We figured out how to upload some photos, so here's the prerequisite shot of the Sydney skyline - from the perspective of a ferryboat ride:



I suspect by now, everyone in Seattle knows that the UW Huskies did not win their game against the U Conn Huskies. There were some good chances, (and some questionable ref calls!) but the UW didn't come up with the big plays at the right times. We were happy to see George Mason make it into the Final Four, though - nice to see a Cinderella team in the final bracket.

We continue to enjoy some great weather here - there is rain, but it doesn't last all day, and we've been able to work around it and get our cycling in. During our ride on Sunday, the park was sooo crowded, as it was a beautiful afternoon, and everyone was out enjoying it. It's a different cycling crowd than the weekday morning folks, who are far more serious and know the rules of the road for cycling. On Sundays, people pretty much do whatever they want, including walking right out in front of a speeding bike. You really have to be on your toes to prevent taking out pedestrians, baby strollers and the occasional tricycle!!

Those of you who know us well will laugh - we were so excited to find a Sydney Entertainment book at a hospital on the North Shore. These are the books that give you 2/1 coupons at local restaurants. We had one last year, and used it religiously. We figure that it will be worth the price if we go to three restaurants, which shouldn't be difficult at all! By the time we got back to the city on the train, Tom had perused the entire book, and was already sorting coupons by district and type of food. It's a great way to get out and try places you would otherwise pass by.

Sydney experienced some incredible waves and swells this past week - probably a result of the cyclone that hit Queensland some 10 days ago. Here are a couple of photos showing the waves at the rock pool where we swim at Coogee Beach.











The waves were so big that some surfers were actually helicoptered out about 15 km off shore, and by using jet-skis to tow them, were able to ride some 8 meter waves. I can't imagine it, but it must have been a huge thrill for them. This only happens once every 3-4 years, so it's a big deal, even for the locals.

Here's a nice view of the ocean from Tom's perspective:



As you can see, he didn't even bother to get up to take this photo, and I think the effect pretty well sums up our lazy lifestyle here.

We mentioned the bats in a previous blog entry, and here is a great shot Tom took in the Botanic Gardens, showing how they hang from the trees during the day:

We've had a chance to take a couple of great bushwalks over the past couple of days. Sydney is full of trails that go through the natural bushland that is present throughout Sydney Harbour. It's a great way to see the city, some gorgeous homes and the views of of the Harbour and surrounding areas are around every corner. Tom found a fabulous map that details many of the walks, which is a nice supplement to our Sydney good walks book.

Right now we're experiencing a thunder shower, after a lovely morning of sun and upper 70s temps. The weather changes quickly, and we hope that when we're done at the internet, the sun will be out again.

Quick knitting update - the shawl continues to grow - I'm halfway through the 4th color gradation, so about 1/3 is finished. It's nice to be able to start to see the shaping, and I'm excited to get to the middle and see it shape back the other way. I knit just about everywhere, but especially on the bus - it's amazing how much you can accomplish, even on a short ride!!

Here's a parting shot of Sydney - Tom's been having fun learning how to take night shots on his camera, and I think this one turned out nicely.