Map of World - Click a place Brad's been

November 2017 - Back to the Bush and in to Heavy Snow

In November I was able to enjoy a few moments in Calgary before travelling up north again for my next job as an HDD Inspector.  Short and sweet.

Matt A's first bday.  I agree the chocolate cake was deli!
In early November I had a chance to catch a nostalgic dinner with my mom like we used to with the family back in the day, finally got to play all you can pinball for the whole night on $10 at my local watering hole and went to my first 1 year old birthday party which was much more adult than you would think.


Not just a shot of beautiful prime rib, but a representation
of a nice dinner between my mom and I at "The Keg"

Pinball night at The Trap

Adam's Family, my favourite!
(well... and Twilight Zone)

I'm going to crush that cake momma.
  
Hint hint for my bday coming up!

Organic Coconut Oil, I hope the fad is still good!

Look! Brazil Peanut butter snack


Love em!





























































Back to North East BC (Chetwynd area).  About 1000 km from Calgary and I really couldn't pick a worse day to set out.  White out conditions for the first 1hr and then just cold and snow.  A much less remote location this time which was nice, but we had residential neighbours so had to keep it quiet...

Side Story: Prior to leaving Calgary I had contacted and purchased a bunch of things on Kijiji (Canadian Ebay) along the route to Chetwynd. I had what I thought was more than enough cash in my money clip and hit the road.  First buying a FR (Fire Resistant) jacket which was $50, but quite stained so I got it for $45 (important $5 savings if you keep reading) and then a couple knives for $65 both purchases in Calgary.  Once in Lacombe (just North of Red Deer) I arrived at the next stop to realise I only had $85 cash left and needed $100 for some safety gear. So, I rummaged through my truck and remembered my secret parking meter stash in my work bag (from 2001) that got me to $100 with twoonies and loonies. Yes! Back on the road and I realised I needed $5 for a hard hat near Edmonton, shit!  Gave the guy 3 loonies and 7 quarters, 2 dimes and 1 nickle.  Phew!  The packrat with an acreage full of miscellaneous items didn't care "money is money". Made it, or did I?  I arrived at Superstore needing a $1 for a shopping cart rental (handleful of dimes photo). Took my dimes inside exchanging them for a loonie...which turns out a I didn't need in the end as there was only one cart left which doesn't need any coins, hahahaha and urgh all at once.  Finally when I emptied my pockets before bed I found a dime in my pocket realising I jipped the hard hat guy a $0.10 so probably look like a complete ass.  Darn...and hilarious at the same time.

Crash driving just North of Calgary

Not much visibility, but I know it
like the back of my hand...maybe...

$100 to Matt for his old Safety gear

Beautiful snow covered trees



All the cash I had left when I arrived in Grande Prairie

Nice clean road, so that's good























































So...this is Chetwynd.

A blurry night shot of Chetwynd,
much brighter than I expected.
Must be all the Industrial plants?


Deja vu...Like I was in this site trailer before only a little more narrow.

Better than my basement



What a lovely area

On the Pine River

That's the cloud covered sun

30 cm on snow in 24 hrs.

cold too!

Sandy clay balls

Fun.


October 2017 - HDD Inspection Part 2 then Brutally Sick till Halloween

The first half of October I was still on site working away as an HDD inspector.  Got the hell out of there after 42 days total and saw Canadian Legend Matt Minglewood in GP on my way home.  Back in Calgary to recover, but not really as I contracted a brutal fever for most of the last 2 weeks of the month. Brutal!

The Life of Brad "near death" flu...

HDD Inspection Part 2 as the project did not finish until mid October.  In all we were about 6 days over on the schedule and a second HDD rig had to be added to the Exit in order to help the Entry rig get the bit to surface.  Which meant that I had to leave my Entry side 1.5 hours before shift start in order to permit the Exit Rig. Long dark nights with over 300 km driving in my now 14 hour shift.

All that pipe should be in the ground!

Full moon fever

Love these mornings going to town
every 2 weeks for groceries

Taylor Gas Plant in the distance

Oh shit, do I have winter tyres?






































Near the end of the HDD job I had to do 3 hour round trips to the Exit side well into the bush. This consisted of gravel and cattle filled roads in the dark.  And longer shifts because of the drive.  

Sunset Road

220 Rig on the Exit side

Poor planning Bodyjob with Pup.
Driver drove in thinking there was a
turn around spot, but no.

So...the hoe had to drag the back end of the Pup around
the rig.  Tight site!

I got my eyes on you!

This deer stayed in my highlights for 2 km!

Sunset Road


Check out the Flare Stack going off in the middle of the night at Septimus Plant.  What a sight.

Septimus Plant


View from Sunset Road

Incredible Sunrises

Septimus Valley

And the bit finally made it 1700+ m later

A sweet sunrise knowing the end
was near.

Final night on the Exit side as we pulled the product pipe

On Entry side.  Done!
Ready for the pipeline crew.



I'm done, this video truly demonstrates my joy that the job was done and I was heading home.  Uncontainable happiness!

What views, I'll miss them.



One night stop in Grande Prairie to have a beer and good meal and by chance watch a Canadian Legend - Matt Minglewood who was great.  Blues / country I suppose.  I almost didn't see the show as the cover was $26! for a guy I never heard of.  In the end it was well worth it.

Oh Yeah, 42 days without is
long enough my love.

Better than Fred's bar in downtown GP

Matt Minglewood
Sick as a dog until Halloween...

Another Garth and Jenny Halloween Party.  As always great costumes, food, and this year a Magic Show. Plus I hung out in the Crawler Camper most of the night at the back of the yard which is so cool and cosy. 
Family pumpkin carve.
Mine, Derek's, Kate/Bonny's

Awesome! Brain salsa too!
Magic!

Yay, 18 C on Halloween weekend, wtf.  Very warm.

Pete the Cornel and Pablo Escobar

Other Stuff

Tireless vehicles look so broken

Do it yourself tire balancing.

Matt likes Turbo.  If you take him off
he cries. Took me a few tries to leave.

Yet another sign of victimisation. Buying a coke with money
you don't even have.  It's up to us to
STOP THEM BLEEDING US DRY!