I was coming back from Basingstoke last night only to find the A34 closed around the Abingdon area with a sign up saying use ‘Alternative Route’, after circling the roundabout a couple of times hoping to see a diversion sign but not finding one I ended up just following the trucks in front of me with the hope that they were headed in the same general direction as myself however the way that they slowed at every junction was not filling me with confidence and when the truck in front of me came to a complete halt at a roundabout it was obvious that none of us had much of a clue as to which way to go. The driver of the truck in front of me gets out of the left hand side of his cab (not a good sign) walks towards me gesticulating with hand signals and shrugs that he doesn’t know which way to go and when I reply ‘neither do I mate’ he responds back in a foreign language and its obvious that he doesn’t speak English, great! Just as I am considering what to do next a small white van pulls up on the right side and the driver asks Mr Foreigner if he is lost, knowing that Mr Foreigner doesn’t speak English I jump in and explain that we have come off the A34 a couple of miles back, due to the road closure, and are now looking for a way to get headed back in the right direction, he says that we are currently headed the wrong way and gives us directions through Abingdon. So I jumped back in the cab and start to follow the newly given directions, Mr Foreigner pulls to one side to allow me to pass and as I look back I realise that I am now the leader of an eight strong convoy so the pressure is on me not to ■■■■ it up! I start to follow the directions, turning left at the next set of traffic lights, after a short while a small white van passes me on the right and after a mile or two I realise that it is the same white van that stopped to give us directions at the roundabout and he has gone ahead of us to guide us back onto the A34, - What a top man! I follow him and the seven or so trucks behind me follow me, he leads us back to the roundabout which joins us back onto the A34 a junction further along from where it had been closed then pulls over to allow us to pass and continue on our way. I flash my lights and dance my indicators in appreciation as I pass him and hope the other following trucks did likewise and continue on my journey back to base.
So a massive thanks to that man!!! It is refreshing to know that in this day and age some people are still willing to go out of their way to help others out without wanting gain or reward for doing so!! Cheers!!
I too agree it was a nice thing for the van man to do, and saved a potential for lots of hassle caused to the lorry drivers. However, maybe it’s just my bizarre mind but I was reminded of the old Jim Reeves song “old Tige” about the soldier who gets off the bus in the fog but they’ve built a dam whilst he was serving away, anyway his faithful dog guides him home through the fog where his mum tells him the dog died three years ago! I was really, really hoping that this story was going the same way.
Top Man nice to see these days,must be something about the A34 near there,2 years ago A34 south was shut due to an accident.
Got kicked off and no diversion signed stopped to check the map a guy in a van got out asked if I was lost then told me the way back to get on at Milton saved me a load of grief.
Saw him flag down lorries behind me presumably to ask the same getting soaked stood in his suit said he stopped on his way to work to see if he could help.
the normal practice over here in eire is,whether its in the middle of Dublin,or somewhere out in the sticks,you come to a sign saying …ROAD CLOSED…DIVERSION… that’s it…no arrow,nothing else,no repeater signs,just road closed,your on your own…if your out in the sticks,then you just need to follow your nose,as its not uncommon for the local scallys to have turned all the road signs around on the poles…happy days all round here as well…
the maoster:
I too agree it was a nice thing for the van man to do, and saved a potential for lots of hassle caused to the lorry drivers. However, maybe it’s just my bizarre mind but I was reminded of the old Jim Reeves song “old Tige” about the soldier who gets off the bus in the fog but they’ve built a dam whilst he was serving away, anyway his faithful dog guides him home through the fog where his mum tells him the dog died three years ago! I was really, really hoping that this story was going the same way.
bloody hell,i looked up old tige on you tube after your post,brings a tear to the eyes have to admit,probably getting soft as I get older lol
And a mention to the top artic driver who parked his wagon on the barrier at South Hinksey Northbound this morning. Delays all day, HA hadn’t got the barrier mended even by 5pm tonight. I wonder if his P45 will arrive before his first Xmas card?
Yes was very good of him tojelp you out, however dont you carry a map? Following the flock in a hgv isn’t a great idea. As dsiseldog sId
in ireland its road closed consulate yoyr map.
the maoster:
I too agree it was a nice thing for the van man to do, and saved a potential for lots of hassle caused to the lorry drivers. However, maybe it’s just my bizarre mind but I was reminded of the old Jim Reeves song “old Tige” about the soldier who gets off the bus in the fog but they’ve built a dam whilst he was serving away, anyway his faithful dog guides him home through the fog where his mum tells him the dog died three years ago! I was really, really hoping that this story was going the same way.
What did you post that for
I’m welling up now must be more tired than I thought
But not as tired as The Young Trucker
TheYoungTrucker:
Yes was very good of him tojelp you out, however dont you carry a map? Following the flock in a hgv isn’t a great idea. As dsiseldog sId
in ireland its road closed consulate yoyr map.
Yes I do carry a map but I didn’t quite reach the map reading stage before the ‘Nice Man’ intervened - Maps are a good tool if you can find somewhere to park to read them before it all goes t1ts up I have the Philips Truckers Atlas in my work bag and although I have not been driving long it has come in handy a few times.
TheYoungTrucker:
Yes was very good of him tojelp you out, however dont you carry a map? Following the flock in a hgv isn’t a great idea. As dsiseldog sId
in ireland its road closed consulate yoyr map.
What’s tojelp ? is it when you drop something heavy on your foot ? and who’s this dsiseldog. Why did you come on and ■■■■ up a decent thread ?
TheYoungTrucker:
Yes was very good of him tojelp you out, however dont you carry a map? Following the flock in a hgv isn’t a great idea. As dsiseldog sId
in ireland its road closed consulate yoyr map.
What’s tojelp ? is it when you drop something heavy on your foot ? and who’s this dsiseldog. Why did you come on and [zb] up a decent thread ?
read dieseldogs reply and I see nothing that ruined the thread,he just explains what happens in EIRE in the same situation
TheYoungTrucker:
Yes was very good of him tojelp you out, however dont you carry a map? Following the flock in a hgv isn’t a great idea. As dsiseldog sId
in ireland its road closed consulate yoyr map.
What’s tojelp ? is it when you drop something heavy on your foot ? and who’s this dsiseldog. Why did you come on and [zb] up a decent thread ?
read dieseldogs reply and I see nothing that ruined the thread,he just explains what happens in EIRE in the same situation
Just jelping out here, but I think you got the wrong end of the stick somehow
Claretmac:
What a hero, only one point on this, did no one have a thing called a MAP!■■ Sorry if someone has already asked!!!
Yes it has already been asked (and answered) a massive four posts before your own post - I would like to add (jokingly) a thank you for putting in the minimal amount of effort and for your input.?.. but do try to keep up
