hello Muckaway, hows it going. I am just started doing this, while ago I saw you asking about cafes on the A40 but didnt know the ropes then how to answer you. Anyway if you havent already found out - from London towards Gloucester Madges at Loudwater was really the first stop, next door to the White Blackbird pub and the Entress drivers from Swansea changed over there, After that you went through Wycombe, up to Stokenchurch where you had Chris’s, popular with the B.R.S, which was rebuilt and still there? Bit farther on the left was Blunts, later called the Roundabout I think it was, an all nighter where a lot of the South Wales boys would be, good cafe, pulled down for the M’way. Down Chalk, over the railway crossing, past the Lambert Arms, on to Postcombe and Tetsworth with a couple of Pubs where the Silver Roadways and Tate and Lyles would sometimes be, across the flats to Milton Common, on right was the Towers you mentioned, re named the Lantern a bit of a sorry state at the end, rebuilt as a conference centre/hotel. Not far past this was the Last Chance, sort of boarded shack at Wheatley, then at the other end of the Oxford BP was a little cafe called the San Remo I think it was I never stopped there as you couldnt ever get in the lorry park ! There was one at Witney, but I never used it and can’t remember the name, then up past Early’s blanket place to Minster Lovell where the pub was used by South Wales blokes and a green painted cafe on left called the Toll House. Never used that one either because I was headed for the Windrush, next up on the right which was all nighter. B.R.S. Ebbw Vale changed over with the London Drivers also Silver Roadways changeover, In there you’d see a lot of the Welshmen, it was always packed out, a real place to come across n the middle of the night! After that was a cafe in Northleach at the bottom of Prison Hill, I think it was called the Fosseway, may be wrong. after that were several ways to go some went Cheltenham, Ledbury Hereford Brecon, some Ross Spur, some A40 all the way, some A48 down to the next good cafe near Lydney, The Half Acre, all nighter which was reckoned to be the best on the London to South Wales road. Going back to Oxford I think it must have always had a by pass because you only went there if you had a breakdown! But that A40 was always a lovely road to travel. It could never compete with the M4, but the M4 could never compare with the A40.
all the best to you, safe roads
Al
Hi Screaming Alice, that’s a lot of memories or a lot of tea breaks! I’ve read a book about Eynsham and it says the San Remo was run by some Italian refugees, the building stands much altered near the Evenlode pub and there are two modern bungalows built in the old lorry park. There was another cafe in Eynsham which I’ve heard called “The White House” and “The Cross Ways.” More of a cafe for the local tipper drivers from the gravel pits at Stanton Harcourt. Whitehouse Close is near the site of that, on Hanborough Road.
The cafe in Witney, was it opposite the Windrush Inn? Dad remembers one there (building still stands). This cafe/shop was run by two sisters who were known locally as “The Thankyous” as when you paid, they’d thankyou more than once.
sounds like Witney was the den of iniquity! It may have been that cafe. Last I remember of Witney was going to Tricentrals, but that was a bit later on - late 1970s. but going back to the 60s there was a trade plater who lived in one of the cottages the Oxford end of the town, he had a wife a lot younger, I think he was past retirement age but it didnt seem to stop him if you know what i mean! I picked him up a couple of times in my travels, on my way back home sometimes.
Funnily enough was speaking to a pal in Scotland a few minutes ago who knows Derek Aust who had some 6 wheel Ford traders. Maybe you’d know him. Anyway re the cafes I only really used Blunts and the Windrush, and the Half Acre - I stayed there the last week it was open. But it was different times then, less chasing about, less stroppy drivers, no impossible time schedules, no big wheel men, or fewer, just take the load away and bring one back with you. “See you when you get back end of the week. Mind how you go.” And an MT yard was a happy firm they used to say!
Hope your job is O/K anyway
GOOD LUCK/ Safe roads Al
I’ll try and get some photos of the Old Toll House at Minster Lovell, and the “Thankyous” Cafe on the Burford Road! My in laws live in Eynsham so I’ll have to nip down to the Evenlode to get some pics of the San Remo. The Little Chef near Northleach has gone now, I gather that was an old truckstop.
The Windrush cafe site is/was for sale complete with the half built hotel, and planning for a cafe, shop and garage (not the hotel, mind )
28dayslater.co.uk/forums/oth … shire.html
thats very good of you Muckaway, will try and find something to send back - Al - Thank you
Added curtainsiders to my experience list today, and double manning…
…And heavy handballing.
During the floods, don’t mind delivering the Oxygen for the fishes at the Trout farms, but its getting daft when you gota park in the river & swim with them to do it 
hope you had your arm bands on Chris , bet your truck loved going through the wash , bring back the flags in the screen buddy .
Thought I’d bump this thread to say Muckaway was let out into Windrush country yesterday. Nice FM Globetrotter, I-Shift 6w. Gave me more time to see the scenery.
This veteren’s pushing 1000000km. Anyone know why it was fitted with super singles on the front? It’s the only one on the fleet so fitted.
Muckaway:
Thought I’d bump this thread to say Muckaway was let out into Windrush country yesterday. Nice FM Globetrotter, I-Shift 6w. Gave me more time to see the scenery.
I did wonder what all the noise was, now I know! 
Just when we thought we were safe… 
Pete.
windrush:
Muckaway:
Thought I’d bump this thread to say Muckaway was let out into Windrush country yesterday. Nice FM Globetrotter, I-Shift 6w. Gave me more time to see the scenery.
I did wonder what all the noise was, now I know!
Pete.
I took over just outside Matlock, Pete. Derwent side I think. There’s a layby with a tea van it. Went to Caudwells’ Mill, nice old place. Then a cafe in Chesterfield where a nice blonde lass in a low top was bent over as I walked in. Nice pink thong…
Thought I’d bump this thread with some shocking news;
Muckaway currently on a night-out in Harrogate
12 plate MAN 6w too. Bunk not as comfy as a Volvo FM or Daf CF though but very good (non frilly) curtains, and a good night heater. Been to Dudley, Telford, Stafford, Newcastle Under Lyme, Stockport, Keighley…On to Tyneside tomorrow for 3 drops before a nice ride home.
Muckaway:
windrush:
Muckaway:
Thought I’d bump this thread to say Muckaway was let out into Windrush country yesterday. Nice FM Globetrotter, I-Shift 6w. Gave me more time to see the scenery.
I did wonder what all the noise was, now I know!
Pete.
I took over just outside Matlock, Pete. Derwent side I think. There’s a layby with a tea van it. Went to Caudwells’ Mill, nice old place. Then a cafe in Chesterfield where a nice blonde lass in a low top was bent over as I walked in. Nice pink thong…
Layby is known locally as Ranch Corner Nathan. I thought that Caudwells ground their own flour, obviously not! You keep well clear of pink thongs in Chesterfield, you might just go home with a souvenier of Derbyshire that Mrs Muckaway wont appreciate and will find yourself spending EVERY night in that sleeper bunk! 
The old saying goes that the Crooked Spire in the town got like that because a virgin entered the church and it twisted round to take a gander at her.
Pete.
night out buddy !!! bet you were looking forward to that ■■? , like a hole in the head
How about these two ■■? , the red one was a Scammell and the white one a leyland , the white one was cut up after being sold from Hartwells wootton .
I was just talking the driver of the red one and he was so happy to have driven this beast on a regular basis .
JAKEY:
night out buddy !!! bet you were looking forward to that ■■? , like a hole in the head
I enjoyed it, Steve. I was doing odds around London on Monday and got more done in half a day yesterday than all day in London. Just having lunch at Wetherby services (wanted to go to the Londonderry Lodge but was a bit early) and then it’s back to the mill and home. I managed to park securely for free last night where I got diesel and was away by 4:15 this morning.
Must be Easter approaching as two of us were on N/O up North and one was in Scotland.
Turned off the A34, up through Middleton Stoney, past Smith’s pit, on friday afternoon and thought of you Nathan. I thought how Smith’s are missing out on some great advertising, with not having your reports, or pictures of your wagon parked in a lay by somewhere!!
BigG-Unit:
Turned off the A34, up through Middleton Stoney, past Smith’s pit, on friday afternoon and thought of you Nathan. I thought how Smith’s are missing out on some great advertising, with not having your reports, or pictures of your wagon parked in a lay by somewhere!!
I was going to get some pics of the hire wagon George I’ve been driving but haven’t had the chance. Would’ve got a nice pic of it on the North Yorks Moors but it was getting dark. A plain white MAN curtainside 6wheeler isn’t so photogenic but Matthews’ new Daf is meant to be coming next week…
…I can’t really take pics at the customers’ sites incase Clarks or Heygates identify them