The Spit Bridge

Being in the 'Big Smoke' was tiring us out. All the movement and chaos. We are no longer accustomed to it all. Staying around the iconic and central locations of Sydney was fabulous in it's way but we felt we needed to retreat so we set off for that other area of waterways - The Middle Harbour. To get there we needed to turn back out towards Manley and Sydney Heads before turning in again at Middle Head. Being a Thursday and mid-week, water traffic was low in the general scheme of things.

We reached the opening to the ocean in no time, motoring again of course. A couple of yachts tried sailing but conditions we pretty light until they were beyond South Head. A long loping swell of around 2m was breaking through.

 

We couldn't believe the number of anglers fishing from Middle Head, which sits full-frontal to the ocean swells. Some appeared to be lashed on which is sensible in it's way, although still very foolhardy.

 A lone stand-up paddle board rider was riding the nice waves off Middle Head.

We picked up a courtesy mooring and had lunch while we waited for the Spit Bridge to open.

A 50' ketch was the first vessel to pass through.

 Next a large launch went through on the green light.

Traffic halted and waiting for our 3 boats to transit. 

 

 

2 men supervise the opening and closing.

This property overlooking the Spit Bridge is inspired by a ships bow.

The steep cliffs and slopes inside Middle Harbour are clung to by all manner of constructions -  mostly mansions but a sprinkling of shacks; remnants of more relaxed times and eventual targets for the wrecking ball. Every turn of the waterway revealed another anchoring area or marina.

The remarkable thing was the frequency of the the bridge openings and that road traffic has to come to a complete standstill to let 1 or more boats pass through. A surprising obstruction in a city of this size. In the Netherlands the roads go beneath the waterways as a solution. In all probability, this route was probably serviced by a barge in days gone by. Once the path is established it's a bit hard to re-route it in this terrain of valleys, ridges and waterways. In any instance, we found the transit fascinating and were thankful for the traffic coming to a halt just for us.