Goat Island and it's New Years

One of the reasons we took the tour Convicts, Castles, and Champagne was not the Champagne. While Esther our guide was liberally pouring, and we were liberally consuming, the real reason is that Sydney was founded by the British partly because they lost the American Revolutionary war and needed a new far away place to send their bad criminals. Captain cook accomplished that with the discovery of Australia. Joan cerainly wanted to more about the criminals and te hard abor they endured adn one of the places where the criminals worked and pounded out rock with chisel and hammer was Goat Island.

Goat Island was many things over its brief history, but one of he things it was was where they held all the explosive that were used wih the Quary and onstrcuting the Harbour. The convicts at that time were held onboard a Frigate tied up near Bangalaroo. every day they would be road over to Goat Island to chisel out more rock for constructions.and then every night rowed back to the Frigate to be locked up. If you were not following orders, you would get flogged and then do time on the Island. They built a huge munitions warehouse.

Steve injured is foot while walking and required immediate medical attention. Fran had all the supplies with her.

at a later time in history, the Harbor Master decided he should live there and built a large house for himself and his famly attended to by a staff of 12.

Facinating tour and Esther was a terrific guide with a great sense of humor. It was a small group which worked out well for us tired zombies. Back to WANGI (wonGI) QUEEN for a quick tour of Darling Bay and back to Circular Quay Depot.

Once on shore we ventured through an area Called the ROCKS and found a nice little sidwalk cafe called The Rocks Cafe. We are tired and simpler is better. We had much needed Gin and Tonics and some great fish and chips and then ambled our way back to the hotel along George Street which never really crosses Pitt street where our hotel is. Joan said the hotels over there and we headed for the & Eleven (yea they are every where) took a left and found our way back and up too our rooms to get off our feet and get caught up on some much needed sleep.

Ha!! Next update…. Warren takes Joan for a late night stroll and stumbles into a Chinese Surprise.