Holidays

Exams are finally over, and after a 3day break I hit the road to travel up to Dysart. Going through Gympie I saw a place - Car and Dog Wash. I hope they don't leave the dog tied onto the back of the ute. A stop for lunch at a pie shop, then back on the road. It's not a roadtrip without the aussie pie. I made it as far as Childers after a stop in to see family in Maryborough. Surprisingly, RACQ maps were terrible!! I used whereis last time in Maryborough, and it was perfect until the last turn (it still would have gotten me there, but the long way around). RACQ completely missed it (although it might have been me, but I don't think it was). Generally RACQ are better in more remote areas, but apparently not for Maryborough. Anyway, I made it to Childers and found the perfect motel on the main street. It was really nice, and only $100 too. My main criteria was walking distance to the pub for a decent meal. It definitely fit that. There were 3 within sight. My plan failed, all the pubs had stopped serving dinner (just after 8). I ended up with Chinese from the Motel. It was great, but not what I was craving :(. The next morning I realised I'd forgotten to bring socks, so I ended up getting bed socks (the only option available on a Sunday). They are actually so comfy with steel caps. After an hour or so stop at the Mt Larcom show, I kept driving onto Dysart. Arriving at around 8pm, I was ready to go to bed.

It is great to be back in Dysart. I did Vac Work here a year ago, driving the 789C Dump Trucks. It was the first time I had worked on a mining site, so it's really cool to come back after a year.

First day involved a 5.30am pickup. Yep, that's an alarm of 4.45am. I had to spend the day doing inductions again, because my paperwork from last year isn't around anymore. I love being back on site though, even if I didn't get to see anything the first day.

The second day I got the random drug and alcohol test, then had to finish the induction paperwork. Finally, I was able to do a pit tour, and see where all the trucks, diggers, graders, dozers and watercarts were working. One pit has hardly changed in a year! The rest is all new though. I spent the second and third days trying to help out the surveyor, whacking in pegs to guide the operators (although I don't think I'm much help).

I better head off to dinner now - it's great, all the meals are provided in 'camp', so I don't have to cook. Both sites I've been to so far have had a camp, which provides all meals. It's fairly common, especially with contractors. This camp also has a gym, a shop and a pub. I'll try and find my camera later to show some pics of my donga (room).