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Sydney 1982 flying high

June 7, 2014 by David Herd

Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history, check it out if you wish.

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life, was a very good year for me, as were many others. I intend to publish posts on the years I remember most vividly, & there have been quite a few. The header shows the view I had from my apartment at 112 Wrights Rd Drummoyne in Sydney, where I lived from 1979 to 1984. With my white Mercedes Sports in the garage, my Bertram 25 moored out front, plus my very own liquor store in Sydenham, some good friends and a string of beautiful girlfriends, life was very close to perfect.

The boat

Sydney 1982 flying high

I had the perfect mooring right outside my apartment, we had so much fun on Sydney harbor visiting all the great beaches & restaurants.

The car

Sydney 1982 flying high

My beautiful Mercedes Sports was the ultimate chick magnet.

The babes

Sydney 1982 flying high

 As I said earlier, my life was as close to perfect as you could get.

Lets begin on New Years Eve 1981

Sydney 1982 flying high

One of the best NYEs of my life, we overloaded my boat with 16 people and headed off to a seafood restaurant at “the Spit” for dinner before heading to the Opera House for the incredible fireworks. My girlfriend for the night was the gorgeous one in the middle, very unusual that I can’t remember her name.

New Year’s Eve 1981, the Great Escape.

It was like we were caught in a Beirut bomb zone with huge sky rockets peppering the overloaded boat, causing some of my friends to dive overboard in the middle of the harbor to escape the carnage.

Let’s backtrack to the start of our adventure, it was NYE 1981 and 15 of my friends boarded my Bertram 25 and headed for a seafood restaurant near the “Spit bridge” on Middle Harbor in Sydney. Onboard were some of my best friends, Wolf Wottke, Harley Bradstreet, George McEwan & Graham “Biff” LaRoche from Melbourne and 6 or 7 gorgeous girls. My boat was licensed to carry around 10 or 12 people however it was New Year’s Eve so who really cared?

We moored on the edge of the sand at the rear of the restaurant and at 8.30 pm sat down and ordered a feast. Here is where things started to go wrong, we hadn’t factored in the NYE crowd and the food was very slow to arrive, in fact it was after 11 pm by the time the waiter started to serve our meal. By then we were well along the road to intoxication as we had started drinking late afternoon at my apartment in Drummoyne.

As the Sydney fireworks were due to start at midnight we decided to pack up most of the food and head for the Sydney Opera house to watch the spectacular event.

We faced our second problem re-boarding the boat as the tide had come in and the boat was now floating 30 meters from the shore. Our only option was to wade out carrying the boxed up food in water almost up to our backside. The good news was our nice view of the girls hiking up their skirts waist high, which endorses the phrase that every cloud has a silver lining.

Now “Biff” was a huge man as the name implies, & Harley was almost a midget, sometimes we would cruelly refer to him as an ariel photograph of as human being.  So with Harley clutching a cardboard box filled with oysters “Biff” tucked him under his arm and carried him towards the boat.

I’m not sure why “Biff” dropped him, when only 2 meters from the boat, perhaps Harley wriggled or maybe “Biff” was feeling the effects of too many beers. Anyhow Harley briefly disappeared underwater along with the box of precious oysters, which I’m please to say we did recover.

Harley was our own human disaster area, if something was going to go wrong he was usually at the center of things, in fact it was Harley who coined the memorable phrase “anyone can have a bad decade”.

By the time we all got on board it was around 11.30 pm and is was a good 30 minute journey to the Opera House so I gave the boat full throttle and sped toward the Harbour Bridge.

We arrived in record time about 11.55 and I was weaving through the 1500 or so boats like a drunken sailor, which of course I was, searching for a spot to anchor that was not too close to any of the hundreds of spectator craft.  Hallelujah, what seemed to be a minor miracle unfolded before my eyes. A clear circle of water right in the middle of all the boats, so naturally I gave out a cheer and dropped the anchor just as the first fireworks explosion sounded right above us.

Elation quickly turned to fear as huge smoking wooden rods started raining down upon us. As I said at the start It was like we were caught in a Beirut bomb zone with huge sky rockets peppering the overloaded boat causing some of my friends, in particular Harley, to dive overboard in the middle of the harbor to escape the carnage. In the middle of the mayhem & panic it suddenly occurred to me we were smack bang in the middle of the fireworks “drop zone” which the water police had cleared in readiness for the show before retreating out of danger themselves.

I sprang into action like a drunken super hero and pulled up the anchor in record time, then fled the danger zone. No mean feat as my boat lacked an electric winch, so I had to manually pull the damn thing up by hand while standing on the bow.

We moored safely out of harm’s way and assessed the damage, naturally Harley was the most wounded, soaking wet with minor burns on his arm, plus a few small cuts from the smashed champagne bottle he was holding when hit by the first rocket.

Well we settled down and watched the rest of the fireworks reliving the experience that would be told many times over in the coming years, our own personal “great escape”.

Later we motored along the Parramatta River to Habberfield to drop off some passengers, and finally returned “drunk as skunks” to Drummoyne at dawn. Later that day George, Biff & I on impulse flew to the Gold Coast to continue our New Year celebrations.

The fabulous Opera House

Sydney 1982 flying high

One of the world’s great buildings.

New Years Eve 1982, the party continues…..

Sydney 1982 flying high

It seems 1982 was one continual never-ending party, here I am NYE in Sydney 1982 with Steve Bates, Helen Burke & Robyn Underwood.

Doyles restaurant & the Watson’s Bay hotel

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Three or four times a week my boat & I would head for Doyles restaurant & the Watson’s Bay hotel at Watson’s Bay. This was our favourite destination for long drunken lunches.

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life with Helen Burke.

Sydney 1982 flying high

Helen & I spent most of 1982 together after bumping into each other (having not been in contact for several years) at Melbas nightclub in Surfers Paradise on the evening of January the 1st, the night after my epic “great escape” on Sydney Harbour. 

I caught up with Helen again in 2014 at her home in Dromana where she produces excellent wine.

Grahame aka “Biff”, Kitty & Helen Burke.

Sydney 1982 flying high

January 1982 and the party continued on the Gold Coast. The new sexy girl in the photo was “Kitty” a totally uninhibited Dutch girl who I knew from Sydney, but that’s another story. 🙂

Kitty

Sydney 1982 flying high

Without a doubt one of the sexiest most uninhibited women I have ever known.

I rest my case

Sydney 1982 flying high

Biff is in heaven as you can see from the look on his face. 🙂

Lunch at Coolangatta

Sydney 1982 flying high

This was at Oscars on the beach with Graham La Roche and crazy Polly, I forget the other guys name.

A very difficult achievement

Sydney 1982 flying high

Here is Kitty, Di & Helen helping me achieve one of those very important difficult goals that I set myself during my younger years. Three ladies that I have bonked in one photo, that’s kind of like winning 3 Olympic gold medals, made more difficult when each of the three knew about the other two, priceless. 🙂

Kitty & her two sisters.

Sydney 1982 flying high

Three happy beautiful Dutch girls.

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Good friends at my home in Drummoyne Sydney 1982

Sydney 1982 flying high

Here is Graham LaRoche, George McEwan & Kitty’s two beautiful Dutch sisters in Sydney 1982.

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life with Helen & Teresa

Sydney 1982 flying high

Helen Burke from Melbourne & Teresa Hamilton-Smith from Adelaide, oh oh! How can I not include the lovely Kitty? Make that my three favourite girls. 🙂

Well ladies, I have an idea

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Say no more. 🙂

OK, check out these beautiful girls in Sydney 1982

 

Sydney 1982 flying high Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

 Sandy & Teresa                                                     Beautiful Jenny

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

 Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

The perfect day on the harbour with a boatload of beautiful ladies, Sydney 1982 flying high.

Here is a short video I took on NYE 2012 of the view from my condo at Drummoyne.

Home sweet home 1979 to 1985.

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David Herd & Vin Deveroux in Los Angeles.

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

My friend Vinny picked me up at the airport in a Roller, then we headed straight to La Cage de Folles to meet Christeen Rudas a friend from Australia. 

Christine Rudas

Sydney 1982 flying high

Christine was a hostess at La Cage de Folles.

Gorgeous Blonde at La Cage de Folles

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

Apparently she was in a show called Hee Haw, the closest match I can find is Gunilla Hutton, the age would be about right but I’m not sure if that is really who she is.

La piece de resistance

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

So here is my 15 minutes of fame I guess, lucky enough to meet Liberace and get a photo with him.

Old friend Ian Rich in Huntington beach

Sydney 1982 flying high

For many years Ian ran a tennis ranch in Los Angeles, in fact I think he still does in 2016.

We stopped in Hawaii on the way home

Sydney 1982 flying high

I went to L.A. for 2 months with Steve Bates then Helen joined us for the final 4 weeks. We drove to Vegas, Mount Mammoth, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and down the coat to L.A. Helen & I also flew down to Puerto Vallarta for a few days.

Every time I hear this song I’m transported back to the Californian coast

April 1982, guess where I am?

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

We drove from Vegas to SFC.

Dinner at Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf SFC.

Sydney 1982 flying high

Helen was never considered shy and introverted. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Thinking about my life in 1982 with all the babes, boats, gold chains & big hair, reminds me of another of my favourite songs from that year. Do yourself a favour & let Bertie take you back.

Bertie Higgins - "Key Largo" (Official Music Video)

Madison & Emma Aboud

Sydney 1982 flying high

Emma was the daughter of my ex girlfriend Carol Aboud, here she is with my wonderful German Shepherd Madison.

Don Morris was CEO at Mojo Advertising

Sydney 1982 flying high

Don was another good friend from Sydney 1982, we did a lot of boating together & drank a few cold beers.

Captain Peter (Hollywood) Hobbs & Liz De Crossan

Sydney 1982 flying high

One thing I can say about Peter in Sydney 1982 he could always attract the good looking ladies. I’m probably being unkind, Liz as you can see was extremely beautiful.

Jenny Dale, another lovely lady

Sydney 1982 flying high

I was lucky enough to have a little fling with this gorgeous lady.

Yolande, the Macleans girl

Sydney 1982 flying high

Even in a poor quality photo she is still beautiful.

Check out the video.

Denny Collins & Peter Hesky

Sydney 1982 flying high

Two good friends for the 70s & 80s.

Good friend Denny Collins, RIP.

Sydney 1982 flying high

Denny was a great fellow, he sadly passed away after a long illness about 4 years ago.

Valli Kemp, beautiful big eyes.

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

Valli was quite a well known Sydney model in those days.

Sydney 1982 flying high

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

On the left is Wolfgang who was my best friend through the 70s and early 80s.

Can life get any better than this?

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

I really doubt if there has been a better stage in my life than Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life.

Sydney 1982 flying high enjoying life

As you can see Sydney 1982 was really a non stop party, those were the days my friend we thought they would never end. 🙂

Sing it for me Glenn.

                

 Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

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Click here for a flashback to my 2 great years in Adelaide

 

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Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

December 15, 2013 by David Herd

The city of San Francisco

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf are synonymous with  San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, the mile-wide, three-mile-long channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to Marin County. It is one of the most internationally recognised symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Trans America Pyramid

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline. The building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, who moved their U.S. headquarters to Baltimore, MD, but it is still associated with the company and is depicted in the company’s logo. Designed by architect William Pereira and built by Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, at 260 m (850 ft), on completion in 1972 it was the eighth tallest building in the world.

San Francisco Ferry Building.

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

The San Francisco Ferry Building is a terminal for ferries that travel across the San Francisco Bay, a marketplace, and also has offices, located on The Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Spear Street

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

It was 2005 when I visited SFC on my way to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival.

St Francis of Assisi church

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

Situated in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Italian neighbourhood, the Norman Gothic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi was dedicated as a parish church on 17 March 1860. The twin towers and walls survived the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, but the interior was gutted. The parish built a new church within the surviving walls and rededicated it on 2 March 1919.

Aquarium of the Bay.

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

Aquarium of the Bay is a public aquarium located at Embarcadero and Beach Street, at the edge of Pier 39 in San Francisco, California. The Aquarium is focused on local aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay and neighbouring waters.

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Alcatraz.

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as “The Rock”, the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison (1868), and a federal prison from 1933 until 1963. Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Aboriginal peoples from San Francisco who were part of a wave of Native activism across the nation with public protests through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf Pier 39 Sea Lions

Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf

A few California sea lions began “hauling out” on PIER 39′s K-Dock shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco in October 1989. By January 1990, the boisterous barking pinnipeds started to arrive in droves and completely took over K-Dock, much to the exasperation of PIER 39′s Marina tenants. The Marina Staff turned to The Marine Mammal Center, an organization devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, for advice about their new slippery tenants. After much debate and research, the experts from The Marine Mammal Center recommended that the sea lions stay in their new found home.

With a plentiful supply of food from the Bay and an environment protected from predators, the PIER 39 Marina proved to be an ideal living situation for the sea lions. Within a few short months, the number of sea lions grew to more than 300 and hit an all-time record of 1,701 in November 2009.

While the number of sea lions at K-Dock rise and fall with the seasons, available food supply and natural migration patterns, the world famous sea lions always have a home at PIER 39.

Ferry Plaza Seafood

Golden Gate Fisherman's Wharf

Ferry Plaza Seafood is one of the original tenants from the initial revitalization project of the San Francisco Ferry Building. People ask us all the time if we are a family owned restaurant, the answer is that we are not a family owned restaurant, but we all feel like family. Our story is pretty simple, our owner was a frequent guest of Swan’s Oyster Depot. 

She was inspired by their menu and wanted to open a restaurant that served the kind of fresh seafood she always wanted to eat with a spectacular view. She found it really difficult to find affordable seafood that wasn’t blackened, fried, covered in bread crumbs or sauced up in some mysterious way. You will often see her at the restaurant and she is likely to sit down and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine with you. Probably she will ask you if you “watched the game on Sunday? Or if you liked your fish?”

He is doing a shucking good job.

Golden Gate Fisherman's Wharf

The mussels were OK but I do prefer oysters.

 Mussels, fresh bread & a cold beer.

Golden Gate Fisherman's Wharf

Golden Gate Fisherman’s Wharf and fresh seafood, what more could you want?

David Herd at Fisherman’s wharf

Golden Gate Fisherman's Wharf

Thanks for visiting my San Francisco post & apologies for the silly little beard. The one I have now is much better.  😳

Flashback to 1982

Golden Gate Fisherman's Wharf

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because my air conditioned car was just a few meters away. 🙂

I remember driving from Las Vegas to San Francisco in 1982 through Death Valley then down the coast to L.A.

It was sad to see the number of homeless begging on street corners, in fact on many corners in the city there were four each taking up one corner of the intersection. This song could be about any of them. Take it away Otis.

 

Golden Gate Fishermans wharf

Golden Gate Fisherman's Wharf

   Thanks for visiting my Golden Gate Fishermans Wharf photo blog, now I am heading for Rio de Janeiro via Miami.
 
 
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This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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