'Travelling season' is underway..
Submitted: Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 09:37
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Member -Signman
One of my many interests & 'jobs' is a volunteer base operator with VKS737. My regular shift is Sunday/
Adelaide Base. One of the main problems is feelings of envy when members call in to log their positions and what they're up to. A few of last night's calls:
-Two separate groups westbound on the Simpson
-From
William Creek to
Copley- then the Flinders &
Gammon Ranges
-On the Tanami Rd to travel the CSR
-
Coober Pedy- after travelling the Anne Beadell Rd (had broken spring on Camper Trailer)
-Cullyamerra
Waterhole- to
Coongie Lakes today
Etc Etc
During Summer and the off season, we'd be lucky to get half a dozen calls in the 1 hour shift.
During Winter can get up to 30 or more call ins. Fortunately most of the calls are regular log ins- but occasionally we are activated to get external assistance for travellers with various problems.
Worse is when we have to pass on a message of a catastrophe back
home !!
Ah
well- my turn will come. Off in August for our annual trip!!
Reply By: Trevor W(Brisbane) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:18
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:18
I sit in a dreary Engineering Office all day with no windows except up the oher end of the office in
Brisbane. I love reading your post to know that there are lots out there enjoying life.
The one thing that keeps me going is that my Screen Background is a picture of Cullymurra
Waterhole at Sunrise where we camped on the Cooper. Keep up the Good Work with VKS
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: rayj - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 22:29
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 22:29
Didn't a bloke write a little ditty about sitting in an office dreaming about a certain drover. Get out and do it.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:35
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:35
I don't say this often enough, but thank you and your fellow volenteers for the great work that you all do with VKS. :))
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:49
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:49
I'll second that :-)
And I know what you mean about the envy bit, My desk top back ground is a picture of my Troopy crossing the dunes on the
Hay River run, reminds me of where I want to be.
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Follow Up By: Member - barbara M (NSW) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:46
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:46
Hi Everyone,
I thought I was the only one that looked at all the camper trailers and caravans on the highway and wished it was me. I am a school teacher and one of the schools I work at faces the road to the local beach and National Park and when I am on playground duty I see all the caravans heading off camping and I wish I was there instead of sorting out who said what to whom and who had the ball first.
Barb
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Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 17:59
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 17:59
I'll second (third) that as
well.
VKS does a great job, and it is good to know that they are there.
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Reply By: Dasher Des - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:05
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:05
I also have the envy phobia as
well. I travel around the Riverland area very frequently with work and every time I'm on the Sturt Highway, I'm always seeing campertrailers and caravans heading East or West and I'm stuck here working just pure envy
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:52
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:52
Poor Des...falling asleep at your desk again...dreaming of far away
places like
Lyrup......lol
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Follow Up By: Dasher Des - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:14
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:14
Nah Willie,
Lyrup is fine, I can get there without having to have a rest on the way LOL. Have to keep a keen eye out for EO stickers and old pharts on the road.
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Reply By: Garbutt - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:42
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:42
Poor Des, at least you're not always stuck in the office, have a few trips around the area like me!
GB
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Follow Up By: Dasher Des - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:12
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:12
Yes Mr Garbutt, but at least you could do something to stop them from giving me envyphobia. All I can do is just wave as they go past.
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:44
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:44
Signman,
When I log in on the Canning and other trips this year I will try not to sound happy.
But why should I, you will know that I am out there having a great time and you will be back in
Sydney.
To all the VKS operators, keep up the great job that you do. There is nothing as good as a familiar voice on the other end of the radio to record where you are and that every thing is OK.
Wayne
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member -Signman - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 16:35
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 16:35
Just remembered another contact last night. Bruce (Popeye) on his
grader on the Docker River Road.
If any travellers see a
grader with a Codan Autotune antenna- say Hi to Popeye..he may even share a cuppa with you..
I spoke with him a few weeks ago on the
Mereenie Loop Road, so he certainly gets around the Territory.
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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 17:01
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 17:01
Adelaides a funny base. Its often the clearst base here in the west and i often recieve it full signal. I rarely get reply back with the operator constantly complaining of high noise which I dont hear.
I usually dont bother now as it results in my having to yell aok roger roger if im heard at all
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Reply By: Navigator 1 (Caringbah,NSW) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 21:41
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 21:41
Hi Sandman,
We'll be leaving
Sydney in a couple months en route to the National Gathering via
Broken Hill,
Flinders Ranges and up the
Strzelecki Track to
Innamincka. Hope to make contact with you during Skeds on Sunday mornings but we too have difficulty with contacting
Adelaide Base.
Robyn and Charlie
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (Caringbah,NSW) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 21:42
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 21:42
Sorry, I meant Signman
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Reply By: Topcat (WA) - Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 21:43
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 21:43
Hi Signman, heading north (
Pilbara) at the end of the week to scrounge for that allusive yellow stuff. If I get a clear signal from
Adelaide Base on the Sundays, I'll give you a call otherwise I usaully setup a sched with
Derby Base. Cheers.
AnswerID:
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