Taylor, who was then visiting Australia. The first service was
held on the 18th of May 1865. It was from this base, first in the York Street
Circuit, that the cause of Methodism spread over the whole of the north shore
served by ministers who needed to be as good as horse-riding as they were at
preaching and teaching.
The people named Methodists
continued to worship on this site for over sixty years until the land was
resumed and the Church demolished by the State Government as part of the works
needed to form the approaches to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The last service was
held on the 28th of June 1931. The widened Lane Cove Road became the Pacific
Highway. The Methodists then moved further up Walker Street, north of Mount
Street, building a new Church in the front of the old Central Hall at 100 Walker
Street, which was demolished in 1970. The Methodist Church was incorporated into
the Uniting Church of Australia in 1977.
 Reading all that gave the feet the
final impetus to make it to the Mall. Let’s go in, go up on the escalator and leave by the far end
doors next to the bus stop. Like your plan, sir. Only one teeny,
tiny problem, no upper floor exit, so guess what, I was too weak to impale Bear
and simply walked back the length of the Mall, got on the downward escalator,
exited the building and walked up the steep hill to said bus stop. One word of
warning here – make sure we get the bus all the way to our stop – NOT the one
that stops half a mile before it....... OK. I
promise. Sounds vaguely reassuring. Just the walk from our stop, the
hundred and spare change steps down to the marina, down the pontoon, on to Beez
and don’t disturb me until tomorrow morning. What about
supper.................... Sing for it.
ALL IN ALL A WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE BUT DON'T MENTION THE FEET
WOULDN’T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD...OH BUT MY
FEET
DON’T MENTION THE
FEET
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