Learning To Drive On The Left - The Drive To Toowoomba, And Back

Left: Monument to a mascot named "Puppy" - Picnic Point, Toowoomba.


Andrew said, "why don't you borrow my vehicle and drive to someplace nice?" The moment-of-truth had arrived: learning how to drive on the left! They suggested Toowoomba, which had been in the international news lately regarding its hugely-controversial (and ultimately defeated) measure to reuse sewage water for drinking purposes (yes, the drought here is really that bad!)

Australian highways are very American-like, except mirror-like of course. They are signed in the metric system, not English system, and most of the signs are different: 'Give Way' instead of 'Yield', for example. The turn signals are on the right, so I frequently-turned the windshield wipers on instead when I had to use them, but fortunately the foot pedals are the same.

I tried to drive 80 km/hr on the Highway to Toowoomba at first, but that was too slow, even for the trucks: 100 suited the traffic better. At all times, I worried about my instincts: I was deathly afraid of thoughtlessly following U.S. driving patterns and becoming a hazard.

I drove up the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range to Toowoomba, passing a few interesting roadside establishments (e.g., a convenience market that also offered wedding gowns, a sign saying 'Fuel Fruit', and various places offering 'pokies' - video poker machines). Stopped at scenic Picnic Point. Walked through the woods there filled with kookaburras.

Left: View from the escarpment at Picnic Point, showing small fires in the distance.


Then, after a brief period lost on the city streets, I returned the back way, taking the Helidon exit through the town of Gatton, and stopped off at beautiful Apex Lake and Bird Sanctuary.

Returned intact! Whew!

Afterwards, Andrew introduced me to one of the other professors there, who produced a celebratory bottle of Shiraz. Later that night, the two of us polished the bottle off.