Seasons greetings everyone. I thought I'd better check in after receiving emails or PM's enquiring about my whereabouts.
I did more than 14,000 kms over 3 weeks, most of that in WA between Perth and locations in the Pilbara. I was lucky to get out of WA. I thought Id' have to produce my passport at the border. Those fruit and veg inspectors can be ruthless. The Ceduna inspectors are less stringent.
I came back to Adelaide to attend to a family commitment and then other personal stuff, and have the car services. I've had about 2 weeks off, and ready to hit the road again.
The last venture too me from ****burn, NSW/SA border to Perth. Perth to Brockman 2 Mine, west of Tom Price. Solomon Mine to Perth which led to another job which was supposed to go to somewhere near Karratha. However the scalies decided we didn't have enought axles under the load. In simple language, they deemed the load to be too heavy and grounded us where we parked.
So I was allocated another job to the Pilbara with no return, so I used the time to play "tourist" and checked out the wildflowers along the Great Northern Highway. Although it was late it was still very rewarding.
During jobs I stayed with my girlfriend in Perth. The last job was from Perth to home.
So now it's time to repack the car, fuel up and head out to wherever I'm needed.
It's been interesting to note that over all the caravanners and other nomads I have encountered, no one has called me up or made contact along the way. It just goes to show there are a lot of nomads out there who are not involved in grey nomad forum activity on the web, or they're just too shy to say "g'day".
If you do spot me out there on the highways and byways please say "g'day". Never too busy for a quick chat.
So I'm not dead. I haven't fallen off the perch or the edge of the earth, although I've been close a couple of times along the coast of the GA Bight.
Safe and happy travels.
jimricho said
02:58 AM Nov 29, 2012
Welcome back Chris, you're sure covering some territory!
KFT said
03:27 AM Nov 29, 2012
CG welcome back, we have missed you.
you have certainly been around over the last few weeks.
stay safe
frank
Firefly said
04:01 AM Nov 29, 2012
Good to see your smiling face CG, glad this is worthwhile for you mate.
Sheba said
04:05 AM Nov 29, 2012
You're certainly covering some ground lately Chris.
Stay safe,
Sheba.
_wombat_ said
04:16 AM Nov 29, 2012
Hi CG, you should have PM'd me we could have had a coffee somewhere in Perth, oh well next time eh
Cruising Granny said
04:30 AM Nov 29, 2012
I'm sure I'll get back there again very soon. I was a bit busy and distracted by a technical hitch with my new laptop and wifi gadget. I only had a few hours on the ground between jobs. Next time.
_wombat_ said
04:44 AM Nov 29, 2012
I thought you may have been too busy, ya next time
justcruisin01 said
05:11 AM Nov 29, 2012
Good onya Chris, getting paid to see the back blocks in saftey by definitly not travelling on your own.
It's really the ideal in an odd way. I'm travelling, camping, free most nights, and getting paid to do it. While people pay thousands of dollars to do the wildflowers tour we were being paid for it. I meet some great people, and I think I've earned the respect of most of them. I certainly have the utmost respect for most truckies, especially the over dimension heavy haulers. It's another kettle of fish, or mining equipment, large tyres, boats, drill rigs etc. After a little confrontation from the WA scalies I've lot more respect than I'd shown them in the past. "Mermaids" slightly understates the effect their enthusiasm they show for their job. They also chatted me. My sign was leaning back too far. Not surprising when I think of all the head winds I've pushed through recently. I had it adjusted by the makers in Perth. They also chatted me about my terminology. There is not terminology script for our radio procedure, so I use my best radio voice and vary the information. I've never had a complaint from anyone, but the scalies told me to do it WA's way, whatever that is. They can't enforce anything, so I'll keep entertaining the highway troops with my clear and concise radio procedure. I actually have a ticket for it from my emergency services days with CFS, SES and Sea Rescue, not all at once, but over a period of a lot of years, just in case this scenario sounded a little familiar. LOL The Nullabor is never boring. The vegetation changes, the wildlife changes, the view of the Bight changes. One morning I saw the weirdest fog form at the bottom of the cliffs and roll up and over the edge of Australia and burned off about 500 metres inland. Beautiful but weird, as it was rolling at about 10 KPH. I've also learned that bush turkeys are also in the basin east of Madura Roadhouse. I'm yet to see a live camel, although I have seen a dead on.
Dunmowin said
03:14 PM Nov 29, 2012
Welcome back Granny, sounds like you have had a wonderful experience.
Gerty Dancer said
03:57 PM Nov 29, 2012
Fantastic adventures Chris! Great to hear from you, so glad its all going so well, especially after your years on the sideline so to speak.
Dougwe said
03:57 PM Nov 29, 2012
Yeeeeh! Welcome back from me too CG. We here at Greens Lake were only chatting the other day saying we hand't seen you around for quite some time. Don't work too hard out there and keep safe.
Zoomtopz said
11:45 PM Nov 29, 2012
yeah Granny , got to keep an eye on those 'camels'
saw th result of a "camelkazi" , actually 2 camelkazi .
'Wrote off' a brand new Scania tipple road train , when they ran in front of him .
& one of th camels survived , th driver was ok , th truck wrecked .
Great to see you poke ya head up . STAY Safe , don't take "shirt" , off those
can't z wth scalz , but then again I spose we have to let them feel impotant for 5 minutes,
just to humour them .
Makes us wonder though , did you see th episode of "Highway Patrol" last week .
A senior sergeant , pursuing a bike , which was doing in excess of 150kliks - sarg is driving
elbow on th window sash , right hand at th bottom of th wheel & talking on police radio with l/hand .
Then they tell us to have Both hands on th wheel , usually at 10 to 2 . ah well rules for one,
you got th rest .
Richo.
neilnruth said
04:11 AM Nov 30, 2012
Welcome back Granny (my old schooldays nickname) - you've certainly covered some kms. No wonder you need to get the car serviced when you get home! Keep safe and thanks for all your advice.
scotia59 said
06:59 PM Nov 30, 2012
looks like you have had great fun over here in WA. One day I would love to meet you for a coffee.
I've been watching the big trucks on that program on the telly, the Australian one, my admiration for the drivers of those things and you escort guys had tripled. Some of the situations you have to deal with blow my mind!
Looks like a good life.
Esmeralda said
09:31 PM Nov 30, 2012
Hey Chris nice to see you back on line for a while at least - sounds like you have been working hard but having a ball with it.
Cheers, Helen
beachball57 said
12:24 AM Dec 1, 2012
hi chris been keeping an eye out for ya but i haven't been going over to WA much mostly out to the border, over to the west coast and to Kulgra a few times.... haven't done nearly that many K's,, have taken ill and am not sure when i'll be back on the road pilotting...but i'll keep and eye out for ya just in case
Seasons greetings everyone. I thought I'd better check in after receiving emails or PM's enquiring about my whereabouts.
I did more than 14,000 kms over 3 weeks, most of that in WA between Perth and locations in the Pilbara. I was lucky to get out of WA. I thought Id' have to produce my passport at the border. Those fruit and veg inspectors can be ruthless. The Ceduna inspectors are less stringent.
I came back to Adelaide to attend to a family commitment and then other personal stuff, and have the car services. I've had about 2 weeks off, and ready to hit the road again.
The last venture too me from ****burn, NSW/SA border to Perth. Perth to Brockman 2 Mine, west of Tom Price. Solomon Mine to Perth which led to another job which was supposed to go to somewhere near Karratha. However the scalies decided we didn't have enought axles under the load. In simple language, they deemed the load to be too heavy and grounded us where we parked.
So I was allocated another job to the Pilbara with no return, so I used the time to play "tourist" and checked out the wildflowers along the Great Northern Highway. Although it was late it was still very rewarding.
During jobs I stayed with my girlfriend in Perth. The last job was from Perth to home.
So now it's time to repack the car, fuel up and head out to wherever I'm needed.
It's been interesting to note that over all the caravanners and other nomads I have encountered, no one has called me up or made contact along the way. It just goes to show there are a lot of nomads out there who are not involved in grey nomad forum activity on the web, or they're just too shy to say "g'day".
If you do spot me out there on the highways and byways please say "g'day". Never too busy for a quick chat.
So I'm not dead. I haven't fallen off the perch or the edge of the earth, although I've been close a couple of times along the coast of the GA Bight.
Safe and happy travels.
you have certainly been around over the last few weeks.
stay safe
frank
Good to see your smiling face CG, glad this is worthwhile for you mate.
You're certainly covering some ground lately Chris.
Stay safe,
Sheba.
Hi CG, you should have PM'd me we could have had a coffee somewhere in Perth, oh well next time eh
I only had a few hours on the ground between jobs.
Next time.
I thought you may have been too busy, ya next time
Good onya Chris, getting paid to see the back blocks in saftey by definitly not travelling on your own.
JC.
.........
I meet some great people, and I think I've earned the respect of most of them. I certainly have the utmost respect for most truckies, especially the over dimension heavy haulers. It's another kettle of fish, or mining equipment, large tyres, boats, drill rigs etc.
After a little confrontation from the WA scalies I've lot more respect than I'd shown them in the past. "Mermaids" slightly understates the effect their enthusiasm they show for their job.
They also chatted me. My sign was leaning back too far. Not surprising when I think of all the head winds I've pushed through recently. I had it adjusted by the makers in Perth.
They also chatted me about my terminology. There is not terminology script for our radio procedure, so I use my best radio voice and vary the information. I've never had a complaint from anyone, but the scalies told me to do it WA's way, whatever that is.
They can't enforce anything, so I'll keep entertaining the highway troops with my clear and concise radio procedure.
I actually have a ticket for it from my emergency services days with CFS, SES and Sea Rescue, not all at once, but over a period of a lot of years, just in case this scenario sounded a little familiar. LOL
The Nullabor is never boring. The vegetation changes, the wildlife changes, the view of the Bight changes. One morning I saw the weirdest fog form at the bottom of the cliffs and roll up and over the edge of Australia and burned off about 500 metres inland. Beautiful but weird, as it was rolling at about 10 KPH.
I've also learned that bush turkeys are also in the basin east of Madura Roadhouse. I'm yet to see a live camel, although I have seen a dead on.
Welcome back Granny, sounds like you have had a wonderful experience.
yeah Granny , got to keep an eye on those 'camels'
saw th result of a "camelkazi" , actually 2 camelkazi .
'Wrote off' a brand new Scania tipple road train , when they ran in front of him .
& one of th camels survived , th driver was ok , th truck wrecked .
Great to see you poke ya head up . STAY Safe , don't take "shirt" , off those
can't z wth scalz , but then again I spose we have to let them feel impotant for 5 minutes,
just to humour them .
Makes us wonder though , did you see th episode of "Highway Patrol" last week .
A senior sergeant , pursuing a bike , which was doing in excess of 150kliks - sarg is driving
elbow on th window sash , right hand at th bottom of th wheel & talking on police radio with l/hand .
Then they tell us to have Both hands on th wheel , usually at 10 to 2 . ah well rules for one,
you got th rest .
Richo.
I've been watching the big trucks on that program on the telly, the Australian one, my admiration for the drivers of those things and you escort guys had tripled. Some of the situations you have to deal with blow my mind!
Looks like a good life.
Hey Chris nice to see you back on line for a while at least - sounds like you have been working hard but having a ball with it.
Cheers, Helen