Full of enthusiasm, Chris Middleton loves his job as a truckie and is also training to be an aircraft pilot.
Aged 30, Middleton was parked at a pull off area along the Captain Cook Highway when I yarned to him recently.
He was driving an Isuzu for Tuxworth and Woods, which carts general freight five days a week from his Cairns base to Mossman and other nearby towns, as well as Wonga Beach.
“I drive along one of the most scenic routes in Australia and also do the occasional run to Mount Garnet,” he said.
Middleton takes his own food when working and has a small fridge and warmer with him.
As we spoke, an invasion of March flies were flying around as well as numerous sand flies, which was not uncommon considering the area is beside the ocean.
Middleton’s hobby is learning to fly a plane and he’s already had lessons. “I am in training and hope to finish it and gain my pilot’s licence. But lessons are very expensive,” he said.