16 October 2007 - It's a small world

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AM

Todays trip, another good long one. Darwin, Elcho Island, a wait of about 5 hours, return to Darwin.

Unfortunatly, it comes with another early start - 6:30. Working back from there, I aim to have everything ready for when the passengers arrive at 6:00, so I get to the office at 5:00. Another 4am breakfast...

The radar this morning showed some 'storms' along my track that I'd need to either skirt around, or weave through. Nothing serious by the look of it, mainly rain, which fortunately proved to be the case. I'm still in the process of learning to distinguish heavy rain from storms, and its a very carefull process! But todays weather on the trip over was fine, even fun, and the plane got a good wash.

Radar from time of departure, track to IFR waypoint 'WOOFA' (no, really!) shown. WOOFA is near Maningrida.... but you knew that, didn't you???

The clients today are Arup - one of Australia's leading consulting engineers, and I

believe they are looking to do some work on the island extending the clinic, and a few other buildings. Actually two of my passengers are with Arup, the engineers, and two are with the Department of Health, out of Canberra, and they flew in overnight. The locals and I had a quiet chuckle about the Canberrites having a gentle introduction to the weather, but that they will "find out later". An evil mind is a great comfort.

The car collecting us from the Airport had only enough seats for my four passengers, so I had to catch a lift with another guy. Older. Scruf

fy - though that goes without saying in these parts. The conversation went something like:

Me	Hi, I'm David
Him	G'day, I'm Ron. Where ya from?
Me	Darwin, lately.
Him	Really? How bout before that, you don't look like you're from Darwin.
Me	Well, Melbourne, generally.
Him	Yea? I'm from Victoria originally. Used to be from Bairnsdale
Me	Really? I grew up there.

Chitter chatter about schools, surnames, etc. Didn't know him. Me going back there 'occasionally', though it seems a lifetime ago.

Him	Ya might know my brother tho, he used to work for Telstra.
Me	Really, my Dad used to work for them.

Shortly, he's going to hit a dog, if he doesn't stop looking sideways at me across the front seat, in disbelief.

Turns out his brother is John Chesterfield. Ring any bells, Dad? I think he's in town, somewhere.

Are Bairnsdale and Elcho Island as far away from each other as you can get while still being in Australia?

Close, actually. I checked using my flight planner. Elcho is further away than Thursday Island, even Perth. Broome is a little further, but not much, as is Darwin. But Elcho would be the furthest, most remote place. Working for Telstra would do that for you.

We arrive at the clinic, but he's not one for small talk, so he puts me in the office and disappears. Probably thought I was some smart arse city folk, having him on. Probably gone to pack his bags, now his been 'found'.

Flying into Elcho I conducted another RNAV approach (non pilots, refer to my new 'glossery'). I've been rated to do this for the last year, but have had little chance to use them. They are growing on me. Precise, easy to conduct on the newer GPS units. Like most new things, they take some getting used to, but a few more and I should be comfortable enough to use one 'in anger', should conditions dictate.

NOON

Don't tell me the font is all over the place... big... small... whatever it wants. More trouble than it's worth to fix it. Blogger sucks.

I have access to the internet here... hence I can do an update 'on the fly'... so to speak.

Elcho Island is a beautiful place. Is. Was. Not sure. The setting is gorgeous, but the community, as with most communities, could do with a little polish up. Pictures below:

Cool houses

Idilic - except for the dogs, desease, heat, humidity........

The 'rest of the town' is at the top of the hill. Given the current temperature, I'm not about to wander up there for some photos...

PM

Have

PM