Immersion

I awaken startled, disoriented in pitch black, I fumble around for my new G-shock watch, it's set to military time, my languid brain can't make the computation. I decide to rise and prepare for day one of the journey from Noosa to the small mining town of Miles 470 Kilometers away.
My mental preparation begins with repeating the mantra of "stay to the left" I know a simple mental error of driving living like I do back home could result in a shortened vacation!
The busy highways of Noosa slowly give way to calm meandering single lane roads spotted with small dairy farms and roadside honey stands. The air is crisp and damp, I know this will change radically in the coming week.
As I slow my speed to 30 KPH entering the small town of Murgan, I see a congregation of people playing games and picnicking in the towns central park, I downshift to slow my speed, the rear wheel skids momentarily and makes a chirping noise, one of the men looks over and we lock eyes for about 5 seconds, I nod my head, he nods back, I realize that I have seen my first Aborigine.
Back onto the long well paved road outside of Kingaroy I am introduced to the many road trains passing me in the other direction. These are behemoth sized semis trucks retro fitted with menacing, mad max style bumpers made of steel tubing that snake up and around the front grill. Even the passenger cars are fitted with smaller versions of the bumpers. I nickname these "roo whackers" evidently Kangaroos are slightly suicidal and like insects to a porch light, will run over the road then back into the coming headlights.
When these road trains pass, my helmet shakes around my head like a loose bucket and I'm treated to a nose full of whatever cargo they carry.
As the sun starts to set on the lonely sunburnt horizon I pull into the town of Miles, know for its coal and oil mining.
After I secure some meager accomodations in a broken down trailer park, I head toward the town pub and bottle shop to have some xxxx Gold, a very potent and popular Australian grog. In the pub I meet the bartender, a nordicly innocent and attractive girl from Hamburg, Germany, working and traveling her way through Australia. After a lengthy conversation with her I Pick up on the grumblings and icy stares from the coal mining patrons who have decided I've had enough attention from the local, blond attraction, I bid a good night and head back to my ancient 5th wheel for some well deserved slumber.