Hi Richard.That’s exactly what I thought.Will find out on the 25fh as we are setting out on an adventure trip to the IOW.Talking of that today is GAZ IOWs birthday.If anyone wants to contribute to a present then send me lots of money and I will make sure he gets it !!.Also Richard look on the Soton thread.Both myself and Harry have posted about WV Expedition.Any comments? Love to Angela.Regards Charlie 
Richard some drivers think going to the IOW was going abroad, when you look at the cost of getting over there it is cheaper to France from Dover today, and we both employed corkheads to pilot our trucks in the past, They should have a tunnel by now, cheers Buzzer.
Have I ever driven left hookers ■■? 
Did I ever go abroad ■■? Nah I was just a wannabe and only drove
these round the north / south circular. 
I turned down a trip to the IOW last week…no passport, in for renewal!
T22 GEL spotted in Kent at 08.40 am this morning.Detling Hill outside of Maidstone heading towards Isle of Sheppey 
Tony Mapson, you bit and we wuzz only kidding you. What about the old holiday relief bit you never said any thing about that, Charlie said he would go with you and help out as long as you help him change his incontinence pads as he finds this difficult without help, which is only fair. You would have to feed him as well so you would have to be careful with the menu if you are helping him with the other business otherwise it could end up pretty messy, cheers Buzzer.
Happy Birthday GazIOW…I,ve given Charlie £50 towards your present, though he,ll probably deny it
and keep it to pay for his holiday.
I would have come over to see ya, but like Gazzer my passport has expired.
Buzzer…I didn,t bite at all. How could you possibly believe that.■■?
As for the holiday relief,well I,ll have to consult my co driver to discuss terms and conditions.
In other words, how much dosh.
Horry…if i,m permitted into the Davies empire AKA Tracey Island, i,ll call in next week sometime
for a cuppa.
Also what is your mates name that went to school with my Mark.■■?
Now then you old boys do you remember this place you used to go through on your way to Italy over Mont Cenis, it used to have a square with a font and water fountain, you could park a few artics and a restaurant was on on the corner. When you went on towards Italy you ran by the side of the rail track and crossed it on the way out past the Rio Tinto Ally mill, also a river ran alongside the road and in the autumn remember the beautiful colours of the tree’s as they were turning. We used to anoy the old ladies when we cleaned our teeth in the morning in that fountain, don’t think they liked us for that. Suspect there is an autoroute today cutting all that out, another Mary Hopkin moment, cheers Buzzer.
I remember passing through the place on route Buzzer, but don’t think I ever overnighted there.
I was far too busy tramping on. Lol.
Where was that AS24 place with the restaurant on that road.■■?
Buzzer:
2Now then you old boys do you remember this place you used to go through on your way to Italy over Mont Cenis, it used to have a square with a font and water fountain, you could park a few artics and a restaurant was on on the corner. When you went on towards Italy you ran by the side of the rail track and crossed it on the way out past the Rio Tinto Ally mill, also a river ran alongside the road and in the autumn remember the beautiful colours of the tree’s as they were turning. We used to anoy the old ladies when we cleaned our teeth in the morning in that fountain, don’t think they liked us for that. Suspect there is an autoroute today cutting all that out, another Mary Hopkin moment, cheers Buzzer.
Hi John,
That’s spooky I was in St Jean-de-Maurienne on Thursday,I’d been to Florence in one of my Sprinters to take some bits for a fashion show there and ran back via Susa, Mont Cenis and the old road (D1504) back up to Pont D’Ain. I stopped at Victors on the Cenis for a drink,he is trying to hold a reunion next year for all the old drivers who passed that way in the days when you could use it, 19 ton limit now, he got me to leave my contact details so he can keep in touch,maybe the August bash next year will take on an International feeling !! like you said it was lovely up there in the cool air after the heat of Italy.
I did try and contact Mappo and Charlie to see if they wanted to do it but didn’t get a reply Tunnel de Chat now has a width limit as well as weight, and height (no more lifting the height barrier 
)
very sad to see so many Routiers closed, the end of an era. I saw very few British trucks but my spirits were lifted north of Paris when I came across 3 of Horry’s finest and shipped back with them yesterday afternoon on the 5pm from Le Havre.
Here’s a photo of Angie digging us out in the square in St Jean de M, there was no snow when we parked up the night before Sorry it’s a bit blurred but it’s difficult to hold a camera and a cafe cognac when you are sitting in the bar
Regards
Richard
Richard where are the up to date pictures ? you seem to be our only chance to relive these routes we used to tramp. Do hope you took your trusty brownie camera with you to record your trip, look forward to going back in time. By the way actually the only meal I could not face in France was in Saint Jean du Maurienne, it was tripe and I could not face that at all so just had extra charcuterie to make up, Buzzer.
Hi Richard, I absolutely love that photo.
Why am I not surprised to see poor Angie doing all the graft.
If I,d had a current passport I would have come with ya Richard. 
Do you often get jobs like that or was it just a one off.■■?
Ha ha I just noticed the "snow woman " in that picture Richard, it always used to amaze me that when you came out of Italy climbing up to lets say the Blanc tunnel it was hot sunshine, come out into a foot of snow in France, Buzzer.
mappo:
Hi Richard, I absolutely love that photo.
Why am I not surprised to see poor Angie doing all the graft.
If I,d had a current passport I would have come with ya Richard.
Do you often get jobs like that or was it just a one off.■■?
Hi Tone, John,
Angie and I were running to Italy with Jan Pawinski,and Gordon Smith (Roy’s brother) we pulled up for the night in the square at St Jean de M ate in the restaurant,the evening was clear with no snow whatsoever, in the morning there was a knock on the cab I dropped the window and Gordon said “here’s a couple of mugs of coffee, don’t bother getting up I’m off to the ironmongers for some shovels” as you can see from the pic a lot had fallen during the night. No plough arrived as they were busy clearing the main road,Jan was getting impatient so we helped him put his chains on and off he went, 10 minutes later round comes the plough and we are able to move,up on to the main road,without chaining up, where we came across Jan taking off his chains,off we go again for 2km whereupon the police stop us and make us chain up for the run to Modane !! We learnt a few Polish swear words that morning ! One of John’s Mary Hopkins moments.
Get your passport renewed Tony, the Italian gentlemen from Sicily (Angie’s cousins )I do the work for are very generous,it’s Hotel every night e.g. George V Paris, Negresco Nice,Four Seasons Firenze etc.You and Charlie wouldn’t have to slum it and someone keeps an eye on the van while you sleep. 
I would ask GazIOW but know he wouldn’t get past Saulieu and Valerie’s moped
Regards
Richard
Richard…sad I know, but I,ve just checked out those hotels online…
Must be good rates for the job…
Not sad at all Tony. Let’s go for it.I’m renewing my passport asap.Is Richard still paying 15 pounds a day like he was paying me in 1988. Pretty good eh? If we take a big bag of sandwiches each we could make a killing.I’m getting g into training on the 25th by going on the Red Funnel to get my sea legs back.Regards Charlie
Don’t forget your IOW permit and carnet Charlie, I hear they,re a bit strict over there.
If you,re going with a full tank, don’t forget to have a 10 franc note ready at port control.
I believe Red Funnel have a Bureau de change on board so no problems there.
Bon voyage…
charlie one:
Not sad at all Tony. Let’s go for it.I’m renewing my passport asap.Is Richard still paying 15 pounds a day like he was paying me in 1988. Pretty good eh? If we take a big bag of sandwiches each we could make a killing.I’m getting g into training on the 25th by going on the Red Funnel to get my sea legs back.Regards Charlie
Charlie,
Don’t let Tony worry you, as JD says he talks a load of “what comes steaming out of Cow(e)s backwards”
Angie says she will make you up some sarnies, I think she’d like to catch sight of our old DKV card as we are still getting drawings on it with a Plus on it, I’m a bit worried about sending Tony out at the end of the month to pick up the stuff I took out as it was an SSS Exhibition, Shorts,Sandals,and Socks and I don’t want him to get excited at his age !
Regards
Richard
That,s what I like about you Richard, eeerrrrmmm.let me sleep on that.
Careful what ya say mate cos don’t forget, I was issued one of your DKV cards as well. 
Charlie…I,ve been road testing this with Paul Nichols.
I reckon it,ll just get us over Cenis.
