While this was going on I headed over to the cookhouse for supper and had Roast Beef, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables and that went down very well, followed by some ice cream and fruit. The weather forecast was good so I put the motocross gear out on our line but most of towels into the drier. I watched TV till about 9:30 and then headed for bed.
Dad arrived home mid-afternoon on the Sunday with another set of steel toed work boots for me this time higher in the leg by about two inches, plus two sets of orange hi-vis overalls. I asked why these overalls all he said you will find out shortly.
The following week I was back doing my school work and was starting earlier than before, I think that was because I got into the swing of getting up the same time as Dad while I was working and I also find I can get through my assignments quicker and it has not effected my marks either so basically I had the whole afternoon free.
This day as normal I had gone for lunch when John came in and said to me once you have finished lunch come over to my office please -- sure thing John. I was surprised that John didn't stay for lunch and he didn't look to happy either; so I quickly eat my lunch and headed over to the offices.
On entry Audrey the Secretary said I'll let John know you are here just hang on a few moments Joe, John came out of the office this time he was smiling, come on in Joe and meet my Boss from town Brent let me introduce you Joe my son.
Brent says please sit down Joe as Brent closes the office door, firstly what is discussed here is only for the three of us and in other words don't discuss this with anyone else other than John when you leave here I said no problem at all Brent and he shook my hand. Gee I like a man that's got a very firm handshake.
Now I know you are still at school thorough the distant education system and that you have been getting good marks to date, now what I'm going to offer you is part time work but it must not interfere with your schooling.
Here is the plan, we find many times the mechanic servicing out in the bush finds he needs other small parts and it means that someone on evening shift has to drop his tools and take it out to him. Now we are thinking these small item could be better taken there bye someone riding dirt bike with a carrying box attached behind your seat. Would you be interested in doing such a job, well yes I would but I'm not the oldest junior working his vacations here.
Lets put it this way an ATV is fairly wide and some roads are narrow and a bike take up basically no room on the road, further more we will give you guidance on how to use the radio on active roads so you know what may be coming towards you so that you can stop and get into the bank, the guys driving logging trucks will also know you are on the road.
So do you feel happy about this arrangement and we also will make sure you are home by 9:00pm anything after that time we will switch to the old method. We would like to try this out for three months and see if there are any cost savings for the company. Oh by the way you will be fully insured for your bike, yourself and workman's compensation and please don't speed on the logging roads as that is how mishaps can occur. Thanks Joe it has been nice meeting you, we will no doubt meet at breakfast tomorrow. We shook hands and I left with my head spinning.
I had been home about half an hour when Dad came in and his first words were; well how does it feel to be the company's first dispatch rider. Come here and give me a hug first.
Dad I really don't know what to say except thank you, well it was not me it was Brent who appears to have his own spies on how all the juniors worked out and how everyone get on together plus I know he is on the board of the distant learning so he can easily find out how anyone is doing.
Remember what he said keep up your school marks. This Friday do you have any tests to do no but I do the following week. Ok then after breakfast we will both come back here, you get your work gear on because you are going to work to learn about the roads and radio operations plus you are going to meet up with the logging truck and crummy drivers as I want then all to know about what is going to take place.
It's very important that they know your face and also that you all have to work with each other as well; its part of safety and in the job you are going to be doing communications is the number one factor.
John had got me a map of all the road network and marked in red the active logging area's, it also gave me a chance to see the road names and see how many call points there are.
By the way I've arrange for two lunch buckets to be made up for tomorrow and have already dropped yours and mine off with Kia, he looked surprise at seeing yours and all I said not a word Kia and thanks
OK Joe it's time for bed let get our showers and while you are there I'm going to pour a night cap for both of us. I decided on two nice rum and gingers were in order. Joe came out of the shower in the nude as usual I said it was still warm outside I'll meet you there in a few minutes, so I grabbed my towel and sat out there waiting for dad, he sure was not long and had done the same thing.
Congratulations Mr. DR, my head is still spinning over this job I can't believe it and are you sure you had nothing to do with it. Joe honestly I had nothing to do with this idea until I was in town last time when Brent and I meet up and put it to me.
The next morning we are both up and over to get breakfast and dad collects the lunch buckets, Kia had said there were two cans of ginger ale in both. We return home and quickly get my full work gear on and we head out to the marshalling area.
John has a quick word with the foremen Bert and then say guys we have some changes coming during the afternoon and evening we are going to try out for three months using a dispatch rider to take small parts out to the mechanic in the bush rather than having to drag someone out of the shop stopping the job he was working on. This idea came from my boss Brent in town, as we all know some roads are narrow and using an ATV for this takes up to much road width so Brent decided we would try using a dirt bike hence that is the reason Joe is with me today as he is the oldest of the juniors with a dirt bike and he is here to learn about the correct way to handle the radio and the respective call points but more important for those that don't know him to get an idea of what he looks like.
Now when is he is riding doing this job he will be wearing Hi-Vis Orange coveralls same marking as you guys so he will show up in poor light -- one of the guys asked what's his call sign I quickly said DR Joe thanks guys I'll leave you to Bert have a safe day.
We got back into the truck and said well DR I think we will first use one of the old roads that has not been required for a little while, I must say Joe caught on quick the road id's and call points.
We eventually finished up at a log loading site where there were three drivers waiting to be loaded so we stopped there for our lunch and joined the drivers. John said so how do you feel about the idea my boss has decided to put into operation. No problem John providing good radio communication is maintain, I think a bike is far better than an ATV that is almost the width of a small pickup truck. Joe how do you feel about this idea asks one of the drivers.
Well as I have, already seen there are many small pull off's along most roads so I can easily pull in there and wait until you pass. Another driver says do not please wear your regular coveralls, they just do not show up for us to see you. I am sure glad they have something far better with the orange and yellow and its reflective strips.
John is listening to all this discussion and he points why the blue hi-vis is used in he shop, it is basically they don't show the staining from all the dirt and other shit you get.
By the end of the day Dad and I go straight home and strip off, get showered and head for the cookhouse for supper.
We sat there discussing today events and I said it appears that that the drivers do not have a problem with this change in events. No from my observations it looks good, and I am so glad how you discussed with drivers and that is important and although you really only talked to three drivers your conversations will spread though out all the drivers within 24 hours just mark my words.