On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:54:00 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:


I've read they have long freight train-like multi-trailer rigs in Oz.
That might require a little care in who is "engineering" the train.
I think doubles are the limit in the U.S., but wouldn't swear to it.
Most trucker regulation here is done after an accident.

--Vic
Hi Vic

Yes, the tractor (truck) unit tows three semi-trailers. They are
called "road trains". In the Northern Territory these travel at
whatever speed they care to as there is no speed limit. Bare in mind
that there is not the traffic density that would be on a similar US
highway. They carry stock, grain and goods. The longest are from
Adelaide at the bottom in South Australia to Darwin in Northern
Territory right at the top. Basically all of the goods that Darwin
consumes come from Adelaide.

Would be a great job for a while.

BTW Am back home in Malaysia staying with my kids with a
friend/colleague at his kampong near Kelang near the capital Kuala
Lumpur. The Indonesian maid makes superb black coffee from Java beans.
There is nothing like being greeted in the morning with a cup of such
coffee.

You can keep your US imperialistic Starbucks. I'll have my real Java
coffee. She roasts and pounds the beans herself so that there is some
variation in taste each day. Not a science perhaps but allows the
delight of daily discovery and comparison. I offered to buy her an
electric coffee grounder but she merely screwed up her face at my
offer.

cheers
Peter