Exploration Camp

Yesterday I started my new job. Though it feels like today was my first proper day of work.

I am working for a company that I previously have worked for but at a different location with a different department. I found out on Monday that everything was going ahead and I had a 0640 flight yesterday (Tuesday).

I live about 45 minutes from the airport and at that time in the morning there is no public transport that would be able to get me there on time. I decided to try Uber and Didi as they had worked before.

Unfortunately standing outside my apartment at 0500 I was getting cancelled by all the Ubers as they were too far away or something (some were really close!) And Didi never actually found me anything. I rang a taxi and they were going to be too late so at 0520 I jumped in my car and started driving.

I had pre-booked another Uber to pick me up in the city centre and my luck really worked out because I arrived at the same time as that Uber, parked my car in 3hr parking and got into the Uber (I can't park at the airport in a rush I had no idea where the long term parking was or how to pay for it or how to get to the terminal from there). The Uber dropped me off at 0605 and I checked in at 0608 (before the check in deadline of 0610). I got through security and arrived at the gate at 0614 as they called for the first rows to board... Only then I knew I wouldn't miss my flight on my first day of work... Next time I will pay for 16 days parking as Ubers are just too unreliable this year (no idea what has changed but they are way more expensive and way more unreliable).

Flew 1hr 5min to Kalgoorlie and went to the company office/shed there. Then about 5 hours of inductions, the same sort of stuff every mine site has.

Then 3hr 50min driving to get to the new camp by a big salt lake in the outback.

Had a chill out by the camp fire (in a 38 degree evening) before food and chilling out before bed.

That was yesterday, today I had my first full day in the core yard getting used to the rocks here and meeting the team. They seem really friendly. After the 12 hour shift I went for a walk around the very local hills where I took this photo.

I then spent a few hours doing life admin (including blipfoto) in the un-airconditioned canteen where they have WiFi. My room doesn't have wifi so realistically to communicate with the outside world I have to stay in the canteen after dinner.

A thunderstorm is rolling in so I'm going to run back to my donga (portacabin accommodation) before I'm not allowed to be out in the open.