Black and Blue Man

Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 5)

Posted on 22 November 2014 by blackandblueman

The Seventh Bridge: The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney NSW

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney NSW (J J Harrison/Wikipedia)

At first, the Walk from Lane Cove Village was uneventful.

Soon, I found myself descending a long but pleasant and not-too-steep slope alongside the golf course of the Lane Cove Country Club.

At the other end was another slope, this one rising upwards, but it didn’t look too bad.

And it wasn’t, as it gradually rose east-south-east towards Greenwich Hospital.

After the hospital, the Walk turned south from River Road into the suburban streets of Greenwich and then Wollstonecraft.

And it was here that I began experiencing my toughest part of the Walk.

As I’ve mentioned before, I had expected that the Walk here through the Lower North Shore could get “quite” hilly.

I was wrong.

It was very hilly.

With further emphasis on the very.

First there was one long and steep descent to the south…

…after which was a long and steep ascent east (with warning signs posted that it was)…

…and then another long and steep descent east…

…and then another long and steep ascent east (also with warning signs)…

…all of which combined seemed to go on forever, and ever…

…and it gave me a troubling feeling.

Not exhaustion, or pain (although my legs were now aching like blazes).

But boredom.

The Walk had now become a monotonous ordeal.

There’s nothing wrong with Greenwich and Wollstonecraft, but the steep streets I was walking had killed any enjoyment of being there.

I just wanted to get the heck out of there.

And even without those deadly slopes, this part of the Walk was one of the longest between Villages.

Which is why it felt like another eternity later when I finally got to Wollstonecraft Village, and at first I was overjoyed at the prospect of taking a break and giving my legs a rest…

…until I saw the time on my iPhone.

3:28pm.

There was barely an hour left to complete the Walk.

The next Village at Milsons Point, and most of all the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was not that far away…

…or was it?

And especially with more of the could-be-very-hilly Lower North Shore to go?

Despite some growing concern, I refilled my water bottle and sat down because I knew that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing any more walking that day…

…but I cut my planned 15-minute rest short to 10 minutes, and just before 3:45pm I got walking again.

For the first time that day, I became genuinely worried that I wouldn’t complete the Walk after all.

And, alas, that worry increased.

After Wollstonecraft came Waverton and more steep slopes.

After Waverton came Lavender Bay and more steep slopes.

And as I was ascending yet another slope while my aching legs continued screaming in protest, I also began to get what felt like a cramp in my right calf.

At which point I thought, Fuck this!

I didn’t feel like pulling out – but I had stopped enjoying the Walk at all.

I just wanted to finish it out of hatred.

So I continue along through Lavender Bay to Milsons Point.

I turned south past the location where I had made six crucial visits to a psychologist way back in 2006, and headed into downtown Milsons Point.

With the Sydney Harbour Bridge looming majestically ahead of me, I reached Milsons Point Village and got my final Village stamp.

The volunteer who stamped my Event Passport grinned and cried encouragingly, “Sydney Harbour Bridge!”

I looked at my iPhone.

4:10pm.

There was 20 minutes and about two kilometres left to the Bridge stamp point on the other side of the Bridge.

I thought hard and fast.

Could I do it?

No.

Then and there, I decided to call it a day…

…until a moment later, when I thought hard and fast again.

Could I do it?

I had come so far, and here I was so close to the finish.

Only a short walk left across the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

I couldn’t let it end like this!

But once again, I told myself no.

Yes, I could spend the next 20 minutes walking fast and furious across the Sydney Harbour Bridge – and I might just make it.

But I might just not, which would feel even worse than having to end my Walk here at Milsons Point.

But most importantly of all, even if I did make it, my aching legs would feel absolutely ruined and it would be a hollow and painful victory.

That wouldn’t be worth it.

So, with some regret, I declared my first attempt at the Seven Bridges Walk to be at an end.

But as I went to a low section of stone wall nearby and gratefully sat down, there was also more happiness and satisfaction than regret.

Although I hadn’t finished the Walk, I had come very close.

I had walked through more parts of Sydney that I previously hadn’t seen, or had only seen from passing vehicles.

Apart from that last bad stretch through the Lower North Shore, I had mostly enjoyed myself and didn’t regret attempting the Walk at all.

And as I soon discovered via the iPhome app I had used to record my progress, I had now completed my longest Sydney walk yet – almost 25 kilometres.

I sat and rested for a little while, and then with still aching legs I hobbled to nearby Milsons Point railway station.

About fifteen minutes later I got on the next train to the CBD across the harbour.

Another Walker who got on with me was none other than THE MISTRESS OF AWESOME herself.

I almost asked her if I could take her photo, but I didn’t.

Had she made it across all seven Bridges? I hoped so.

A few minutes later, we crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

TO BE CONCLUDED

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Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 4)

Posted on 15 November 2014 by blackandblueman

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The Sixth Bridge: Fig Tree Bridge, Hunters Hill-Linley Point Hill NSW

Fig Tree Bridge, Hunters Hill-Linley Point NSW (Maudlingothic/Wikipedia)

Along with many other Walkers, I headed north from Hunters Hill Village and down the long slope of Reiby Road to the Lane Cove River.

Crossing the river was the sixth bridge of the Walk, the Fig Tree Bridge.

Barely 10 minutes after leaving Hunters Hill Bridge, I got my sixth Bridge stamp.

The last bridge was about 12 kilometres away.

I pressed on.

Shortly after the Fig Tree Bridge, I entered the very pleasant riverside suburb of Linley Point.

The Walk’s path took us through leafy streets and around the northern shore of Burns Bay through the Burns Bay Reserve.

It was very pretty, quiet and tranquil.

After the Burns Bay Reserve came more pleasant suburbia in the form of Riverview and its major thoroughfare Riverview Street, which started off flat as we began following it south…

…but as it began curving east, it also rose sharply…

…and as I followed that curve it continued to rise steeply.

Once again I began pumping my deep-breathing bellows and told myself to take it steady and don’t rush, but my now-aching legs wanted to speed up in protest and just get up this damn curving slope.

What didn’t help my mood were loud groans and protests from several of my suffering co-Walkers, and especially a series of hand-written signs announcing a rest-stop not far away.

I rounded the curve and Riverview Street continued to rise northwards.

A moment later, the last sign announced that the rest-stop was now only 100 metres away…

…but it felt more like 100 kilometres.

Finally, though, as Riverview Street curved east again I reached the top of that hill and the Earth became flat again.

I relaxed.

And then I saw a glorious sight.

It was the rest-stop, an unofficial one just within the gates of the Saint Ignatius’ College boys school.

But it was glorious not just because it was a rest-stop.

Unlike the previous crowded Villages and other rest-stops with little seating and protection from the blazing sun, there were few people there and many empty chairs underneath a few marquees.

Empty chairs under cover!

I pulled into the rest-stop where not only were there drinks for sale but also $2 bags of mixed lollies (candies/sweets).

I happily bought two bottles of water and a bag of lollies, grabbed a chair and sat down.

And there I relaxed for the next glorious 30 minutes, savouring my water and lollies and giving my aching legs a much-deserved rest.

As I sat there, I listened to what other resting Walkers around me were saying, and watched others continue past along Riverview Street to the east.

As a few of my resting co-Walkers commented, the previous crowds were now thinning out.

At the same time, the variety of Walkers was still amazing to behold – especially one young woman who went past.

She was wearing a long-sleeved top and long pants.

And a rainbow-striped plastic top-hat, and rainbow-striped leggings over her calves.

And, most of all, a long red velvet cape labelled with THE MISTRESS OF AWESOME in large silver letters.

At 2:15pm, after binning my litter and going to a nearby toilet, it was time to resume the Walk.

I returned to Riverview Street and headed east, and this time down a long and pleasant slope.

About 15 minutes later on Carranya Road another hill appeared, but fortunately it was short and straight unlike that treacherous winding slope further back.

Soon, I was heading north along Warraroon Road with the Warraroon Reserve to my right, and for a while there was only myself and a few other Walkers.

As I approached the intersection of Warraroon Road and River Road Rest, I was struck by the powerful and wonderful aroma of the trees at the northern end of the Reserve.

And as I turned south-east onto River Road West, a large group of Walkers suddenly emerged from the trees and joined me on the footpath (sidewalk).

Unfortunately, the next hundred metres or so along River Red West was another bloody sharp slope, but I mentally gritted my teeth and deep-breathed again to continue on.

Soon after that slope, the Walk’s path took us off River Road West and through more surburbia to Lane Cove Village where I got my fifth Village stamp.

I had walked about 20 kilometres to get there.

There was just over seven kilometres to go until the end of my walk at the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Could I still make it there in time by 4:30pm?

There was only one way to find out.

I put some fresh gum in my mouth and resumed my Walk.

And very soon, I would find that this last part of the Walk would be the worst.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 3)

Posted on 8 November 2014 by blackandblueman

Part 1
Part 2

The Third Bridge: Iron Cove Bridge, Rozelle-Drummoyne NSW

Iron Cove Bridge (2009 duplication), Rozelle-Drummoyne NSW (Adam J.W.C/Wikipedia)

Iron Cove Bridge (2011 duplicate), Rozelle-Drummoyne (Adam J.W.C/Wikipedia)

Like the 1955 original that I had crossed back in January, the 2011 duplicate Iron Cove Bridge was easy and pleasant to walk along.

Barely 10 minutes later, I was across and receiving my third Bridge stamp.

Fortunately, the trail to the Gladesville Bridge wasn’t over the large hill occupied by the drab downtown of Drummoyne that I had walked through back in January. Instead, us Walkers – of whom there were still plenty – made our way through pleasant suburban streets.

About 15-minutes later, the trail came to an intersection with the ever-busy Victoria Road.

And as I turned west onto Victoria Road, there it was right ahead – the Gladesville Bridge.

I glanced at the time on my iPhone.

It was just before noon.

High noon.

How apt.

The Fourth Bridge: Gladesville Bridge, Rozelle-Drummoyne

Gladesville Bridge, Gladesville NSW (GRAHAMUK/Wikipedia)

Gladesville Bridge, Rozelle-Drummoyne NSW (GRAHAMUK/Wikipedia)

I wasn’t frightened about crossing the Gladesville Bridge again, but I was wary.

My main concern was that, like last time, I would unexpectedly freeze in my tracks – and this time amongst hundreds of people.

At the same time, however, having hundreds of Walkers with me was reassuring – if they were blocking the view to the water far below, and if I was preoccupied with paying attention to walking in a large crowd, then perhaps disaster could be avoided.

So up I walked onto the bridge.

And as I walked, I encountered an interesting situation.

Back when I had begun long-walking, I found that inhaling and exhaling deep breaths as I walked up hills and slopes helped me to get over them. I’d inhale a deep breath, hold it for four seconds, exhale, wait another four seconds, and repeat.

And as I did this while ascending the eastern slope of the Gladesville Bridge, my breathing sounded very loud and pretty much drowned out everything else.

It reminded me very much of the scenes in 2001: A Space Odyssey when a character was inside a spacesuit and the only sound was their breathing.

The rhythm of my breathing and thinking about 2001 helped me to keep walking.

Also, like I’d thought, having hundreds of Walkers with me helped.

As well, it was a splendid day and unlike my last crossing there were no strong winds.

Soon, I was at the summit.

And soon after that, I was descending the western slope of the bridge.

Finally, I came to the path that wound its way downhill from the bridge to Huntleys Point Road beneath it.

I had made it across the Gladesville Bridge without incident.

I got my fourth Bridge stamp, took out my water bottle and spent the next 10 or so minutes resting and drinking.

Off in the eastern distance, I could see the last bridge I planned to cross – the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Although the Harbour Bridge was only about five kilometres away directly from my present position, I would have to walk another 13 kilometres or so to get there.

But, especially now that my main nemesis of the Walk was behind me, I was very hopeful that I could make it.

The Fifth Bridge: Tarban Creek Bridge, Huntleys Point-Hunters Hill

Tarban Creek Bridge, Huntleys Point-Hunters Hill NSW (spud murphy/Wikipedia)

Less than 10 minutes from the Gladesville Bridge was the Tarban Creek Bridge, which was nice and short and flat and low.

And shortly after the Tarban Creek Bridge was the Hunters Hill Village, where I got my fifth Bridge stamp and my fourth Village stamp.

It was just before 12:30pm.

It was time for a 30-minute sit-down break, and a light lunch.

There was a sausage sizzle in progress, but although I love sausages the thought of having even just one sausage sandwich at that moment was off-putting.

Instead, I made a gold-coin donation to the fruit-stand that had kindly donated its produce to the Walk and got a Granny Smith apple.

I also grabbed a can of Pepsi Max – which is not a drink I would usually consider with a Granny Smith apple, but as I sat and relaxed for the next half-hour or so they went down well together.

I had been walking for just over three hours (or even longer, if you counted my walks from home to City Extra, and then to Observatory Hill).

I had covered approximately 14 kilometres and crossed five of the Bridges.

Ahead lay another 13 kilometres or so.

It was approaching 1pm, and the Walk would close at 4:30pm.

The next few kilometres were unknown territory.

And beyond that, the rest of the Walk wound through parts of the Lower North Shore that I was also unfamiliar with – but from other parts that I had experienced, I suspected that those last several kilometres could be “quite” hilly.

Would I complete the rest of the Walk in time?

There was only one way to find out.

I binned my litter, put some fresh sugar-free gum in my mouth and resumed my Walk.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 2)

Posted on 3 November 2014 by blackandblueman

Part 1

Sunday, 26 October 2014.

I got up at 7:00am to find a glorious day outside.

I got ready, and half an hour later I put my long-walk hat on my head and set off.

Prologue: Getting To The Starting Line

Observatory Hill, Sydney (Greg O'Beirne/Wikipedia)

Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney (Greg O’Beirne/Wikipedia)

There were seven Villages along the route of the Walk where you could register to start and pick up an Event Passport.

The nearest Village to me was over at Pyrmont – but it was on the other side of the Pyrmont Bridge, and because the route was clockwise only I wouldn’t be able to register at Pyrmont Village, walk back and get my Passport stamped.

So that meant I should instead start at Observatory Hill Village, down near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

That was a lengthy walk in itself…but as I mentioned in Part 1, after some thought that presented an opportunity beforehand.

So I spent 30 minutes walking from home down to Circular Quay where I stopped at the City Extra restaurant and treated myself to a big breakfast of bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs and a jumbo Coke.

An hour later, feeling pleasantly full, I spent another 15 minutes walking from City Extra and through The Rocks up to the top of Observatory Hill.

As I arrived at that Village, a large crowd of Walkers also appeared from the Sydney Harbour Bridge – the bridge I was saving for last, as it was the most iconic.

I registered, got my Passport and first Village stamp, and put some sugar-free gum in my mouth.

At 9:28am, my Walk began.

The First Bridge: Pyrmont Bridge, Pyrmont

Pyrmont Bridge, Pyrmont (Nick-D/Wikipedia)

The first part of my Walk was a good way to start.

For one thing, it was part of my favourite old trail that I’d been walking for years.

For another thing, it was mostly flat with the rest of it downhill.

With many others I headed into the northern CBD, turned west to Darling Harbour, followed part of the foreshore around to the eastern end of the Pyrmont Bridge, and crossed to the other end of the Bridge where I got my first Bridge stamp.

About 10 minutes later, I arrived at Pyrmont Village and got my second Village stamp.

So far, very good.

The Second Bridge: ANZAC Bridge, Rozelle

ANZAC Bridge, Rozelle (Richard Taylor/Wikipedia)

Many of us continued westward along the Pyrmont foreshore.

Although I have been to Pyrmont many times since the early 2000s, I hadn’t been to this part so there were new and interesting sights to see.

About 20 minutes later, we came to the eastern end of the high-rising ANZAC Bridge.

I smiled as I looked up and saw many other Walkers crossing it.

Although the ANZAC Bridge is high, I had crossed it several times back in 2009 and it hadn’t given me grief like the Gladesville Bridge had back in January.

Because of the ANZAC Bridge’s height, however, and the massive spiraling walkway at the eastern end, it took about 10 minutes just to get up there.

To my surprise, that was where the ANZAC Bridge’s stamp point was, and so you got stamped before you crossed (because as I was about to learn, that was the only good spot for setting up the stamp point).

But as for the ANZAC Bridge itself, it was another easy walk like the Pyrmont Bridge and despite its size it took barely 10 minutes to cross.

Soon, many of us were over in Rozelle and making our way towards Rozelle Village.

There was a Water Station with portable toilets in Easton Park, about halfway between the ANZAC Bridge and Rozelle Village. It looked like a good spot for my first break, and so I halted to relieve myself and have a drink.

I had thought about staying there for at least 15 minutes and drinking some of my water, but then I surprised myself.

First, I quickly drained my 1.5-litre water bottle.

Second, I didn’t really feel like stopping.

So not even 10 minutes later, I set off again.

And about 15 minutes after that, after walking through cozy suburban streets and part of the Callan Park heritage site, I arrived at Rozelle Village and got my third Village stamp.

So far, still very good.

This time, I made more of an effort to take a break. I refilled my water bottle, rested against a fence and regarded the nearby Iron Cove Bridges.

Like the Pyrmont Bridge, both bridges (the 1955 original and the 2011 duplicate) were enjoyably low and flat. I had walked across the 1955 original back in January after crossing the Gladesville Bridge.

Today, I would be walking over the 2011 duplicate.

And about 20 minutes away, beyond the hill of downtown Drummoyne, was the Gladesville Bridge.

I couldn’t see the Gladesville Bridge from where I was, but I had been thinking about it on and off all morning.

Would I be able to cross it again, calmly – or at all?

There was only one way to find out.

I refilled my water bottle again and resumed my Walk.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 1)

Posted on 28 October 2014 by blackandblueman

http://www.7bridgeswalk.com.au/

My long-walk from Hornsby to Artarmon on Saturday 25 January 2014 would turn out to be my last one for many months.

There were a few shorter walks in the months that followed, and then they stopped.

This wasn’t due to any crises. Other things came up, like LEGO shows and a new routine of staying up very late on Friday nights (partly to build with LEGO) and not getting out of bed until around noon on Saturdays.

As well, there was the notoriously unpredictable weather that plagued Sydney throughout winter. Thanks to that, a couple of planned long-walks had to be called off – Cowan to Hornsby (15.6 kilometres), and Hornsby to Parramatta (20.5 kilometres).

Also, the idea of long-walking during winter didn’t have much appeal. Although I sweat like a hog in hot weather, the thought of sweating on a cold day or freezing while I walked was off-putting.

So for several months, I put aside long-walking.

But as spring approached, I looked forward to getting back into it again.

Sunday, 19 October 2014.

It was a glorious spring day, with a nice afternoon for a walk.

So for the first time in ages, I revisited a favourite old trail – across Hyde Park and down Macquarie Street to Circular Quay; over to The Rocks; under the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and around to the northern CBD; and across Darling Harbour to Pyrmont.

That trail takes roughly two hours to complete; it has a wealth of attractions like some of Sydney’s oldest buildings and the Harbour; and I usually finish with a nice dinner in Pyrmont or Chinatown.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had walked this trail, but it was still as enjoyable as ever.

I also saw someone I had first seen back in 2012 when I had started walking this trail. He was an intriguing sight then and still was today, and in the near future I should finally write about him.

After I completed my walk I had a leisurely dinner and drinks at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel (PBH), and around 8pm I headed home.

I crossed the street from the PBH, and just as I began crossing the Pyrmont Bridge towards the CBD I saw a sign that got me thinking.

The sign announced that next weekend the Pyrmont Bridge would be involved in a special event – the Seven Bridges Walk.

I had heard of this event before, but after a certain encounter with one of the seven bridges earlier this year I hadn’t thought I would ever try it…

…but now, after enjoying today’s short-walk and keen to get long-walking again, I began reconsidering as I headed home.

And later that night, after studying the the route of the 27-kilometre Seven Bridges Walk, I changed my mind.

Yes, there was the Gladesville Bridge to cross.

As well, although my walk from Beecroft to Rozelle Bay had been 20 kilometres long, I hadn’t walked a distance like that for some time.

Also, my two pairs of Colorado boots were starting to look very forlorn.

But why not try the Seven Bridges Walk?

I was already familiar with much of the route – and it would be interesting to see parts of Sydney I had never been to.

Although crossing the Gladesville Bridge had been unpleasant, I had still crossed it – and I could potentially cross it again, especially as the circumstances could be much more pleasant (on a nice spring day, and especially with many other people).

And even if I couldn’t, or if I was too out of shape to complete the whole walk, at least I would have tried.

And I could just buy some new Colorado boots.

There were really no reasons for not doing the Seven Bridges Walk.

The week passed.

I waited a few more days to ensure that nothing else would be happening on Sunday 26 October, and then I registered.

I had hoped to buy new Colorado boots at a local store, but they were out. I thought about trying other stores in other suburbs, and other brands of boots, but in the end I decided not to (I can buy them online, but that week I didn’t think they would get to me in time). Although the soles of both pairs of boots were wearing down in places, they were still very wearable; my fears of perhaps hurting my feet from walking up to 27 kilometres on semi-worn soles were perhaps grossly exaggerated; and in fact, doing such a long walk in mostly new shoes would perhaps give my feet even worse hell, like blisters.

(If you’re wondering why I’m hung-up on having Colorado boots, they’re a brand I’ve liked for years that have never let me down)

I also planned where to start my walk from. There were two possibilities, and initially the first option seemed to make more sense…but the more I thought about it, the second option (even thought it would take longer to get to) not only made more sense but also presented a fun opportunity before the walk.

Finally, by bedtime the night before the big day, I was ready.

I set myself up so that I could wake, get ready and be out the door as soon as possible, and went to bed looking forward to what the next day could bring.

Would I be able to cross all of the seven bridges and complete the 27-kilometre walk?

I was keen to find out.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Building Again (Part 3)

Posted on 18 October 2014 by blackandblueman

CreARTivity, Rockdale Arts Festival 2014 (Rockdale City Council)

Part 1
Part 2

Sunday, 16 March 2014.

I got up at 7am, which for a night-owl like me was too early (especially on a Sunday).

At 8am I was out the door, and after lugging two large wheeled suitcases one at a time down the three flights of stairs from my apartment, I was off to Town Hall station about 15-20 minutes away (the next apartment building I live in, I will definitely choose one with an elevator).

From Town Hall I got a train to Turrella, about 10 kilometres away to the south. As the train pulled into Turrella station, I was a little dismayed to see that Turella was yet another hilly suburb of Sydney – but I had survived many other Sydney hills with one or two of my suitcases, so I could do it again.

Another 10-15 minutes and a few hills later, I reached my destination – Arncliffe Park in Arncliffe, the suburb next door to Turrella. Arncliffe has its own railway station on another line, but it was closed that morning because of trackwork – but fortunately, Turella station wasn’t too far away.

I made my way into the centre of the large park, to where several marquees were being erected. Soon I spotted a familiar face, and he directed me to where I had to go.

Soon after that, I was inside one of several joined marquees unpacking my suitcases.

An hour or so later by 11:30am, I was ready.

I was at CreARTivity, an event that was part of Rockdale Arts Festival 2014, and I was beginning my first experience as a Lego exhibitor.

A few weeks before, one of my colleagues in my Lego group had asked if anyone was interested in exhibiting at CreARTivity. Several of us had said yes, including me.

Getting to CreARTivity presented several challenges.

First was discovering that Arncliffe station would be closed that Sunday. I thought about perhaps staying at a nearby hotel the night before, but when I couldn’t find one within reasonable distance I decided to get the train to Turrella instead.

The second challenge was how to safely transport my Lego to Arncliffe. I knew that I would be using my suitcases, but how could I pack my Lego inside them? After some investigation, I found that IKEA were not only selling plastic containers that could fit two apiece into each suitcase, they were also on special for a wonderfully low price – so the weekend before, I got those.

The final challenge was weather. It had rained the day before CreARTivity, the forecast for the day itself wasn’t good, and that morning when I got off at Turella station the sky was grey and threatening. If the heavens opened, my backpack had its rain-cover and my Lego creations would stay dry within their IKEA tubs – but I myself would get drenched because I wouldn’t be able to hold an umbrella.

Ultimately, though, I would have to take my chances – and if worst came to worst and I got soaked, I could spend CreARTivity drying out. Like having to get off at Turrella station instead of Arncliffe, it wasn’t the end of the world.

Fortunately, there was no rain from the station to the park – or from the park back to the station that afternoon.

Instead, though, I would get rained on while in that marquee.

About halfway through CreARTivity the rain came pouring down – and unfortunately, because our Lego group’s marquees hadn’t been sealed properly, some of our displays copped a drenching.

That included the large table of trucks I had set out, but fortunately (a) they were easy to move out of water’s way, (b) Lego is water-resistant and quick to dry off and (c) I had even covered my paper display-cards in adhesive plastic book-covering.

The only other minor mishap I encountered that day was with one of my builds.

Readers may recall way back in June 2012 when I began building, and my first creation was two police helicopters combined into a larger one.

Almost two years later I still had that helicopter, so I thought it was only fitting that because it was my first MOC (my own creation) it should go on show.

Alas, that helicopter had also been a fragile MOC…and when I got to CreARTivity and opened my suitcases, I was dismayed to find that it had disintegrated during transport.

I thought about quickly putting it back together, but decided to use just my trucks.

Apart from the rain and the broken helicopter, though, my first show as a Lego exhibitor was an enjoyable and pleasant success.

After I set up my trucks, all there was left to do for the rest of CreARTivity was stand or sit behind my table, answer questions from visitors young and old, and talk Lego with my colleagues.

It was good fun – and just the type of fun I had hoped exhibiting Lego would be.

CreARTivity was scheduled to finish at 3:30pm, but because of the lousy weather it was called off early.

Fortunately, by the time I’d repacked my suitcases the weather had calmed down again so I was able to return to Turrella station without getting wet.

Soon I got a train back to the city, where I later had a nice steak dinner to round off a good day.

Later, I would learn that CreARTivity was an example of what my colleagues described as a “little show” – a small-scale event like a a suburban festival or a school fete.

“Little show” is certainly not a put-down, though. As I’d experienced that day – and would several times again in the year ahead – “little shows” are enjoyable for their pleasant and relaxing atmospheres.

The next event I would be exhibiting at, however, would be an example of a “big show” – a large-scale spectacular filled with a dazzling array of MOCs from local and interstate exhibitors to attract thousands (and perhaps even tens of thousands) of visitors.

And what a big show it would be, indeed.

TO BE CONTINUED

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The Gladesville Bridge: 50th anniversary of its opening

Posted on 2 October 2014 by blackandblueman

Gladesville Bridge, Sydney NSW (The Sydney Morning Herald; photo by Quentin Jones)

Readers of Black and Blue Man may recall my unfortunate experience on Sydney’s Gladesville Bridge earlier this year during one of my long walks.

Yesterday, 1 October 2014, marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Gladesville Bridge, and The Sydney Morning Herald has this very interesting article.

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Building Again (Part 2)

Posted on 27 September 2014 by blackandblueman

Part 1

I traveled down to Liverpool and the 2013 Sydney Model Railway Exhibition.

Soon, I found the display by the Lego group and the two members manning it.

I introduced myself and we spent the next hour or so talking pleasantly about Lego.

That night when I got home, I emailed the group and they sent me a membership form to complete for the group to review and approve.

I completed the form and returned it.

Two weeks later, I became a member of the group.

A few weeks later on a Sunday, I traveled to western Sydney where the group were holding their last meeting for 2013 combined with a Christmas party.

It was good fun, and interesting.

What was very interesting was that not only were most of the members parents, but that in most cases both partners were active builders. Some had been all of their lives, while some had rediscovered the joys of Lego after their children had discovered it.

Age-wise, there was a broad range that I guestimated my early-40s self was in the middle of.

Several hours passed until we finally called it a day.

We weren’t due to meet again in person until some time in early 2014, but until then we could keep in touch via a Yahoo! group.

As well, I could keep on building.

And I did, both at home and away.

A few weeks after the meeting, I was staying in Queensland with family for Christmas holidays. One day on impulse, I decided to take advantage of a pre-Christmas sale and bought three Lego trucks to once again combine into a larger one.

And as 2013 became 2014, I not only continued building but embraced another associated activity.

As part of my membership application, I was asked to provide photographs of my work. I did this via rudimentary iPad photos.

Until then, I had never had much interest in photography…but as I continued building, I came to appreciate it a lot more, and not only just to record my creations.

At first, as shown in the examples above, the backgrounds to my creations were the floor, the steps to the next storey and the small shelf unit next to my desk that I would also bring out into the hall – but then I found that the long solid barrier on the nearby stair-landing was ideal as a ‘road’ for my long vehicles.

Soon, I saw that the metal railing that runs a few centimetres above the top of the barrier reminded me of a pipeline.

Thus, the barrier and railing eventually became known in my mind as Pipeline Road.

Much later into 2014, as some of my vehicles became more complex, I also created story lines and diorama photos to explain them.

Taking photos of my creations has become a creative and enjoyable part of my building in itself.

As early 2014 moved along and I continued to build and participate in the group’s Yahoo! discussions, I wondered about the next step in my Lego hobby: displaying at conventions and exhibitions.

Could I do it?

In March, I would get my first chance.

TO BE CONTINUED

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The lost series of Black and Blue Man

Posted on 6 September 2014 by blackandblueman

I’ve been posting here at Black and Blue Man for just over four years now.

Overall, it’s been a very rewarding experience. Not only has it given me an outlet for writing, and allowed me to review important stages in my life, but I’ve also gotten supportive feedback from readers and I’ve even had some of my stuff reposted via The Good Men Project, one of my favourite manosphere sites.

Some of my favourite writing here has taken place in the format of series, where some topics have kept me going for several posts.

But there have also been some series that never continued past the first post.

Why?

Songs of Inspiration (27 February 2011)
This was meant to be a semi-regular series to discuss songs that have inspired me for various reasons during various stages of my life, but it has never happened.

And I think the main reason why is that this post has always been one of my least favourites.

No, it’s not because the first song I chose to write about was by one of the most despised bands of recent years – Nickleback. I still like ‘If Today Was Your Last Day’ a lot, and other Nickelback songs as well (although when I later heard a couple of Nickelback albums, I was very disappointed by the low quality of most of the non-singles songs – they really were just ‘filler’).

And I still have pleasant memories of the night I describe in that post…

…but ever since, I’ve felt that I could have perhaps written a stronger post about the overall impact that ‘If Today Was Your Last Day’ had had upon me.

I ended up writing what I did because indirectly that song inspired me to have that pleasant and positive night – but still, what I did write strikes me as somewhat bland.

Ah, well. We learn from our mistakes, and I’ve left that post as an example to remind me.

2012: A Canberra Odyssey (1 April 2012)
This was meant to be a series about three weeks I spent working in Canberra in early 2012, and how it was a very enjoyable experience that also showed me how much I’d grown and improved as a person.

And unlike what I wrote for ‘Songs of Inspiration’, I have no problems with this post…

…but I think what happened here is that in the weeks that followed that post, there were other topics I felt more compelled to write about, like the ‘DA’ sub-series of ‘Poor Man, Rich Man’; my period of staying up all night and sleeping most of the day; and going off my anti-depressants.

Prior to this post, I did write a short series about once again visiting Clouston & Hall Booksellers, which was part of that 2012 trip…but that was it.

When I was putting together last week’s post, I looked at this post for the first time in ages and thought it was a shame that I didn’t complete this series at the time, because that three weeks in Canberra had been a very good experience.

Maybe I will complete this series after all, albeit perhaps in brief due to fading memory. We’ll see.

There is another series that I began late last year, and began drafting a second entry for early this year, but put aside – partly because the several Black and Blue Walking Man series came along, but also because activity related to that would-be series died off for several months.

Since March, however, a lot has been happening in regards to that series – and I mean a lot, including why I recently returned to Canberra for the first time since early 2012.

So next entry, which I hope will be in a week’s time or so, I will be returning to that series.

Until then, stay well and take care 🙂

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Yet again, one does not simply walk into Clouston & Hall Booksellers

Posted on 1 September 2014 by blackandblueman

Clouston & Hall Booksellers, Garema Place, Canberra, 22 August 2014 (Black and Blue Man)

Friday, 22 August 2014.

For the first time in more than two years, I was back in one of my favourite places in the world – Canberra.

That in itself was enjoyable enough, but there were two other reasons why I was glad to be in the national capital again.

One reason was why I was in Canberra for four nights, and which I plan to talk about soon in another post.

The other reason was that I could once again visit one of my favourite stores in the world.

Shortly before noon I arrived in Civic where I had lunch (for the second of three times that extended weekend) at another favourite Canberra location – King O’Malley’s.

One delicious Mexican King Pizza and jug of diet cola later, I crossed nearby Garema Place (where I’d had that life-changing experience back in early 2009) to the familiar and very welcome sight of Clouston & Hall Booksellers.

I went inside, took out my pen and notepad, and went to work.

I spent two very enjoyable hours slowly doing a circuit of the entire store, looking at books and listing in my notepad any that appealed to me.

There were a few books that I remembered from my 2011 or 2012 visits, and perhaps even my 2009 visits. Some of those books I had bought at Clouston & Hall or Amazon.

As always, though, most of the ones I added to my list were intriguing-looking titles I hadn’t seen anywhere else.

And some of them had very intriguing titles and premises indeed:

Finally, I left Clouston & Hall with four pages of book titles that I hoped would mostly be available in ebook format from Amazon.

I knew that some wouldn’t be, though, and on Monday when I had to return to Civic to get a Greyhound coach home, I planned to buy a few from Clouston & Hall.

As before, I felt a little guilty about my ‘showrooming’, but it wasn’t though any fault of Clouston & Hall themselves – for various reasons, ebooks are my preferred reading format nowadays, and thanks to Clouston & Hall I have obtained and enjoyed works that otherwise I would never have known about.

Late that night back at my hotel room, I sat down at my notebook computer and spent an enjoyable hour or so adding most of my Clouston & Hall shopping list to my Amazon wishlist.

Fortunately, most of the books on my shopping list were available in ebook format.

To my surprise, though, most of them as ebooks were about the same price – or higher – than what they were available for at Clouston & Hall.

I did return to Clouston & Hall on Monday morning, just before my trip home to Sydney.

Unfortunately, I was limited to what I could buy from there – partly because of very limited space in my suitcases, but mostly because of two unexpected and very frustrating financial factors that reduced what I could buy.

Ultimately, I ending up buying just two books.

Still, as always, it had been hugely valuable and enjoyable to once again visit Clouston & Hall.

And the next time I visit Canberra, which I hope will be much sooner than two years, I hope to go there again.

Until next time, stay well and take care 🙂

Posted in Action, Bibliophilia, Gratitude, Happiness, Inspiration, Life is Good, Reading, Travel | Leave a comment

Black and Blue Man

Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 5)

Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 4)

Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 3)

Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 2)

Black and Blue Walking Man: Seven Bridges to Cross (Part 1)

Building Again (Part 3)

The Gladesville Bridge: 50th anniversary of its opening

Building Again (Part 2)

The lost series of Black and Blue Man

Yet again, one does not simply walk into Clouston & Hall Booksellers

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