Wednesday 7th February...Steps...

 We went for a long walk today, starting at what is called The Spit, way to the east on the north side of the harbour, and pausing in Balmoral to have a lunch, splitting between us a grilled barramundi, chips, and salad.

For most of the way we had wonderful views out over the water towards the entrance to the harbour area from the Pacific--called, I think, The Heads. Occasionally we were on suburban streets, but the lack of views was compensated for by the extraordinary number of houses of real architectural interest. We were sometimes on sandy beaches--Chinaman's Beach, and on some long stretches of sand as we approached and arrived at Balmoral.

Barramundi, incidentally, is the best white fish we have ever tasted. It is available everywhere here, but rarely to be found in Washington.

We needed to check the map and see the best way to walk to the main bus route back into Sydney. Joan had her phone, and we chose what seemed the slightly shorter of the two possible ways.

But after walking in the sea front and turning left, we realised that we were facing a steep uphill climb. And we were uncertain if we had the right street. We asked a passer-by if the road led to the main road we wanted--she said 'yes--but you might be better off on a bus...' 

She was right. To cut a long story short, the uphill was seemingly endless. Mostly steps, but short uphills to the next set of steps..and on and on, and on and on...

I have just checked on a topographic map of the area, and the elevation at the top of the steps is 90 metres above sea level--that is, about 300 feet. If the steps had been unbroken by the short stretches of uphill, and the height of each step was, say, 10 inches, then we must have climbed the equivalent of 360 steps....

At 89....but the good thing is that the strain was in my legs and not, fingers crossed, in my heart....