Spinning Ferry

(Backblipped 6th May) This is a "River Cat". It is one of Sydney's fleet of magnificent water transport vessels. River Cats are designed to travel all of the way up to Parramatta, negotiating the shallow low tide conditions. Here the cat appears immediately in front of the Parramatta River weir which separates the tidal section from the fresh water one. We will all scramble aboard in a few minutes and be on our way toward Circular Quay and the centre of Sydney's CBD. Progress will be slow at first due to the need to protect mangrove river banks but as the vessel reaches the wide harbour proper, relatively high speeds will be reached. In any event it is a helluva great way to get into town. A lot of the passengers are dressed up in suits with brief cases but some of us are simply having a great time bumming around the waterways at $2.50 a day. Retirement has its benefits.