Last full day in Sydney on what appears to be another rip snorter requires a cunning plan which shall be thus unless it changes.( Will update when complete for those with Mondays Bingo Card 🕺🏻)
Early morning (0530) coffee run if only to annoy hotel guests ✅
Early morning walk to Balangalangarangadoodoo , the final corner of puzzle ✅
Solid but not life altering breakfast ✅
Up to gym after Lycra brigade have left ✅
Chill ✅ Literally and then Figuratively
Off to Manly mid morning on fast ferry for a Froth and a Frolic ✅ ( Frothed and Frolicked 🕺🏻)
Early afternoon pack , shave , cut off nose to face my spite yada yada yada ✅
Last assault on a couple of bars kicking off at 4 pm.✅✅✅✅🙄
It’s a keeper if say so myself. Will miss the early mornings here because for me the best time in big cities is just before sunrise . Of interest here no real yahoos around either and while a few not many sleeping rough on streets in CBD at least . Am sure there are at different areas . Sydney CBD actually is one of the cleaner ones have seen almost, but never, Singapore level . Those bloody trains are following me
Now to head off down to water to Balangalangarangadoodoo. What a stunning area especially at 6:30 in morning. Just the Lycra brigade and dog walkers. Crown Hotel certainly dominates
Time then for a breakfast wrap and coffee. Campos, a solid performer , is popular here and in a big tick for Sydney Starbucks is rare. Up the top end of Clarence for a change for my daily elixir
Almost 8 am so gym should be safe and pool only chilling not bone chilling . Gym was perfect as expected after 8 am. The Holy Trifecta of Quiet
Now I live a clean life and wash every few days but not one to believe in divine intervention but as I stood looking out the church window after my swim a horde of 3 annoying kids descended and starting playing on the machines while Dad of the Year went in other direction and sat on verandah.🤦🏻♂️
Love it when a plan comes together . Now just have to work out when socially acceptable to descend on the Manly Elite. Ok, ya got me, when does the pub open 😏 Catching the Daly Cherry Evans Ferry so it will leave early of course ….. Looked up what to do to in Manly on a Monday and first up it said avoid Mad Monday. Every Year. Early September . Cruel but fair .
Yesterday had my doubts about tacking on extra two days but this morning put that to rest. After a great early morning the few hours spent on water and at Manly on a glorious day was simply magic . First up easy fast ferry to the wharf near one beach .
A stroll down the mall to the main beach – and a poor coffee – reminded me of Sandgate on a quiet day . They even plan Jazz Festivals on second weekend of NRL finals as know nothing else on of interest to residents.
Then by sheer luck Your Honour the brewery was open and it was named in honour of John Hopoate . So comfortable even ordered some lunch but only ate half. The top half .
And a hop step and jump across road was 4 Pines Brewery and as equal opportunity drinker only seemed fair. And guess what – there was a Mad Monday on 😏
Well that packing won’t do itself so time to head back home. Still have the Last Bar Assault @4pm afterall. May relax and rewatch a mini of yesterday game. Tribunal seems fair, Patty had to cop something
Surely he didn’t take any more harbour shots . Ooh, a plan update just faxed through. Whew .
Take Harbour shots leaving and returning ✅
Did chill for a couple then headed out at 4 pm as threatened. Plan was 2 bars, reality was 4. No mathematician but think in this case 2+2 was 4 and I blame the first two. First up then was Marble Bar at The Hilton on George. Certainly an impressive bar and could go off like a drunk frog in a large sock with music pumping but as a solo loser prefer more intimate bars where barman speak to you . In English.
Then it was time for a Stitch in Time . Very close by and were partaking in Negroni Month as indeed I am.
Should I head home now 🤔 Am real close……ah no. Let’s start a Farewell Tour of a couple of faves after all I am checked in and packed. Stop 1 was Papa Gedes and tried a rum variation on a Negroni which was good
Thought would finish with breakfast Negroni at PS40 but closed on a Monday 😰 Off to old fave Duke of Clarence then, an easy roll home to The Grace . Went with The Wimbledon and it was rather sweet
Well, I think that’s about it folks. Poor planning left a couple of good bars off the roster as closed on Mondays . You know what that means fans
I’M COMING BACK IN ‘26
flashman181 