(Out)back to work

Okay so I got an email saying: "I've got work for you if you are willing to make the drive. 4 weeks in Broken Hill (NSW) and then 6 weeks in Maryborough (QLD). respond ASAP"

Desperate for a job I responded immediately, eventough I didn't even know what the job would be and the payrate. So I send an email with these questions. No answer.
Next day I started the 2100km trip, still no answer. I drove around 500kms and left early the next. Still no answer (after 48 hours)...

By googling the name I came across a phone number which I messaged where I was and that I was on the way. I got a reply warning me about the wild life in the outback and that I should take it easy. No info about the job, but atleast something and some honest concern.

I ran into one gravel road (thanks google for warning...); No honestly thanks google! It was awesome! I finally have the confidence to take the dirt with a good speed (60 to 90 km/h, depending on the condition) and with decent speed it is much more stable on the bike. Don't freeze up and countersteering will correct unexpected bumps, rocks and sidetracks. Freeze and clench the wheel and then it becomes scary! I started to like it so much that I purposely took a gravel road shortcut after the next town.

From then on the road was outback all the way! Long straight streets with small plantation that all looks gray. Occassionally a car passes you. The cars are so occassional that everybody has the tendency to wave at you, so you wave back.

There is still a lot of lively hood out there though; Kangaroo's, goats, cows, sheep, emu's and lots and lots of birds that are eating the roadkill that is all over the place. Better dodge if you don't want to become bird dinner as well! All the critters seem to like the side of the road because the road attracts water and therefore grass when it cools down (atleast that's what the Aussies tell me).

The last night before arriving in Broken Hill I had to rush during sunset ('roo time) to a free campsite and I experienced it was kangaroo time for sure! So many roo's and goats eating along the side of the road staring at me when I came by with doubt if they would jump or stand still. I was full on adrenaline because of this and it was almost dark so I was even speeding to make it on time (stupid maybe, but okay). at some point half of the animals I saw turned out to be bushes when I passed. I made it though and just before it got dark all the way.

The worst was actually passing the campsite and then making a U-turn on the highway when I could see far enough in front and behind to be sure to make it. This was the worst because I almost messed up and dropped the bike in the middle of the highway! Bless my long legs for saving my ass and my bike!

So next day I was almost in Broken Hill when I send a message again. The response: "The adress is ... we left a key in the mailbox for you. Help yourself to any food tea/coffee". Turns out the job is being a "drilling offsider", which means doing the physical part of a drilling operation, so carrying heavy iron pipes, dismanteling them, greasing them up or cleaning up and getting the sample (a long cylinder of rock) out of one of the pipes and putting it in a tray for the geologists. A physical, but very interesting job as well. The only bad thing is the amount of grease. Oh my so much grease...

We work around 9 hours a day and I get paid $250 a day and free food and accommodation. That makes this the best paying job I ever had and on top of that it counts towards my 88 days and everyone I work with is really nice!

So I made a shot in the dark especially since my Australian bank account was pretty empty after the trip over here and then the work boots and shirt... So it kinda saved me that there was food and accommodation included, otherwise it would have been camping and dumpstering till the first payday.

So I made a shot in the dark and got rewarded for it! I am so thankfull I can be impulsive sometimes, cause otherwise I would still be almost broke in Charters Towers hoping to land any shitty job.