Oops!

A very uneventful journey back from the Grampians until we hit the outskirts of Melbourne at the end of the freeway. I overtook a guy in a red car wearing a hoody and he didn’t seem to like it as he accelerated up behind me. I got over and he accelerated past me quite aggressively so I just carried on as I normally would. He got a few cars away in the distance but I just carried on at my own pace ignoring him. He slowed gradually and I eventually caught him up in the outside lane. He pulled over to let me past then accelerated in the inside lane. I accelerated away to try and get away from this lunatic then he braked violently. I carried on fast past a couple of other cars to try and get some distance between us when the last car that I had overtaken accelerated up behind me. What the hell was going on this little stretch of road? Then I found out; the last car I overtook suddenly came alive with flashing lights and he was indicating me to pull over. I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and again he beckoned me to get further over onto the gravel which I did.

He came up to my window and asked me to get out which I did then he proceeded to ask all the usual questions but he was very cross with me. I apologised and told him I was on holiday from England. That didn’t help at all; it just seemed to make him even worse. The only detail that I couldn’t find was the postcode of our address in Berwick but Claire found it on a piece of paper in the glove box. He filled out a ticket for me and told me that I was to pay a fine of $584. That’s mad, about £300. That’s why everyone over here seems to stick religiously to the speed limit I guess; just as I will be doing from that moment on. He then told me that I would also be banned from driving in the state of Victoria for 12 months. The only saving grace is that it doesn’t come into effect for another 29 days, just before we leave for Berwick.

Tomorrow we are getting the train to Melbourne. Happy Birthday Mum!