Bedding Down At The Moura Refuse Tip
Entropy seems to overwhelm every extended trip at some point. Everything falls apart.

In 2006, I visited Queensland, AU, and had the good fortune of having a friend's vehicle to drive. I quickly headed off to visit Carnarvon Gorge National Park. It's shocking how few people live away from the coast, and I had a sense of dread the entire trip lest the vehicle break down or that I get lost.

The locals always advise never drive after dark, because of the likelihood of colliding with wildlife: predominantly, kangaroos. Driving well after sunset, I missed the roos, but collided with some kind of enormous raptor that tumbled away into the dark. Guilt-stricken - come to sunny Australia and kill our wildlife! - I drove off to find a place to sleep.

Eventually, I arrived at the town of Moura, but it was too late - 11 p.m. - to find accomodations. I was afraid of driving down country roads near town: country folk know who belongs in their neighborhood and who doesn't, and I was afraid of encountering angry Queenslanders at 4 a.m. So, I ended up at the only neutral place that occurred to me: the town refuse tip.

I slept fitfully in the vehicle, waking up on occasion when a curious cat crawled all over the vehicle. And I met the angry Queenslanders anyway, but at 6 a.m., when the refuse tip workers arrived, only to find a weird intruder trashing up their trashy place. I hurriedly drove past the outraged workers into the sunrise.

Oddly enough, after only a few hours of sleep, I felt refreshed, with less of a sense of dread than ever.
(Perv With A Dog had his eyes pecked out by scrub jays on, Mon 18 Jul 2011, 19:55, 6 replies)

the bird
was possibly a wedge-tailed eagle
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Mon 18 Jul 2011, 19:57, closed)

Locally known as a Winged Bastard
Probably
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Mon 18 Jul 2011, 20:23, closed)

pff!

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Mon 18 Jul 2011, 20:45, closed)

Probably true
they sit on the road and eat carrion and absolutely refuse to go until the last minute.
This is a bird with an up to 7' wingspan...
Used to scare the shit out of mum & I on the Isa to Townsville drive in her little Toyota.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Mon 18 Jul 2011, 22:36, closed)

eagle
Quite possibly. I've also hit one driving in the bush. Flap .. *shit* .. BANG .... f e a t h e r s.

Best place to kip in the car in random Aussie towns is by the side of the local oval (that's "cricket pitch" in normal english). You might get a visit from the local plod, but generally if you say "Too tired to drive any further, will be off in the morning" you will be fine.
(Simian Typewriter Supplies Pty. Ltd. is house hunting in the neighborhood of infinity, Tue 19 Jul 2011, 15:08, closed)

Oh, and Carnarvon Gorge is excellent, well worth the trip.
(Simian Typewriter Supplies Pty. Ltd. is house hunting in the neighborhood of infinity, Tue 19 Jul 2011, 15:09, closed)