OK, soon after I posted my addition to the "Dark and Stormy" story, it was pointed out to me that Albuquerque (in New Mexico, USA) and Sydney (Australia) were nowhere near each other, despite both being described as recent locations for the Patrick Starr character. Here's the official explanation for how he can take a wrong turn in Albuquerque and end up in Sydney (which I spelled incorrectly in the story):
He was driving to the airport but missed a turn in Albuquerque and ended up in the wrong airport and flew to Australia by mistake, and has been there and drove a rental car in the soaking rain and ended up in Vaccany.

-eric "would be failing geography if it was a class" sleator
Thu 2 Feb A.D. 2000