There was a lot that settled down in France,after meeting the girls that worked at the BP garage,that was the St.Andre de Cubzac truck stop,north of Bordeaux.
Spotless showers,that were cleaned after each use,worth paying the extra for,truckers stuff for sale in the forecourt and in the main building,the very drunk at the weekends,and sometimes a few fisty cuffs.
It is now flattened,there is a good mechanic down the road,the guy there is retired,with the beard,used to go to England and Ireland in his camper van,and his mad dog,that would come after you like an exocet missile.
He used to service my 142,regroove the tyres,and there was a truck wash.
The supermarket nextdoor was handy,now they do not allow trucks to park up.
As you may have guessed,my time off there,would involve a long bike ride along the vine fields,or some times get to the city centre,a long way away.
Toby you really are mad as a hatter arn’t you? Having said that I just love your random out the blue posts most of which are spot on if I sit and think about them. Yeah good times at the Cabbage Patch on PJK days, oh to be able to wind that clock back eh? (not the tacho Toby) Never got near marrying one tho.
Remember it well, worked for Hargrave Int then…good ol days…
You mean Brad who married Vanessa (Brad was killed in a UK layby, hit by a truck, after stopping to do up a loose curtain) 
She was but a few weeks from dropping there 2nd or 3rd kid at the time
Adrian married Mariannique the manageress
Graham (Stick) married a lovely lady whose name old age and dry rot has robbed me of 
. They had a full brood together, although Sticks adoption of those dodgy French trousers was somewhat disturbing.
Hippy Neil was living with Christian, she bailed him out of Perpignan nick when his trailer was found to be full of cigarettes disguised as something else.
Old Dave (Teapot) had a long term ongoing thingy with a cracking old gal, again name forgotten , who was housekeeper for a Chateau in Blaye.
Mickey Bingham had a thing with one of the birds at Brittany Ferries Cherbourg (Sophie iirc) and later on was knocking boots with a bird he met at Claudes who lived in Pons. I really should be able to remember her name, considering I can remember where she lived, but can’t.
I’m sure there was more and I may have a detail or 2 wrong but basically the best Cabbage Patch weekends were never AT the Cabbage Patch 
although they may explain the memory loss 
It was there that i fell in love with a gorgeous brie cheese on fresh crusty bread that i will never forget. For all its drawbacks ie: ■■■■■ truck park the food was good.
toby1234abc:
…the guy there is retired,with the beard…
Is that a French thing? In England when you retire you often get a watch or a clock for the mantelpiece but I’ve not heard of anyone getting a beard before. Unless it is one of these type of beards. 
Why the hell did the frogs de-classify a national free road to a D road to force trucks on the toll road,a typical example is the coast road from Cherbourg to Rennes,it was by the sea,then no trucks from La Rochelle to Nantes,forcing all the businesses that were reliant on passing heavy goods traffic to use the pay for toll routes.
One Rouitier,was forced to appeal for lost revenue,as they directed traffic away from their buisness.
short walk:
Yeah good times at the Cabbage Patch on PJK days, oh to be able to wind that clock back eh? (not the tacho Toby) Never got near marrying one tho.
sad oh so sad
anyone considering any time spent at the cabbage patch to have been good definitely suffers from attacks of delirium and severe memory loss
how about the rouitier on the other way round by the bridge at bordeaux,more parking places,and the nomadic traveliing types in a van driving round all night with his mrs in the passenger seat,there was a place to eat called josephs nearby,a muslim run operation,not sure if it still there or not.
toby1234abc:
how about the rouitier on the other way round by the bridge at bordeaux,more parking places,and the nomadic traveliing types in a van driving round all night with his mrs in the passenger seat,there was a place to eat called josephs nearby,a muslim run operation,not sure if it still there or not.
Nice place but always better to come off that junction and head the other way, in towards the city. Couple of lights down hang a left and park at the Quai’s. Much quieter way less English 
Excellent food, company and surroundings
billybigrig:
toby1234abc:
how about the rouitier on the other way round by the bridge at bordeaux,more parking places,and the nomadic traveliing types in a van driving round all night with his mrs in the passenger seat,there was a place to eat called josephs nearby,a muslim run operation,not sure if it still there or not.Nice place but always better to come off that junction and head the other way, in towards the city. Couple of lights down hang a left and park at the Quai’s. Much quieter way less English
exactly and the weekend spent with less super heroes pounding your ears with their glory stories
Coffeeholic:
toby1234abc:
…the guy there is retired,with the beard…Is that a French thing? In England when you retire you often get a watch or a clock for the mantelpiece but I’ve not heard of anyone getting a beard before. Unless it is one of these type of beards.
Well I never knew that!
Another one was Ketty who is now with a waitress from Clauds ,he still lives in St Genis and last I heard was he was driving a fuel lorry for a local firm.
I agree about the cabbage patch ,I used to have a shower there , then either go to the Acotel Center routier or go past the U boat pens and park on the quais, there were 2 good restaurants there ,one which was open at weekends.
As billybigrig said Sophie from Truckline was with Micky Bingham ,as an aside I was talking to Bonehead who has the tea van at Cherbourg (he has been there 23 years now ) and he told me that miserable Alain from Truckline was made redundant last year with a 100,000 euro settlement and a pension.
kerbut:
Another one was Ketty who is now with a waitress from Clauds ,he still lives in St Genis and last I heard was he was driving a fuel lorry for a local firm.
I agree about the cabbage patch ,I used to have a shower there , then either go to the Acotel Center routier or go past the U boat pens and park on the quais, there were 2 good restaurants there ,one which was open at weekends.
As billybigrig said Sophie from Truckline was with Micky Bingham ,as an aside I was talking to Bonehead who has the tea van at Cherbourg (he has been there 23 years now ) and he told me that miserable Alain from Truckline was made redundant last year with a 100,000 euro settlement and a pension.
Dave ketteringham is still married to chantal…But 9 weeks ago dave had terrible car accident he has some brain damage but is improving very slowly regards from his brother
I am very sorry to hear that Colin, I hope Dave has a speedy recovery
Chantal now owns the routiers called le bergerie south of plassac on the old N137,Dave is still in hospital near Anguleme he was transfered the from bordeaux 5 weeks ago.Many thanks for your comments kerbut
I never wanted to marry her, but the old girl at Le Albatross looked after me well. I have a gallon bottle of Ricard here, empty unfortunately that she let me have after finishing it.
Also a very good meal with a lack of British drivers
colket:
Chantal now owns the routiers called le bergerie south of plassac on the old N137,Dave is still in hospital near Anguleme he was transfered the from bordeaux 5 weeks ago.Many thanks for your comments kerbut
Col - Please give Dave my regards , And wish he recovers soon. I only heard this week from Ian. Thanks Al
Best wishes to dave hope he’s on the mend soon. hippy neil is he still about?
Vascoingles:
short walk:
Yeah good times at the Cabbage Patch on PJK days, oh to be able to wind that clock back eh? (not the tacho Toby) Never got near marrying one tho.sad oh so sad
anyone considering any time spent at the cabbage patch to have been good definitely suffers from attacks of delirium and severe memory loss
I was thinking the same thing!