Orange - Manildra - Parkes

It's been a while since I was out this way.

Orange is still an interesting little town.

Parkes is quite arty too, with quirky paintings and whatnot.

Cudal was the destination tonight.

Some lavender

Duckies

Duckie pond

Made me want to pee

Manildra rail

Rusty gold

Manildra water tower

Cafe in Parkes

The birds

Saturday cruise

Glasshouse in Orange

Big old redwood

Check the local restaurants 

The guard at Cudal

Cudal sunset

You are... petrichor!

Such a romantic sentiment

Sir Henry Parks - Great orator

Bumblebee

Major Tom

Forbes River Road - Sofala

Its time for my yearly Easter sojourn over the range.

I do my best to find new and more difficult ways to Sofala.

This time I headed down Forbes River Road from Banda Trail.

Gingers Creek for fuel, then straight down Knodingbull Road to Mt George.

Tiri - Bundook and on to Gloucester.

Pack light, move fast.

Hastings Forest Way

Tower 2 lookout on Hastings Forest Way

Forbes River Road

Forbes River Road

Rusty Gold

Someone stole the previous one

Some rain coming

Forbes River

Hit the Oxley Highway

Mount Seaview

Gingers Creek Cafe

Knodingbull Road

Blue Knob Fire Tower

Dingo Tops Traction engine

Tiri Road

Gloucester Buckets

The sun was leaving me as I passed the Barrington Tops dingo gate.

As always I made Sofala pretty late after a slab run through Bylong.

All the way keeping my eyes peeled for wildlife.

200 metres out of Sofala camp I hit a bit roo at speed.

I gripped the bike with all my strength and wobbled to a stop.

By the time I turned around the roo had passed on to the great beyond.

I'd hit it with my knee armour and boot at about 90kmh.

My boot lost two buckles and picked up some fur.

Here's a map for you.

Here's a Google Maps link.

Homebush Olympic Park - Brickpit

In 2000 I left Coast Security.

I found an advert in the paper requesting guards for the Olympics.

Workforce International, a labour hire company somehow got the tender to provide guards.

Problem was, they didn't have any guards to employ.

So. they threw licences at anyone who lined up for the job.

The obvious issue was that most had no experience. 

The few that did had to train, roster and supervise people to a point where they would be useful.

I started working static guard on Hockey and Tennis, then on to the Aquatic Centre.

I did a little CCTV work etc there until a supervisor realised I had some experience.

He placed me in an area between Sarah Durack and Rod Laver Drive.

Initially it was mainly supervising builders and access via manifest documentation.

Then as things ramped up, I had more guards and area than I could control,

The security coordinators thought I could handle more and more.

Luckily the core crew that I started with assumed management roles.

We worked long shifts in shit conditions. Got treated like dirt.

They created a special "Olympic Wage Agreement" which meant flat rate pay.

But I met some of the greatest people there.  Police, guards and volunteers.

Although I worked my ass off, it was one of the greatest times of my life.

There was no part of Olympic Park I was not privy too. I saw it all.

At peak I ran 60 guards and filled the gaps from a flying squad.

A little like herding sheep at times, but we made it work.

Every now and then I return there and see whats changed.

Novotel was the hub for the park at the time.

The lighting towers were rumored to house snipers

Actually as vantage points go they are excellent

The fountain by Kronos Hill

The hill is actually a toxic waste dump

I'm not sure what the steps signify

I did many cold shifts on this gate

The highlight was watching a sports bike mono the length of Kevin Coombes Ave

Off to the station for lunch

Then round to the brickpit

I'm not real good with heights

The platform moves a bit too

Old crown wheel

The brickpit provides a habitat for an endangered frog

Entrance to the ringwalk

View of the pumphouse

A lot of Sydney was made here

Viewing platform

Spotless Stadium in the distance

Panorama of the ringwalk pool