So, you think you're an icon. Big deal!

Taken from the pedestrian bridge across the Waringah Expressway, which is really an extension of Ridge Street, North Sydney, this view keeps the ego of both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in check.

I will add more info during the day as I stumble upon it.

A large amount of residential and commercial property, half a golf course, and a cemetery were resumed by the government to build this expressway.



the above page is one of ten pages that can be viewed here

The flip side

Here is the Sydney Harbour Bridge from a different, and refreshing, prespective. Instead of the more usual SE direction, this has been taken from a SWerly direction (looking toward the NE).

This is my contribution to the Sunday Bridges community.

This is my contribution to the Walk in the Street community.

Aloft me hearties!

The James Craig, originally the Clan MacLeod (1874), is a 3-masted barque which was restored by the Sydney Heritage Fleet between 1973 and 2001. A friend attended a Maritime Museum conference during the week, and on Friday evening from 4pm 'til 8pm, attendees chugged on the James Craig under motor out to Watsons Bay and then leisurely sailed back. I got to tag along. Hee hee ...

Most of the crew were volunteers from the Sydney Heritage Fleet, many of whom had been instrumental in her salvage and return to glory. As you may be aware, a huge proportion of volunteers are over retirement age. Which brings to mind the old quote: In your guts, you know they're nuts!

They were still lashing the canvas as we came back in under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and concluded our voyage with a chugg up and around Cockatoo Island, before returning to the permanent berth of the James Craig beside Wharf 7 which is launched as the home of the Sydney Heritage Fleet in a few months.

This is my contribution to the Sunday Bridges community.

45 degree pivot

In my best tour-guide-ese, on my right, and to the NW, we have a distant view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge dressed in its best naval industrial frock, provided by the Garden Island Naval Base and engraving dock.

On my left, and to the SW, 'the mighty heart is lying still', but continuing to loom over bays and ridges between us. From the left there is Centrepoint (always Centrepoint, no matter where I roam!), then the MLC Centre in Martin Place, then ... golly what are the next three ... Jim? Ann? Peter? Jo? ... help. Is one Deutsche Bank? I do know that the waterway in both images is Rushcutters Bay, that I am standing on New Beach Road close to Yarranabee Point. And at 9:30am the sky is clouding over menacingly.

Yes, yes ... I just realised, that if I go from NW to SW, then I have not pivoted 45 degrees at all.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

The MCA is building a new wing and, as the expression goes, you have to crack an egg to make an omelette. Situated in an art-deco building designed in the '30s in a prime position on the western shores of Sydney Cove (SC is the water, Circular Quay is the land), the detritus is encroaching upon well-trodden public walking space.

Here are three aspects: the boardwalk looking to the north; looking along the western foreshore towards the bridge with the roof of a ferry wharf in the foreground; and, looking due west to the MCA itself. All photographs taken from Cahill Walk about 9am.

Sydney's ferries

This is the ferry, Scarborough, named after one of the vessels in the First Fleet which anchored in Sydney Cove in January 1788. This modern day incarnation is heading into Circular Quay with the Harbour Bridge behind, and beneath that the joys of Luna Park, which is on the shores of Lavender Bay.

8:50am,90mm, F11, 1/1000, ISO=500

A well-earnt reputation for hedonism

You can see how these two images dovetail. I am still on the bush track running along the ridge beside Little Sirius Cove, on my way (eventually) to the Athol Street Ferry Wharf at the 'bottom' of the zoo. Yes, the day was very grey and hazy. A predicted fierce hail storm never eventuated. By the time I got home, the cloud had parted and blue reigned supreme. Drats!

I spy with my little eye

Most of you will be able to recognise the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. But how many Sydneysiders will be able to pick out Government House and the Conservatorium of Music.

And from where did I take this photograph? Give up?

From very close to the entrance to the William Street tunnel in Kings Cross.