billingsgate fish market london and new covent garden fruit market.what a way to start the week,after last week and my tour of scotland i get to go to the smoke.ive been to london plenty of times but that was riding shotgun with me dad,this is the first time on my own and ive gotta say im a little nervous i managed a cuppa tea for breakfast but thats it me stomach was doing more somersalts than a russian gymnast.also as its london and billingsgate is my first one its an early start 3am i leave the yard up until now theres only been one 3 in my day and thats afternoon,its ■■■■ cold this morning and my first job is to check oil water etc then fire the old girl up,while littlegert is warming up(thats what ive christened her)i scrape the ice from the screen and side windows.at 3.30 i leave the yard and head out of burton to the a38 south past the oakmoor cafe which is full of lorries,i used to spend hours there when i were a kid takin photos of the wagons.past fradley and the old aerodrome just past lichfield the 38 splits left while the other bit goes upto the a5 at shenstone.i stay on the 38 till bassets pole then i take the a446 past archers yard theyre a big foden fleet i see a few s20,s and some new s80,s with the big headlanmps on at least im not the only up at this hour then.ist still pitch black but i can still see the cooling towers of hamshall as i go past.the 446 takes me to the a45 and heading for cov i,ll stay on the 45 till i get to the m1 going past the car factory at ryton on dunsmore and a bit further down theres a cracking cafe but i,ll not be stopping this morning.my last town to go through on the 45 is daventry but this time of day im theres no town traffic.i get on the m1 at upper heyford and head south,time to crack open the flask and pour a cuppa remembering not to spill it on meself this time,im not a fan of these motorways there boring the m1 takes me all the way into london past milton keynes and luton just south of luton is juntion 9 and the cafe at flamstead,my stomach has stopped whirling around now so i stop here for a bacon buttie and a cuppa,while im here i look at the lorries and see where there from alot are from the north aec,s from brs a couple off borderers from pollock lv erf,s an a very clean erf from ribble cement from clitheroe theres a fair amount of lorries from london brick.well breakfast over and back on the m1 into the smoke its getting light now and londons got this glow above it its just the sun trying to break through the smog but it tells me londons waking up so id best crack on.at the bottom of the m1 iget on the a406 at staples corner and head eastthis 406 aint a bad road but its full of tippers all racing about like there in hell drivers and bugger me what to i see a kew dodge nearly taking me mirror off.well thanks to that little episode my palms are sweating and the bacon buttie aint sitting well.accordind to the map billingsgate is just off the a13 by wapping.thats the news hub of londonso i reckon it,ll be busy my dads mate who works for alders paper mill in tamworth takes reels there so i might keep me eye out for him.i have to come off the 406 and go down the a12 into london past exotic places like stratford good thing about the tk is i can still reach across and lock the passenger door while driving.i stop at some traffic lights in hackney and i see this really nice lass and give her a smile she smiles back and then the lights change i think to meself london aint that bad.at the bottom of the 12 is bow where as a kid at school i was told the bow street runners came from,its right close to london docks which was handy.a right then a left and theres billingsgate fish market bloody ell its busy people cars vans lorries and me.i ask at the gate where i need to be ,the company im delivering to are around the back so i follow the round round to the left i get so far and have to stop as theres an irish motor from derry bros tipping and blocking the road.its got tir plates on it and i wonder what exotic places he,s been when suddenly a bang on the window frightens the ■■■■■ out of me,eh up guvna them boxes for me i wind down the window and give him my delivery note, yeah theyre mine me old china stay there cuz paddy cant move and i,ll tipp ya with the forks.cuz of the smog or the fog as im right by thames this place has an atmosphere thats un nerving but intriuging at the same time.i undo the ropes and fold the sheet half way back.a guy on a fork lift comes out with a pallet on and we handball the crates on the pallet ,it takes 4 palletts to fill his order,when im done he comes back with me notes and somthing wrapped in paper,there ya go guvnor thanks for helping.i look in the paper and its 4 big cod cheers mate and i jump in the cab and away i go.its hard work getting out but i do eventually and find my way back on the a13 heading into the city and vauxhall bridge by now its 8 oclock and londons awake the traffic is heavy and i experiance london rush hour and london driving first hand people aint got a minute im cut up left right and centre and thats just the black cabs.i follow the 13 into whitechapel then turn left for tower bridge well youve got do some sight seeing if your in the capital,over the bridge to the bricklayers arms junction then the elephant and castlethen the mainroad through lambeth brings me out at vauxhall bridge i want nine elms lane which the market is on the left and battersea power station is on the right and what a site its big its grey and with the mix of smog and sunlight it looked brill.into the market and im directed round the back again to a fruit and veg seller this guy has his own vans and trucks a few ford transits a new ford d-series and some tks with chrome wheel trims,now im getting some of them,the guy comes out and says he cant tip me yet but if i want he,ll take me for breakfast well who am i to turn down a full fry up,when i come back from breakfast theres some artics here both have london paris milan on the side and both units are brand new volvo f88,s.im in dream land and get talking to the drivers who tell me theyve both come from paris with fruit and veg on.i have a sit in one and all of a sudden in 10 years old again,back down to earth it time to get tipped the guy comes out the a forklift and its a repeat of drop 1.notes signed and a bag of fruit later im away first stop a phone box to ring base.theres nowt down there son so come back empty.its midday so i will be home tonight from here its a straight run over vauxhall bridge by pimlico which reminds me of an old film pimlico123 past victoria station then the a 302 past the palace and wave to the queen then up round marble arch and the a5 to edgware and back on the m1 to the 45 and retrace my run home