Saturday again up and out for 8:00 but this time not for ringing but to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb so Stew had to be left behind as nothing is to be taken up. The bridge climb took 3 hours and is worth every minute of the time. I did find Stew's long lost friend waiting for me at the coffee shop after the climb as the picture shows. We then walked around the Opera House and back to the car for another journey to St Peters and Burnwood.
Friday we were on our way to Bathurst Cathedral an 8 11-3-14 with a tower that is still a building site. Two sides of the ringing chamber were open to the elements and we had to climb up scaffolding to get to the ringing chamber.
We then moved quickly on to Lithgow Hoskins Memorial Church 7-2-2 8 where a quarter peal was attempted but not successful. Then off to the Blue mountains where we went to have another look around, we also decided to go on the Zig Zag railway at Lithglow this train instead of going through tunnels as it is named Zig Zags along the edge of the ravine Stew decided that his was not going to be left out cooling off in the one of the many waterfalls, and on to Sydeny where we will be staying for 3 nights.
Tuesday on the road again with a change of accommodation not such an early start but a very long day traveling to St Andrews at Lismore for general ringing, then a quarter of Grandsire Triples, as you can see Stew could not resist getting in on the act again.
Having completed this quarter we are back in the cars driving a further 216 miles, stopping for a quick snack on the way to St Peters Cathedral where we caught up the the locals for their practice night, and a lovely meal at a local pub. Again Stew could not help himself he had to make himself known to the local emergency services just is case.
Sunday up early for service ringing at St Andrews and then on to St Johns Cathedral, where the bells are no longer open to the elements, they have also fitted sound hoppers.
Not such an early call for Monday as traveling 3 hours and a 163 miles for evening ring at St Paul's Maryborough. Maryborough is the birth place of the author who wrote Mary Popins and Stew could not resist having a cuddle before we went ringing.
Well here I am on the first leg of my journey having purchased my train ticket and had to make the first half of my journey by coach as there is work on the line and am now on a train heading towards the airport where I will stay the night and catch an early flight. It is not that early it is just that I have to book in 2 ½ prior to the flight which makes 6am, and therefore I am staying the night at a hotel on the airport. just to save the panic of missing the flight , what you call role out on bed and book in should be a piece of cake. The nerves have not set in yet I expect that will happen tomorrow when it is time to board the plain .