Where is Darran?

While yesterday looked like it was going to be bright and sunny from the apartment window, it was actually going to turn out to be cold, rainy, and windy. This is some of the coldest weather for Sydney in 30 years and riding around in it is a challenge, however, the cold and rainy weather results in less people out on the streets. The less moving objects on the street make it easier and safer to go faster. Yesterday, I had pick-ups and deliveries throughout the entire Sydney CBD and surrounding suburbs. Logged about 51 km (30 miles) for the day. For eight to nine hours of riding this really isn’t that much distance, but my average moving speed was 15 kmph (10 mph). Today, the weather is looking clear and sunny, I’m planning on rolling short sleeves even though it is cold outside. I like riding in the cold when it is bright and sunny outside. Tomorrow, I am putting up some more Christmas decorations. This time it will be in Miranda. Oddly enough, the picture for the Miranda wikipedia entry is the Westfield we will be decorating.

The first day started off slowly with a couple of jobs to pick up in the surrounding suburbs and drop off downtown. I got a couple more to pick up and drop off throughout downtown and received a call asking me how I was doing and telling me I was doing well. I think base then tried to see what I was made of and sent me about 10 jobs at one time. This was a big challenge, because I had to locate all 10 pick-up and drop-off points and then plan a route that would allow the pick-ups and drop-offs to be done in the fastest manner. I mislocated one drop-off point and it took me about 2 hours to get the package to the recipient. I would have gone back earlier, but I had headed out of downtown to drop-off a couple of packages in Haymarket and Redfern. Going back would have made three late as opposed to one. Overall, the day went well and I got off around five. Logged about fifty kilometers for the day, headed home, and then went to pick up some groceries. After a day on the bike, the world seemed to be in slow motion. Ate some dinner and went to bed early.

Things that make being a courier difficult in Sydney are the street names and numbers. The numbers do not alternate on both sides of the street. For example, it could be 102 on one side of George Street and 301 on the exact opposite. Also, the same exact street name and street number can exist in different suburbs.

It was hard to get up the next day, I felt like I had got a full body workout the day before. The next day was madness. It rained the entire day, was the coldest October day in 30 years, and winds were over 30 mph. Wednesday, I would be all over the city. I picked up packages from Surry Hills, picked up a few more throughout the eastern suburbs, and then spent the next 5 hours in downtown. Towards the end of the day, I got two jobs in Pyrmont, which is on the other side of Darling Harbour. Both the clients were cool and the final drop off would be on my way home. The coordinator is cool and schedules jobs to pick up on your way into town and jobs to drop off on your way back home.

Today was supposed to be raining, but looking outside the skies are clear. It is 48 degrees though and I will need a jacket to stay warm. I might go to the track run tonight with Bondi Fit. I am thinking about doing a mini triathlon each day once I wrap my head around all the streets in Sydney. It would be cool to start the day with a swim, bike all day, and then end it with a run. Maybe I could start putting down some fast Ironman times with that schedule.

Got hooked with Mail Call today and start tomorrow. The day starts by logging onto a device called a Symbol. A Symbol is similar to the devices that UPS and FedEx have you sign when you receive a package. Jobs are pushed to the symbol by a dispatcher who manages all the pushies. This dispatcher is responsible for assigning jobs to about 20 cyclists. A jobs consists of a pick up destination, drop off destination, package ready time, priority, and some other details like vehicle type. Using the job information, it is my job to locate the pick up point and drop off point. I could have 10 jobs at a time, so it is important that the proper route is devised in order to get everything delivered on time. The most time between pick up and drop off is supposed to be an hour for a “standard” delivery, while a “red-hot” delivery is supposed to take only 15 minutes. This is fast and the 15 minutes includes finding the pick up location, bike lock-up, elevator wait, package pick-up, finding the drop off location, riding, bike lock-up, elevator wait, and drop-off. A lot to do in a busy city, but I am looking forward to it and it will get easier each day.

All the assigned gear

Sporting the work outfit

To begin, I must tell you about these chips I have been eating in Australia. If you can get them in the States or come to Australia, you must try them. They are made by Red Rock Deli and come in a variety of flavors. Every flavor I have indulged in is delicious and extremely addictive. So far, I have tried Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream, Moroccan Chicken, Dijon Mustard and Honey, Seasalt, and Honey Soy Chicken. Honey Soy Chicken was my least favorite, but still worth a try.

Yesterday, I was going to a bike shop when someone popped a car door right in front of me. It was perfect timing, because I didn’t even see it coming. Half endo’d and ended up getting necked by the door. The bike was a little bent up, but I everything is back in place now. Never tuned my own bikes at home, but picked up maintaining my bike in Australia and find it very enjoyable.

Tonight, I am helping with Christmas decorations at Westfield Centrepoint. This one is being decorated for 3 days so it will probably be pretty good. I’ll get some pics once the decorations are all up.

First training day as a courier in training with Mail Call. The training was comprised of shadowing an experienced courier, Pete, and the experience is insane. The training is sink or swim and starts the second you meet up with the experienced pushie. Being a new guy, I think I got some special treatment to see what I’m made of. Everything was a constant blur and keeping up with Pete was a challenge. The physical aspects were not a problem, but I still need to get a better grip on where everything is located. After shadowing Pete, I got a written test that involved locating different places in Sydney and answering questions like: “What floor is the mail room for KPMG at 10 Sussex street?”. Luckily, I got a call from home base offering me to come in on Monday and start as a permanent courier.

On Monday, I began a part time job helping put up Christmas decorations in Westfield Centre’s. The job starts at 5:30 P.M. and goes into the early morning. The night started with unpacking and moving all the boxes of decorations out of a storage room and into a main area in the mall. This included hauling all the decorations to put up a three story artificial Christmas tree. After unpacking, others and I were transitioned to checking strands of Christmas tree lights and removing strands that were broken from the trees they were attached to. Others helped fluff the branches of the artificial Christmas tree before they were attached. After removing the broken strands from about six wall trees, an Aussie and I lucked out and got the duty of moving all the empty boxes back into storage. We did this for the rest of the night, had a great time doing it, and next thing we knew it was time to go home. I got a call today asking me to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at a local Westfield. I signed on for Friday and Saturday and am looking forward to it. My apartment neighbor, Rob, is a promoter for a party organizer and has got me on the guest list for a party after Saturday’s work. Monday, I will sign with Mail Call.