hopkinsonfamilytravels: Sydney rocks

Up early in the lovely campsite. Following a poor day of weather yesterday we were greeted by sun, and the campsite had inflated their "jumping pillow" (an inflatable trampoline) in honour of the kids staying.

While Jim and Liz packed up the bags in the campervan, the kids bounced on the trampoline and got their swimming stuff for a swim.

At 9.59am we left the campsite (checkout being at 10am!) and headed towards Sydney.

The drive through Sydney in the large campervan was quite scary - heavy traffic and very narrow lanes.In fact Jim even clipped the wing mirror on another lorry - but fortunately no damage done. We detoured to Coogee beach for lunch, then returned the campervan to its base with half an hour or so to spare.

Then it was the train from Mascot (near the airport) to Circular Quay. On leaving the station we had our first view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

We walked the 500m or so to the Sydney Harbour YHA - on the rocks. Its just a year old - a conversion of historic old warehouses on the rocks - under the harbour bridge. The YHA is excellent (although far from cheap!). They have a roof terrace where there are reaching views over the harbour - and we enjoyed watching the ferries ploughing their way across the harbour.

Then it was off for a little walk - across the harbour bridge and back. The YHA were doing a 5 dollar BBQ deal, so we splashed out on this - it was reasonable value for money. Over the BBQ we poured over a map of Sydney trying to recall exactly where we stayed in Neutral Bay, Rozelle (and where our friends in their various back packers stayed), where we worked etc. This exercise was aided by our diary - although of course we did not always write the addresses down!. There are lots of places we would like to revisit - although we only have 3 days - not 4 months this time!

We are looking forward to revisiting old haunts tomorrow with our friend Jackie who is flying in from Melbourne to join us. Jackie was at Newcastle Poly with Jim, then a flatmate of his in London. She was also briefly a flatmate of ours in Rozelle. Jackie also kept a journal and will bring it with her, so it will be good to compare notes. We went back to the UK on 22nd December 1993, Jackie stayed in Australia, and has never looked back. From our phone conversations she has developed a full blown Aussie accent - my theory is that as a teacher she needs one to survive the classroom! On Saturday Jackie (who used to work for EMI records) is dragging Jim to a concert by Jesus Jones - one of her favourite 90s bands. Jim is happy to go, and thanks Jackie for buying him a ticket - but is getting increasingly conscious that he bought only his tattiest clothes to Australia, his sandals are far from cool, and his trainers are pretty smelly. Will he be let in to the gig?

Stayed at Sydney Harbour YHA, 110 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney 2000