Going exploring!

After living here for about half a decade, we're going to head out and do a spot of 4WD'ing. Have some recovery gear and a shovel packed just in case, convoy of two cars and both have CB's.

Will be interesting to see what we see, the place we're going to is relatively well known so it'll be more "tourist" and less "explore" but without the boutiques.

There's a geocache I'd like to visit while out there, but it's several km down a side road, with multiple don't attempt in wet season warnings. So we'll be giving it a miss on this outing. I'm sure seasoned 4WD's with proven cars would easily do it, but I don't think it would be smart to try on our first outing. I don't feel like crawling in knee deep mud under a vehicle if I'm not getting paid for it.

And end to camping, by crossing a bridge

It's been "fun" but the camping trip is nearly over. Dirty, dusty and tired but heading home. On the down side, due to this being a work function, can't just pull over on the drive home to stop and smell the roses. And by roses, I mean log a cache. There's one on a bridge we drive across but won't be able to stop and look for it.

Oh well, maybe in another lifetime. I doubt I'll ever be out this way when it's not for work.

Quarantine - Day 4 and a half

Due to the lifting of the lockdowns in South Australia, I'm being let out of isolation early. Yay? We'll see how it goes.

Will also be interesting to see if they charge me the full $2,500 for being here, or around $780 or so (full amount divided by 14, multiplied by 4)...

Edit: this was meant to publish on the 28th of July, not sure why it's showing up in August. :/ And the bill came to $700.

Camping, day two

Going away for work again, probably through until the end of September. At least we're staying in the top part of the country this time so it won't be as cold (and fingers crossed no rain either!)

It's been a while since I've had a longer trip like this, last two years the majority have been shorter ones.

Getting this one off the ground has been a bit chaotic, fingers crossed things settle down.

Lockdown

 And due to the lockdown ... I'm not going anywhere.

Was supposed to be flying to WA to catch up with my family, whom I haven't seen in two years. Only had five days (including travel time, so more like four days) but it would have been brilliant to catch up with my Mum and Bro.

Due to the snap lockdown caused by the most recent outbreak (at time of writing), it would have been difficult to fly, and shortly after my flights were cancelled I was advised by WAPOL that I'd have to do 14 days quarantine in WA - even though I was only going there for five days.

Really bummed out, fingers crossed that we get the chance to get out there later in the year.

Eerie

At the airport, getting ready to fly home after holidays and it is very strange seeing a plane parked up at every gate. We're on an early morning flight, but it still seems very odd. Never seen that before.

Flies

Currently on a job, sitting out in a field, wondering why I'm out here doing nothing productive instead of being at home looking after my family. I guess the couple of extra dollars from this will help, and being away provides fewer chances of exposing my family... still sucks being away during this global crisis. Would much rather be at home. I guess somebody needs to be out here. Could be worse,I could be dealing directly with people.

Out here we're outnumbered a few thousand to one by the flies. So glad I have a fly net to keep them off my face, it would drive somebody mad to have these xreepy crawlies all over you. It's bad enough having them on my hands. Eating something is almost impossible without it being instantly covered in flies. Would be nice to be indoors again...

Back home

After about five or so weeks away, now back home again. <3

Was good to spend time on the road driving (though the seat did get quite uncomfortable after a while), was not so good spending time in the dirt and being grotty.

I took some writing stuffs with me, in case I wanted to write things down, but got down exactly zero words. Didn't help being constantly distracted...

But the important thing is I'm home again.

Radelaide

Down at the south end again, at least only for a few days this time (about six days total including travel time).

Travelling is fun, but it is better when it is for fun with family, instead of for work with time away from family. Oh well...

South West

Very much looking forward to catching up with family. It has been too long.

Under the weather

Urgh... down south for work and definitly not feeling the best. Feeling quite crummy actually.

It was about this weather when we were in Perth not that long ago. But it feels a lot colder. Might be because it is a wet cold here.

We *should* be heading back up north soonish, so hopefully I can soldier through it. We'll see how I feel in the morning.

South

Flying out of town today. Going to be down south for about two weeks or so, with a chance of coming back in the middlish for a bit. Going to be interesting seeing things from this end of the zoo.

Going to be interesting adjusting to the climate difference.

Perth!

Feeling good to have a chance to get back to my old stomping grounds. Not feeling so good to be in the cold again. Brrr!

Before the trip

Going to be doing a spot of driving, and some sight seeing! :D Whooo!

Got most of the stuff we need packed, bit of work today, then off to the horizon in the morning.

New ground

Away from family again, never fun and always too long. At least we get paid extra for being apart. And tgis trip is a bit shorter.

Only just left home and already hanging out to get home

Journey home

End of another major outing for work, now driving north up the middle of the country and heading home.

Good thing my last course was on at the same time as part of this outing, means less time away from the family.

Was only away from them for about two months this time, bit less actually. And this should be the last major outing for this year. Maybe. So yay, more time at home with the family! :D

First week away

Being away from home sucks.

Being away from home and not knowing when exactly I'll be back double sucks. :(

Down in the bottom half of the country, bit colder down here than it is in Darwin. Missing the heat a bit but getting used to the cold. At least I haven't been rained on yet.

Missing the family, glad to have mobile phone so we can message and talk.

End of the month

Left Darwin at the end of February and been down near Port Augusta all March. Not a happy month - dust, dirt and flies. Never enough sleep and the food is ... enough to survive on but not really what I would call "food". :)

And all this timevaway from my family. :(

But it is nearly done, should be home again before the end of the weekend. :D Work is work, but it will be so good to get home, have some time with the family. It never gets easier, being away for so long with minimal contact.

But all things end, just a few short days to go. Lost a fair bit of weight, will be interesting to weigh myself again. I was about to change up my pants size but at the moment I am using an old occy strap I found as a belt!

At least I've been able to get some decent food into me today. Yay for fresh fruit and veggies! Yay for fresh, cold milk!

Travelling

Currently at Alice Springs, waiting for a connecting flight. Definitely prefer this method. Only two hours to get here, as opposed to two and a half days!

Going to be really busy at home and it is only for a week, but will be good to have some family time again.

Last trip home

Been doing a lot of flying lately. Flown on more planes in the last 18 months than I have in my entire life. I get to go home in a few days, bur this will probably be the last time I get to go back to my home state for a few years.

Just have to enjoy it as much as I can.