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Yorkshire Tramper:
Just for those following me on twitter, next weeks 5 day tour is a Lake District explorer consisting of visits to a drive over the Red Screes Mountain through Patterdale and Glenridding over the Kirkstone Pass, Kendal and Bowness-on-Windemere, Grassmere and Coniston. Ambleside stopping by Lake Windemere then heading to Skipton on the way home. Looking forward to both the challenging driving and the places. Will be posting daily on my twitter . TheWanderingGazoo. Should be an interesting week!!!
Last time I went over Kirkstone it was in a van, that was tight enough when a coach came the other way so 2 coaches meeting will be fun!
GORDON 50:
Yorkshire Tramper:
Just for those following me on twitter, next weeks 5 day tour is a Lake District explorer consisting of visits to a drive over the Red Screes Mountain through Patterdale and Glenridding over the Kirkstone Pass, Kendal and Bowness-on-Windemere, Grassmere and Coniston. Ambleside stopping by Lake Windemere then heading to Skipton on the way home. Looking forward to both the challenging driving and the places. Will be posting daily on my twitter . TheWanderingGazoo. Should be an interesting week!!!Last time I went over Kirkstone it was in a van, that was tight enough when a coach came the other way so 2 coaches meeting will be fun!
Exactly mate, it is a big challenge but then the rewards are fantastic with the views and destinations. This is where being a former HGV driver has its adantages. That said, it is still a bit nerve wracking.
PaddyTheLorryDriver:
Plenty of poles doing Nat ex, although some may argue that’s not proper coach driving
National express isnt really coach driving as we know it.
Our O.P. should do some checks before venturing to the Lake District. There may be an unofficial protocol so that all coaches traverse the passes in the same direction. I have cycled over Wry Nose and a few others.
alamcculloch:
Our O.P. should do some checks before venturing to the Lake District. There may be an unofficial protocol so that all coaches traverse the passes in the same direction. I have cycled over Wry Nose and a few others.
There is no protocol for these destinations as coach drivers from all over the world will be there and the destinations can only be accessed and left on some of the passes in both directions. There is maps of the routes we take showing from relitively easy to not possible to the size of the coaches, also some passes are only accesible via a mini bus so it is really a bit of a free for all. I have been told that on certain stretches it is actually impossible to pass other coaches either side and to be extra vigilant looking out for them. On parts of the passes it is possible to pass either side and there are some passing points but obviously one has to reverse back to these. A strong nerve is needed and a good bit of forward route planning is essential. My first time doing it is this trip so interesting is not really the word. Only thing positive about it is that it shouldnt be as busy as mid summer although I know there are still a lot of trips going, the hotel I am booked into there are 5 other coach companies booked at the same time, I will of course be curious to see where and when they are leaving but as for the other hundred or so coaches that will be at other hotels it is a case of hope for the best. My twitter feed will be interesting though, as if I encounter problems I will be posting this anyway. Fingers crossed everything will be ok, it just has to be.
Yorkshire Tramper:
peirre:
I posed this question because I have a couple of drinking buddies (retired) who regularly do those “turkey and Tinsel” Christmas breaks, so I assume they are quite popularI am glad you raised the question now as I assumed xmas and new year would have been a voluntary option. I have found out that It is quite norma and expectedl to be away on these occasions, the Turkey and tinsel events are very popular and start in the next few weeks, this is the only downside for me that I didnt expect, I will get away with it this year but probably not next year as it isnt actually a time we are allowed to book our holidays for. One driver told me we usually get the option of doing one or the other, either xmas or new year. Oh well I will be faced with this problem next year. Thanks for raising the issue as foolishly I didnt give it much of a thought.
Let’s be honest here the trucking jobs isn’t that far off from working 365 days a year and most prob a few do work that already.
Sent from my SM-T976B using Tapatalk
Yorkshire Tramper:
peirre:
I posed this question because I have a couple of drinking buddies (retired) who regularly do those “turkey and Tinsel” Christmas breaks, so I assume they are quite popularI am glad you raised the question now as I assumed xmas and new year would have been a voluntary option. I have found out that It is quite norma and expectedl to be away on these occasions, the Turkey and tinsel events are very popular and start in the next few weeks, this is the only downside for me that I didnt expect, I will get away with it this year but probably not next year as it isnt actually a time we are allowed to book our holidays for. One driver told me we usually get the option of doing one or the other, either xmas or new year. Oh well I will be faced with this problem next year. Thanks for raising the issue as foolishly I didnt give it much of a thought.
I woke up one Christmas morning in Northern Feance with a coach party in tow. It did hit hard I won’t lie.
Sploom:
Its not that I dont like them.I think you have to have an outgoing personality to do coach touring.
And when I had to use the microphone to talk to them,it sounded really naff.
A few years back I had a mate over from Ireland who wanted to ‘see the sights’ of London. We hopped on one of those river boat tours. The guide (who claimed he was unofficially narrating) was so interesting and funny, he really made the experience a good one. So much so, even my vice like grip on the ■■■■■ released a few sheckles on disembarking.
I take my cap off to those who are able to converse with convidence over a microphone.
dozy:
Yorkshire Tramper:
Just for anyone interested, I have been tour driving coaches now for 5 weeks and here are some highlights of the job.
Driven some beautiful coaches, luxurious to say the least. not really important but still nice, I have visited many places of interest and thoroughly enjoyed my role as a driver and get to see what others are paying to see. Staying in some superb hotels along with the odd one that is questionable. However I am not paying the hotel bills so I am not bothered either way. More good than bad here on this front. I am literally on holiday each working day and have met some great passengers who are pleasant and I enjoy their company. If I compare it to my HGV career then it is literally worlds apart. I am looking forward to next week and even excited to go on the 5 day tour of holy island and Alnwick castle, I have done a similar tour a few weeks ago and am staying in the Holiday Inn in Washington again. A great hotel with great coach facilities. Money is good as far as wages go, wished I had moved over to coaches much earlier but I listened to everyone telling me it was no good, incidently those giving the advice had never done it!!! In my 5 weeks of doing it, I still would not return to HGV driving. If you would like to see my pics you can do so on my twitter which is TheWanderingGazoo. It is interesting from the transition from HGV to Coach driving, I have my HGV pics on there too for comparison.I’ve had your feelings in new jobs many times , how great is this , give it a few months & it changed to how quick can I get out of here
All these firms are all the same at first , best jobs , morning with a smile , few months & they think they’ve trapped you & you know the rest of the story , maybe I’m old and cynical/ ready for retirement ,
But hopefully you’ll still be trying to convince yourself &us it’s a good job in a few months !!
Yep, old, cynical and overdue for retirement, I can think of quite a few more uncomplimentary adjectives.
Just let the man enjoy his job and telling us about it. There’s no need for miserable ■■■■■■■■ to put the job down.
Star down under.:
dozy:
Yorkshire Tramper:
Just for anyone interested, I have been tour driving coaches now for 5 weeks and here are some highlights of the job.
Driven some beautiful coaches, luxurious to say the least. not really important but still nice, I have visited many places of interest and thoroughly enjoyed my role as a driver and get to see what others are paying to see. Staying in some superb hotels along with the odd one that is questionable. However I am not paying the hotel bills so I am not bothered either way. More good than bad here on this front. I am literally on holiday each working day and have met some great passengers who are pleasant and I enjoy their company. If I compare it to my HGV career then it is literally worlds apart. I am looking forward to next week and even excited to go on the 5 day tour of holy island and Alnwick castle, I have done a similar tour a few weeks ago and am staying in the Holiday Inn in Washington again. A great hotel with great coach facilities. Money is good as far as wages go, wished I had moved over to coaches much earlier but I listened to everyone telling me it was no good, incidently those giving the advice had never done it!!! In my 5 weeks of doing it, I still would not return to HGV driving. If you would like to see my pics you can do so on my twitter which is TheWanderingGazoo. It is interesting from the transition from HGV to Coach driving, I have my HGV pics on there too for comparison.I’ve had your feelings in new jobs many times , how great is this , give it a few months & it changed to how quick can I get out of here
All these firms are all the same at first , best jobs , morning with a smile , few months & they think they’ve trapped you & you know the rest of the story , maybe I’m old and cynical/ ready for retirement ,
But hopefully you’ll still be trying to convince yourself &us it’s a good job in a few months !!Yep, old, cynical and overdue for retirement, I can think of quite a few more uncomplimentary adjectives.
Just let the man enjoy his job and telling us about it. There’s no need for miserable [zb] to put the job down.
I understand fully what you are saying, however I am not wet around my ears and know a good job when I have one. I will eat my hat if I do not say what I am saying now. My coach driving is a new concept to me, but seriously, going on holiday each week and living in hotels eating amazing food and seeing sights others pay for along with free coffee and food throughout the day. Nah cant see me getting fed up anytime soon.
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PaddyTheLorryDriver:
Time for a name change to Yorkshire Glamper
This is a worrying thread. You’re almost selling this coach malarkey to me. It’s just my previous experience driving buses and my utter dislike of people in general, that stops me googling “coach vacancies near me”… 
PaddyTheLorryDriver:
Time for a name change to Yorkshire Glamper
ha ha that would be the perfect descriptive name. Nice one 
the nodding donkey:
This is a worrying thread. You’re almost selling this coach malarkey to me. It’s just my previous experience driving buses and my utter dislike of people in general, that stops me googling “coach vacancies near me”…
If you have any experience on buses then do not let that stand in your way, buses and coaches workwise are totally different, passengers on buses are awkward and can be insultive etc. I have found the passengers travelling on coaches (majority) of are very friendly and actually are a pleasure to have onboard. Put it this way, my time sheet for the week normally consists of 2 hours a day driving and paid for 10 hrs, I go sightseeing everywhere I go, eat well costing me nothing and welcomed by most places I visit. Jobs an absolute doddle and probably not like you imagine it to be. Most coach companies love ex lorry drivers as we do anything and go anywhere and realise how easy and cushy the job is to us in comparison to LGV driving. We don’t complain like some who may have only ever driven a coach. I am sure your dislike towards people would turn into a liking for them in the vast majority of cases, try it as what have you to lose? Wages are probably around £50- £100 less per week on average but you will see the additional benefits where that is very easily swallowed up.
This is a worrying thread. You’re almost selling this coach malarkey to me
Same here except I don’t have a D licence and vowed to myself no more visits to the test centre, so I do just need to block YT and stop reading
driveress:
This is a worrying thread. You’re almost selling this coach malarkey to me
Same here except I don’t have a D licence and vowed to myself no more visits to the test centre, so I do just need to block YT and stop reading
Like hgv driving nowadays, a lot of companies will train you and give you the licence in return for staying with them for a couple of years or pay the training fee back. If you block me then you will never know what it is really like to be a coach driver. I only tell it as it is for me.
If you have any experience on buses then do not let that stand in your way, buses and coaches workwise are totally different, passengers on buses are awkward and can be insultive etc. I have found the passengers travelling on coaches (majority) of are very friendly and actually are a pleasure to have onboard.
Never worked on buses (thank goodness from what I see and hear) but I found the same as you on coaches. Passengers (the vast majority) were friendly and helpful as well.
Still reckon it’s a lot to do with the way you are though. If you are an awkward grumpy type the passengers turn the same. 
Unfortunately unlike you I had to go back on trucks when I was told which was ok in a way but latterly I preferred the coaches.
Looking back now from retirement I reckon trucks when you are younger and coaches when you are getting on a bit.
jakethesnake:
Looking back now from retirement I reckon trucks when you are younger and coaches when you are getting on a bit.
100% agree, every aging truck driver should swap for the easy life
I am some times asked "Are you the bus driver " I like to reply “No, its a coach” Now during the week its a school bus, I know I drive the thing. The difference is The people on a bus have to be there as they are going to school or work. In most cases they have little choice in the matter. The passengers on a coach WANT to be there. The coach takes them on holiday to a wedding some thing like that. Bus drivers often get a higher hourly rate than lorry drivers. Coching is often at a lower rate but you get good meals and various outings I have been to safari parks and theatre shows a few boat trips . Coach driving is a life style and not just a job. I wont mention gratuities.!