It was just before dusk when Big Rigs met up with friendly driver Adam Raffin who had had travelled to a variety of scenic places in Far North Queensland including Julatten and Tolga.
The 49-year-old truckie was hauling general freight for AJR Transport in a 1999 Kenworth K104, powered by a 600hp motor with an 18-speed road ranger gearbox.
Based at The Entrance in NSW, Adam said he loves delivering to the small hamlet of Julatten which is located near Mount Molloy in Far North Queensland.
“I also got to have steak and salad one night at the Tolga Hotel and really liked it,” he added.
Tolga is a small town 5km from Atherton and just across the street from the hotel is a pull off area for truckies.
I asked Adam to nominate his favourite roadhouse and he replied, “It would be the Ampol at Wodonga on the Victorian border.”
Adam added that many rest areas were “not too bad” and when asked about the worst highway he gets along, he said, “The Golden Highway is terrible.”
Golden Highway is a 313km highway, located in the Hunter and Orana regions of NSW.
Being from a region near Newcastle I expected Adam to be an ardent Knights supporter in the NRL. “I am not into football but like restoring old cars,” he said.
That posed the question about which cars he loves.
“I have rebuilt a 1972 Holden HQ,’’ he said.
Adam was parked up at the Townsville BP Cluden which was chock a block with trucks.
“I was here the other day and it was near empty,” he said.
Great article, Thanks Alf. To all Truck drivers out there keeping Australia connected thanks.