Underway

 

We had out mandatory lifeboat drill at 5:30 and were underway at 6!

We sat on our balcony and watched. 

The ship had to back out of the slip, and into the entrance to Darling Harbour. Local rules require a tug, even though the ship is capable of doing this unassisted.  A pilot boat led the way, stopping small craft traffic so we had room to turn.

pilot boat clearing the way

tug - check this out
he gets to bring his wife or girlfriend
to work (right window)

we approach the bridge
from Darling Harbour

start the turn - at the top of Darling Harbout

We are now turned around facing seaward.

the ANZAC bridge - dedicated to WWII
Australia-New Zealand forces who were our allies

We went from Darling Harbour into the main channel and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

North Sydney, just before
crossing under the bridge

Starting under...

under

North Sydney, viewed from under the bridge

The sun did not cooperate and go behind the clouds -- we were looking back directly into the sun on some of the bridge and Opera House photos.

view from our balcony

sun ducked under a cloud

This was fuzzy, so I took advantage.

The tug stayed with us until just out of the harbor.  

As we turned south, the skyline and the Harbour Bridge came back into view -- right as the sun was setting.