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The Kangaroo that Saved my Life
Returning from my hike, I approached the car in the parking lot and realized I had gone a day and a half without driving. It felt good to be away from the car, because the
week before I had been spending most of my time on the road. I wanted to see
as much of Australia as possible in the short time I had, and I really do
enjoy long drives through the open countryside, but too much of a good thing
can take away the joy. I loaded my backpack into the back seat, feeling
refreshed after 18 kilometres of hiking along a beautiful trail.
I drove out onto the highway, rolled down the windows, and let the wind blow over me and the sun shine down on me. I was feeling very happy. It could even be called bliss.
After driving about three kilometres, I saw a kangaroo by the side of the road. I slowed down, wary that she might jump erratically across my path. Kangaroos usually hop away when a car approaches, but this one stayed there, munching on some grass along the highway. I decided to pull over and take a picture.
It was at this point, as I pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, that I realized I had been blissfully driving along, for three kilometres, ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD! You don't do that in Australia.
I got out of the car, camera in hand, and watched as two cars came around the corner at high speed, staying to the left-hand side, in the very lane I had been driving in a few seconds ago. I looked at that kangaroo and said "Thank you."
As if all this were not amazing enough, I looked up on the hillside and saw half a dozen more kangaroos, effortlessly hopping up a mountain. Two emus appeared out from behind the bushes and casually sauntered past me. It seemed like nature had gotten together with fate to save my life and point me in the right direction, or at least to the left side of the road.
Next up: The Long Haul to Alice Springs.
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