Meeting fellow Australians
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (384922)
Rockingham, Australia
July 17, 2026 8:28pm CST
When we were travelling by motor-home in Europe, we had a map of Australia on the back window and we did what we could to let people know that we were from Australia and not from England.
While we were high in the mountains somewhere in France, we were driving very carefully through some very thick fog. We found a clear, flat spot and pulled in to wait for the fog to clear. There was a small furniture-type van there and within a few minutes, eight or ten bikes pulled in near the van.
We wandered over to say hello and one of the riders called out ‘G’day, mate’ in an Australian accent. It turns out the group came to Europe most years and took turns cycling or driving the support vehicle. It was always a bit of a thrill to meet fellow Australians on our journey.
The photo is taken from that spot.
11 people like this
11 responses
@FourWalls (87751)
• United States
17h
@teamfreak16 — yeah, that’s an unusual bike lean for you! 
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (53204)
• Mojave, California
14h
What I always say its a good sign of your countries prosperity if you meeting your brethren in foreign places. It also means your country is free, we know you will come back or most will.
In this time of land of dictators There is always that line if you love them you set them free and if they love you back they will come back. Keep treating people like crap world and see what happens, sorry had to get that last part in. 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (87751)
• United States
17h
That’s pretty foggy. It is cool to meet people from where you’re from. I ran into some people from Lexington, Kentucky the last time I was in Key West in 2020. 
That’s not QUITE as unusual as meeting someone from Australia while you’re in France!
That’s not QUITE as unusual as meeting someone from Australia while you’re in France! 3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (175780)
• United States
16h
I wouldn't want to drive far in fog like that, either! I hated it when we had a heavy fog but still had to get to work through it. That was the most nerve-wracking 20 miles/32 km from home to work or back home from work I think I've ever had to drive.
It seemed like people you meet when things are going wrong and you're away from home are the nicest ones on the entire trip. 
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (175780)
• United States
3h
@JudyEv Pretty and I helped a few other travelers when we were on vacations and had to ask for help once on a vacation. Everybody was really nice!
@snowy22315 (210802)
• United States
10h
When my son was in Brazil he only met one other American. Which seems stunning as he was there 5 years.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56887)
• Canada
42m
What a chance encounter you all had! 
There is something special about meeting 'your own' when away.
I remember being on a 45 minute bus ride in BC and I cannot recall what 1 of us said, but it caught the attention of another passenger and she asked us what province we were from.
She hails from our province too and lives in a city an hour away. We all laughed together.
There is something special about meeting 'your own' when away.
I remember being on a 45 minute bus ride in BC and I cannot recall what 1 of us said, but it caught the attention of another passenger and she asked us what province we were from.
She hails from our province too and lives in a city an hour away. We all laughed together.
@JudyEv (384922)
• Rockingham, Australia
5h
We stopped driving for a while till the fog lifted a bit.
@JudyEv (384922)
• Rockingham, Australia
5h
It happened a few times. One caravan park in the backblocks somewhere was run by an English couple so those sort of occurrences were a bit surprising too.
@franxav (14606)
• India
5h
I understand the joy of meeting fellow countrymen so far from home. The photo describes your post graphically.
