Starting out on my bike tour with Graeme Dodd of BIKE BUFFS - SYDNEY BIKE TOURS. See my review at TRIP ADVISOR, http://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g255060-d1933019-r214576623-Bike_Buffs_Sydney_Bicycle_Tours-Sydney_New_South_Wales.html#REVIEWS. You can see the bridge in the background that we ferried near the previous day. Graeme was great on this five+ hour bike tour of Sydney. On this day, I was his only customer so I got his undivided attention. What a great deal, only $95.00. Graeme is in his late 60's, so this was two old guys traveling through the city, swerving around pedestrians and cars, going up and down hills, and having a great workout in the process. Graeme also seems to know everyone in Sydney so I got to meet a lot of local people. I also got a hilarious description of his views of Melbourne residents, which is that they have a stick up their butt and think of Sydney residents as "convicts" (because of Botany Bay). Apparently, there is quite the rivalry between the two cities.
The view from where we started.
Now going over that same bridge.
Graeme took me to a wonderful privately-run garden where he introduced me to one of his mates. Sydney folk are VERY friendly!
Everywhere we went through the city I saw very well-maintained and clean infrastructure. If there was poverty, it was somewhere else because I didn't see it. Just a drop-dead gorgeous city.
Remember the carnival from the previous day? We stopped there and I met the local clown greeters. Graeme told me that the carnival is a cherished part of the city. That section of the city was major inconvenienced with structural improvements a number of years ago. A carnival was built both as a city attraction and was later allowed to remain and be maintained by the city to benefit the local residents. Just amazing! Lots of local families with their children enjoying the fun.
Besides the running narrated tour by Graeme, he likes to take pictures like this for his customers. Sorry, but I was in every shot he took. Skip through them fast if you get tired of looking at my mug.
As I've said elsewhere, I was jumping for joy to finally cycle again.
Graeme and I had a great lunch here.
We even took a ferry ride.
Gliding under the bridge. Sorry, a little blurry.
My bike buddy, Graeme. Makes me miss my other bike buddy, Florian, even more. I'm looking forward to biking with Florian again soon in Sarasota.
Needless to say, the Sydney Opera House.
But of course, a Charlie Chaplin mime down by the wharf.
One of Sydney's theater projects on the wharf. It's run by the Australian actress Cate Blanchett (Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, Duh!).
It was hard to take notes while biking, but this is a famous street known for its hanging birdcages.
Francis Greenway was an architect and a convict transported to Australia for check forgery (I told you Sydney people are jailbirds). In New South Wales he worked for the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, as Australia's first government architect. He became widely known and admired for his work displayed in buildings such as St Matthew's Church in Windsor, New South Wales, St James' Church, Sydney and Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney. Read about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Greenway.
St. James Church.
Graeme and me during a break downtown.
I asked Graeme where a great bookstore might be in Sydney and he arranged for us to stop at not one, but two bookstores across the street from each other. Inside one of the stores I saw this framed poster of the 1950's British film, "1984", that I really coveted and wished I could have brought home. Of course, it wasn't for sale. Quite rare.
We biked through Sydney's wealthiest section, sort of their "Georgetown in Washington, D.C." from Graeme's description. The iron work reminded me of new Orleans' architecture.
Near the end of our tour, Graeme pointed out the famous "Harry's Pies" shop. At this point, I could have used one as I was bushed after a taxing five+ hour bike ride. But, it was great fun.
Graeme was just a fun, personable scallywag of a guy. Now, back to the hotel where Jody was anxiously waiting worried that I would not be back in time for the high point of our trip that evening. I was. But, what was the high point, you ask?
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