My first run up at $BIGMININGCO's site ended Monday afternoon. By Tuesday I was home (that pesky 2-day commute) and I'm free for two weeks. Well, two weeks from when my run ended, not from when I got home, but still.

I'm planning on doing some writing, doing some Scoop hacking, doing some photography, visiting my parents, going on day hikes, doing all the fun things I want to do that a single evening, or a mere two-day weekend just isn't enough for. Of course, it would be nicer if my other half could skip work for the two weeks and come with me, but he's doing the whole 9-5 grind thing. Or more accurately 10-7, but who's counting...

A few people have asked for photos. I didn't bring my camera up for my first run, because I had my huge suitcase with all my work clothes to haul across a couple of airports. Now my huge suitcase is in storage up at the camp and I'm travelling with just carry-on, so I'm bringing my camera (the whole kit, including the 4 lenses and big flash, but not the tripod) with me next run. There will eventually be pictures. Have patience.

Of course, working for 21 days solid in 12-hour shifts isn't easy. And that's my normal rotation, my first run was 28 days - four solid weeks. Trial by fire, the two tradesmen who'd been there last year said. I think they were joking, but I'm not sure. But I survived, and I seem to have impressed them - one said he initially had doubts about having a female operator due to the physical demands of the job, but that he doesn't anymore. There's only one thing I can't do, and that's because it's a damn heavy steel lid at just about the worst possible place for anybody to lift - shoulder height and just over a foot away, with no way at all to get under it and get your legs into the lift - even the other three operators find it heavy. I got it about 3 inches up when I tried to lift it. Fortunately we only have to take a sample from that spot once a day, not once a shift, so we've arranged it so I don't have to take that sample.