Tackling a 1,000-kilometre outback road trip with a bloke you've never met wouldn't be for everyone.
But the reputation of travelling singer-songwriter Josh Arnold had preceded him on some of our earlier Back Roads journeys, and I was more than happy to seize the chance to join forces for 10 days.
You see Josh is considered a bit of a hero in small towns throughout his home state of Queensland, where for the past 10 years he's been visiting schools, writing, performing, and filming songs with the kids and local communities about where they live and what they love about it.
The resulting music video clips have proved to be a huge hit and he's in high demand.
What's more, his town anthems are repeated highlights at local concerts and school events over the years.
We first heard about him while filming a Back Roads episode in remote Thargomindah back in 2018 shortly after they had received a visit from Josh, but we'd never crossed paths.
That was about to change.
Josh and I hit the road together in Mount Isa, heading for our first stop, the famous Birdsville Hotel on the edge of the Simpson Desert.
From there, our trip took us right up to the Northern Territory border.
I'd never been to Birdsville before and was excited at the prospect. The little township did not disappoint, and nor did Josh.
Carpool karaoke, eat your heart out
He and I soon worked out we had much in common.
We had both grown up on sheep and wheat farms — me in Victoria and him in south-west Queensland —and both shared the goal of wanting to give country people in far-flung communities a voice.
"Coming from a small town and being very proud of where I'm from, I'm never surprised at people's passion for their community," he told me.
"And that's what drives me and possibly you as well. You knew what it was like to come from a place where, wherever you went, they go, 'Oh, where's that? You must be so bored or that must be a horrible place to live in.'"
For me there's no better way than music to get locals involved and get their story out to the world … and show the great parts of where they live and who they are."
It's a sentiment I totally endorse but just how does a winner of the Golden Guitar at the 2002 Country Music Awards walk away from the big stage and end up in bush classrooms?
From centre stage to front of the class
Josh said he wasn't enjoying playing live.
"I really missed my wife and kids. I drifted away a bit from that country audience, but it took me in new directions," he said.
A temporary job as a schoolteacher aide in Toowoomba would kick off a whole new career.
Josh started writing and recording songs for different classes and word spread.
"Over time other towns and schools started getting in touch and it just became what I did. It never really stopped."
It's clear Josh thrives in his work and at Birdsville, he was welcomed with open arms.
The acting school principal Bridget Ryan had invited him and helped raise funds for the visit.
"Because we're remote, we don't even get a specialist music teacher this far out. So, the fact we can bring in Josh and create a song and have the kids be part of that process is a fantastic opportunity for them," she explained.
At a gathering of kids and residents at the pub, the Big Red sand dune just out of Birdsville emerged as the central theme.
It's a local landmark and scene of a popular annual music festival.
The town anthem began to take shape.
"We're the home of Big Red, Big Red! The road out here is rough and long. But it's worth it when you make it, to Birdsville, outback and beyond."
Long-time local Nell Brook joined in with gusto.
"Everyone's excited about it, and everyone's got a bit of input. It might be one sentence, or it might be one word and Josh picks up on that," she said.
In the case of Nell's husband David, his starring role is a dingo howl.
As we hit the road a few days later, the lyrics echoing in my brain, it dawns on me that Josh's greatest skill is how he energises everyone in these outposts.
He never seems to run out of steam either.
At our next stop, the Indigenous community of Dajarra near Mount Isa, school principal Cathy McKenna reckons Josh just knows instinctively how to bring kids out of their shells.
"It really builds their confidence," she said.
"They're proud to come from Dajarra and Josh helps them show that."
By the time we get to Camooweal near the NT border, I'm very familiar with Josh's techniques to win the kids over. He's on their level, and he's a listener.
As one schoolboy said to me after singing the Camooweal anthem on our final day:
"It makes me feel really good. We've written a song that's gonna get the town noticed, and I'll be able to tell my children when I'm older, I was part of that song."
Thankfully for these little places, Josh Arnold has no plans to give up his travels.
"What's not to love? And you won't run out of towns — you know that yourself, Heather," he said.
"There's so many incredible spots. And look, I've still got the same energy and passion for what I'm doing as I did 10 years ago. So, the show will go on."
See and hear Josh Arnold's musical talents on Back Roads with Heather Ewart on Monday, Feb 20, 8:00pm on ABC TV and iview.
