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| With commentator Aunt Judy |
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| in the bows of Capt Cook II |
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| ferry race and followers |
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| tall ship race |
Today
Australia celebrates Captain Cook's landing at Botany Bay 225 years
ago (incorrect - I wasn't paying attention to Aunt Judy. See Geoff's comment below for the real answer) with a public holiday and in Sydney a day packed with events. It
would have been rude not to join in the celebrations wouldn't it?
Our
day began early with an appointment to meet the Captain Cook cruise
boat at Circular Quay at 10 o'clock. As we were whisked up the
harbour towards the Entrance our commentator, known affectionately as
Auntie Judy, had us in stitches with her witty asides and jokes. We
were able to see the start of a yacht race to Botany Bay and back and
a cruise ship which was anchored in Athol Bay for the day. There
were some of the tall ships preparing for the afternoon's tall ship
race and yachts dressed up for the 'best dressed' competition, a
floating barge with live music concert being pushed by a tug around
vantage spots on the harbour and everywhere Aussies with flags, hats
and a big smile. At the end of our cruise we were fortunate to be on
the finishing line, the harbour bridge, for the ferry race; four of
the original green and gold ferries race each year for line honours.
Back
on shore we met up with Bill and Sue Camomile and together found a
good spot in front of the Opera House to watch the tall ships fly up
the harbour to finish their race at the bridge and overhead we had
fly past of three F18 hornets.
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| picnic before the concert |
It
was all go all day. From the Opera House we dashed home to put
together our picnic & collect blanket and deck chairs for the
evening activity, a concert by the Sydney Symphony orchestra playing
a programme of classical music used in Stanley Kubrick films. We
arrived early to bag a spot near the stage and the big screen. The
finale was Beethoven's 1812 with cannons and fireworks. Another brisk
walk home and we were tuckered; on the go from 9 in the morning until
midnight and brisk walked about 8 miles. Who says you can't work a
fitness regime into everyday activities?
Correection. Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, New South Wales in 1788 and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
ReplyDeleteCook landed in Botany Bay 28th April 1770.
Geoff, thank you for correcting the blatant historical inaccuracy. Of course, I blame it on the amber nectar and surf wax in the ears!
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