Driving in Australia

Well, as you may know, driving in Australia is not the same as back in the states. First, the driver side is on the other side of the car. (So the first few times you get in on the wrong side, you just pretend like you are getting something from the glove box, then get out and walk around to the correct driver side.)  Second, they drive on the other side of the road. Third, they make extensive use of roundabouts here. Speed limits and distances are in the metric system.

As far as driving goes, it took Paul about two weeks before he got the nerve to try and drive. Sherri chooses not to drive and has officially become the Navigator.  It takes some time to get comfortable driving but after a month Paul feels OK. It is still odd when he turns right and is constantly reminding himself to stay on the left.

Driving thru a roundabout can be quite challenging. If you are going straight thru, no worries! But if you are turning right, you have to make sure you signal or the Aussies may get a little upset and think you need a "P" sticker in your back window to indicate you are a beginning driver. After a few bad nasty stares and a review of the Driving Handbook, Paul has figured it out and is now adept at managing the roundabouts.

Of course the first time yo drive at night, it is a disconcerting feeling to have the kangaroos on the side of the road staring at you. It is also horrible to see your first roadkill emu or kangaroo on the side of the road.

We made our first extensive trip away from the Perth suburban area this week. Once you leave the suburbs, you truly enter the bush. Gas stations and restaurants are few and far between. For our first trip, we were a little paranoid about breaking down in the middle of nowhere. So, we packed extra water and food in our eskie (aka cooler). The "highways" in Western Australia are merely 2 lane roads and a rest area is simply a pull off area with no facilities save a rubbish bin (aka trash can). Road trains are the norm. A road train is a semi-truck with 2 or more trailers. It is certainly a little scary when you pass one with his trailers swerving in the oncoming lane. 

All in all, our trip away from Perth was interesting and Sherri has promised to download the pictures and post them on the blog. Lets see if she keeps her promise.