Welcome to TNUK just_a_girl. Glad you enjoy enjoy coming over this way so much, though to be honest I struggle to understand why
Slightly off topic, but since you mentioned the UK’s laughable attempts at motorway services, I had a bit of a thought. Now bear with me 'cos this doesn’t happen very often.
We all have a moan about msa’s over here, but when we stop and think about it, we probably all know some good alternatives to the msa’s and truckstops around our respective “neck of the woods”.
I know down my way the big msa culprit is clackett lane on the M25, yet if i’m ever due a break around there, I’ll always trundle off at JCT6 (the A22) and come round the roundabout at Caterham village and pull up in the southbound layby.
From there it’s only a 10 minute stroll up the hill into Caterham, which has a couple of good pub’s that serve food all day, as well as a supermarket, sandwich bar’s and a decent wimpy if memory serves.
All in it probably put’s about 15-20 minutes on the journey, but at least you can get something edible at a reasonable price. I’ve never overnighted there, but have seen plenty that do, it’s fairly quiet, parking (i believe) is free, and frankly it beats the crap out of clackett lane.
I know that there is probably a similar topic to this somewhere on the forum, but if not, would anyone care to add their suggestion?
I know clackett lane very well, besides Peterborough on A1(M) clackett lane is my fave, if I’m somewhere around of course. But as i said, I just don’t like sleeping anywhere. I usually go to the industrial estate and have a word with security, give them some bear and ask them to check the lorry every now and then
Hi i went to Rijeka 3 times in the 80s. Slovenia first time to Ljubijana in a van via Maribor. Stuck on the border for 4 hours unable to seal . Local drivers helped me out and then the customs were able to seal me. too late to clear so tipped in customs. Customer happy as only a short drive to thier factory and the software i took was unable to travel by air. last year to Kopa pick up 1 carton seatbelts from Turkey, uncleared on a saturday. Agent sorted it out that i would clear in Budapest[ got me out the port]. Anyway 2 trips to Slovenia helped out a lot both times. For me the little i,ve seen good country and very good people…Nearly 20 years ago i met a driver from Italy later to become like a brother to me [ He died last Christmas ] he talked about the drivers in the UK gentlemen of the road. Sadly that was 20 years ago. Its not how it used to be. BUT maybe still better than many countries
toothpick johnny:
he talked about the drivers in the UK gentlemen of the road. Sadly that was 20 years ago. Its not how it used to be. BUT maybe still better than many countries
I think that your view of how people are has more to do with the way you treat people than any particular national personality.
So maybe the reason the your friend and just-a-girl find the English so nice is because they come across as nice people and therefore people want to help.
I would agree with the comment that the English are stand offish until you break the ice. The problem is we wait to be formally introduced.
gb1:
just a girl87. Do you by any chance know Dino in Ljubjana.He’s a young lad of about 14, who’s father drives for Viator&Vektor. I was doing a show at the old football ground about 18months ago, and he came up to say hello. Like most young Slovenians, he spoke excellant English. He was very knowledgable about trucks and was a pleasure to talk to. He gave me a drawing of his favourite truck -DAF 105 - as a thankyou for showing him round my truck. I sent the picture to one of the UK trucking magazines, and it was published a couple of months later. I sent a copy of the magazine to him, but have since lost his contact details. I know he was a regular on a Slovenian trucking website. It wouild be great if you could track him down for me.
Will do, he’s a good friend of mine, we know each other from slovenian truck forum. Who should i say is saying hello then? When are you next in Ljubljana?
Hello again. Spoke with Dino tonight. Thanks for your help.
yeah, unfortunately, the motorway services, on the whole in the uk, are very sub standard, and so, soo, soooooo expensive.
there are some good independent truckstops about, offering good parking, showers, food etc, but are getting few and far between.
i like too find a decent place too park on my travels, then wander into town, too find a decent pub, food etc.
why do the drivers over here .where you can take over thay all do 89 90 ks
as soon as you get in the limit from lets say from 6 to 20.00 hours no overtakeing thay all do 80ks and when you chance it to over take thay put there ■■■■■■■ foot down . i get that all the way home to germany . but saying that i do a lot of driveing in the middle of the night now to beat the ban . and in belgi you carnt over take in the rain and now the new one is 6 to 19.00 hour on a duil or mway . think thay just dont wont truckes on the road any more . have a nice day drive safe all of you .
