My 2022
After a couple of years of Covid, 2022 was alot of catching up with people both overseas and interstate. The declining impact of covid on the world was somewhat upstaged by the horrific antics of a delusional Russian gangster. Suz and I spend too much time on youtube videos chasing news - two I found particularly impressive are Denys Davydov the pilot and the Australian, Perun.
The borders of WA finally opened up on the 2nd of March. Note that the closure meant we kept covid under tight control and most people were able live as before, unlike in, say, Melbourne. Two weeks later, we had two visitors fly in on the same day. It had only been 3 years since Tom had been over, but 9 years for Maritza from Norway and Putin's invasion had spooked her. We had Maritza over for 3 nights and manage a trip out to Cottesloe with her to see Sculptures by the Sea in the fading sunlight. Then Tom stayed over to help with some SkyFarming planning work including a trip out to Northam to see the planning people there. Less than a week after Tom leaves, Maureen comes to stay.
In April, we make the decision to go to Vienna for 3 months as it has been three years since we were there last. Such a length of time gives us greater opportunity to see friends, relatives and neighbours over there. More time for me to improve my German . . . quite. There are also two wind turbine manufacturers to see. And the big tri nation, transalp ride, photos and details of Europe and the ride are below.
As Maureen gets a job in WA, she is able to house sit while we are away. Tom arrives the day after we get back for a week. Fortunately, Maureen had just found new digs. Tom's visit meant a very long day out with Ross and David to Southern Cross and back for another project on the back of too little sleep.
In November, Bec turns up, her Mathew having arrived a month earlier. Abigail, her eldest, was in Perth when I was in the UK. Of course.
I catch up with her a few times including riding the zip line from the new Matagarup Bridge. After mountain biking some of the downhills through the Alps, and with all the safety gear, it was a little anticlimatic. Nevertheless, the views were spectacular and the Ospreys flying nearby impressive.
One of the Mt Barker Power Co investors, Dutchman Izaak, had come over to visit his niece and attend the Mt Barker AGM, so we put him up for a couple of nights. Always a pleasure to have him over and to discuss world affairs. Sunday sees many hours at the shipwreck museum where historical artifacts illustrate earlier Dutch connections to WA.
Graham pops over now and then, this year getting involved with the 24th Lillie Street Lasagne bakeoff in November.
In mid December, we had lunch with Chris Weber who we had last seen at a hut on Werfang Mountain in Austria. It is always good to see him.
Cycling
We continue our regular rides around the river, south to Hendersen, the coffee bean run to Subiaco and a couple of rides in Mt Barker, details below. I manage a few mountain bike rides out with Tamantha but no races this year. The big ride, of course, is the tri nation cross Alpine tour with Volker and Niki, see below.
SkyFarming
Monitoring in Southern Cross reveals better wind than Northam. We make the decision to split with Kwinana Wind Co and simply consult as we appear to have different expectations and decision making is proving too difficult.We continue our regular work with Denmark and Mt Barker, as most of it is online relocating to Vienna for a few months is not such a big deal.
However, soon after our return to Perth, we discover a major issue with the yaw ring in turbine 3 at Mt Barker. It has been stopped and we will have to get a crane out, currently booked mid January to replace the yaw bearing and all four yaw drives. This is part of the consequence of Enercon (the turbine manufacturer) having sold only one turbine (a small 800kW E48 to a water utility in Victoria on the Shipwreck Coast) since we installed Denmark nearly ten years ago. WA alone has had over 150 new wind turbines (and much bigger) commissioned during this time.
Mid November, after much planning by Peter, we renovate the rusting outside of the Denmark switchroom. Photos below.
I am invited on a bus tour to Yanden and Emu Downs windfarms as part of an outing for a World Renewables Conference at Murdoch. Along with Tim and Mathew Rosser and Craig, we represent everyone who has installed wind farms at the distribution level in WA. Yanden has the massive V150 machines and it is little comfort that they too are having issues. At least three machines need blade bearings replaced after just a year and a half of operation.
All the best for 2023
Andrew