A day full of surprises – from being drenched to driving on the left

Today was one of those travel days that you don't plan for, but will remember for a long time. On the way back from Great Keppel Island, I got completely soaked: During the ferry crossing, I was drenched to the skin. Not a dry thread left on my body. And since the bus had to continue right away to pick up the pilots later, I had no choice but to change in the middle of the parking lot. Wet clothes in hand, fresh ones on – not a pleasant moment, but necessary.

I then managed the subsequent three-quarters of an hour bus ride half wet. At the airport, I still felt messy but at least had a little something to eat. On the plane, as my wife probably guessed, I fell asleep immediately. It was only an hour flight to Brisbane, and I was awake just in time for landing.

But the real adventure began only afterward.

The adventure on the 'other side'

After reviewing the English rental car contract at the rental desk, I stood in front of my car – and thus faced a premiere: the steering wheel was on the right. Quite normal for Australians, but completely new territory for me at 60½ years old. I sat in the car for a few minutes, paired the navigation and phone, got oriented, and took a deep breath.

Then we hit the road. And I can say: It is a completely different drive. The other side of the road, the roundabouts in the opposite direction, always looking to the right. From the family, I know that my nephew has accidentally ended up on the wrong lane here once - I wanted to avoid that at all costs. So I drove with the utmost caution and full concentration.

In the end, everything went well. No wrong lane, no wrong turns, even reverse parking in a tight garage – with the steering wheel on the other side – worked. But this first drive was a real experience. It felt completely different; I haven't had this much adrenaline in a long time. Even a dive in which one could theoretically face life-threatening danger seems almost relaxing compared to this moment.