As I got about in trucks over the years there were many places that I drove past quite often and always said to myself " I’ll stop there one day and have a better look "… but it just never seemed to happen. Various reasons, like I change jobs, the contract came to an unexpected end so I never got back, it was raining, I was running out of time. I’d just had a break up the road… If I clog it now I can probably get unloaded tonight, reload tomorrow and home for the weekend… I’m sure we all had similar experiences…
One of the things I always wanted to do was climb the pyramid at Lajoncara, but I was on fridges when I was doing Spain… say no more…
I always wanted to go the Rotten Banana night club up in the mountain behind Aviano Airbase northern Italy ( Which by the way isn’t on any map )
The European Space centre, I found out later on did actually do tours, that was up in the woods on the way through Belgium on the way to Hayby truck stop… Luxemburg direction…
I never got to stop and take a photo of the truck at the sign that said Castel ■■■■■, just south of Aosta…
Istanbul would have been nice, the Blue Mosque… well I saw the top of from the bridge… Salt lake at Aksary.
Hello Jeff. Sounds like you did the American bases in Italy. Like you - no stopping for the Leaning Tower in Pisa when delivering Livorno, Capri or Pompei when weekended in Naples, but I did manage the Golden Nugget outside Vogelvegh when doing Germany. After the wagons I spent 6 months based in Baghdad and didn’t visit the Hanging Gardens at Babylon, but did see the Gates of Ninevah outside Mosul.
The huge regret I have is carrying a camera and not using it. Crikey! Who was going to be interested in photos of old lorries and places 40yrs later?
Jim
Hi JMC I’ve seen the Leaning tower from the Autostrada, if you know when to look you can see it… Also the Eifel tower through the smog from the Periferique.
I did make a point of going to Avebury, and Stone Henge, in fact I have a photo somewhere of my Tecso Leyland Road train and fridge parked out side the fence at Stone Henge 3 days after the solstice.
I always wanted to go the Rotten Banana night club up in the mountain behind Aviano Airbase northern Italy ( Which by the way isn’t on any map )
Jeff, I think if you look on Google Earth for Aviano, Pordenone. Zoom in and have a nose around you will find what you are looking for. I tried to Copy and Paste here on my iPad, but without any success.
Jelliot:
As I got about in trucks over the years there were many places that I drove past quite often and always said to myself " I’ll stop there one day and have a better look "… but it just never seemed to happen. Various reasons, like I change jobs, the contract came to an unexpected end so I never got back, it was raining, I was running out of time. I’d just had a break up the road… If I clog it now I can probably get unloaded tonight, reload tomorrow and home for the weekend… I’m sure we all had similar experiences…
One of the things I always wanted to do was climb the pyramid at Lajoncara, but I was on fridges when I was doing Spain… say no more…
I always wanted to go the Rotten Banana night club up in the mountain behind Aviano Airbase northern Italy ( Which by the way isn’t on any map )
The European Space centre, I found out later on did actually do tours, that was up in the woods on the way through Belgium on the way to Hayby truck stop… Luxemburg direction…
I never got to stop and take a photo of the truck at the sign that said Castel ■■■■■, just south of Aosta…
Istanbul would have been nice, the Blue Mosque… well I saw the top of from the bridge… Salt lake at Aksary.
hi all last year was sent from laredo to north west texas for reload about 500miles being big john wayne fan i looked on decent map and there was the historical point of the alamo whats left of it so of i went did see whats left of building but what a detour in a tractor/trailer . glad i done it . as 4 good ol la jonquera remember my boss at time 30 yrs ago taking me down to the club in the field u can see from autostrada what a night to a new 21yr old 30 yrs fwd and still good memories from allover spain morrocco
I’ve parked up and walked round places but it’s not the same on your own somehow ,so hopefully next year my mrs is going to start coming with me sometimes. I’ve been into chamonix and other places of interest but feel a bit of ■■■ on my own .
jmc jnr:
Hello Jeff. Sounds like you did the American bases in Italy. Like you - no stopping for the Leaning Tower in Pisa when delivering Livorno, Capri or Pompei when weekended in Naples, but I did manage the Golden Nugget outside Vogelvegh when doing Germany. After the wagons I spent 6 months based in Baghdad and didn’t visit the Hanging Gardens at Babylon, but did see the Gates of Ninevah outside Mosul.
The huge regret I have is carrying a camera and not using it. Crikey! Who was going to be interested in photos of old lorries and places 40yrs later?
Jim
Hi jmc jnr" 40 yrs on, think we all, regret not taking Piccs, Weve been er been there no piccs? But Gladly a Lot of Dvrs did, so at least we can Look back on er, If we can Remember? Lol"" Driving through and up the trails In Borneo, 60s bin G8 to av a Picture record of them days, Cheers Chris
I was the same no camera but my work was only Europe from 67 to 84 but now I am retired we go on European coach trips and do the tourist bits as when you are driving you used to try to keep away from them but now we do a couple or so of European coach holidays each year and usually do the extra trips and take photos as well if anyone is interested I have started to post them on flickr on the link below and they are public I have posted a few hundred and I am not halfway through yet so it is work in progress
Jelliot:
Hi JMC I’ve seen the Leaning tower from the Autostrada, if you know when to look you can see it…
I climbed the leaning tower of Pisa in the 1980’s which was before they brought the lean back a bit and before there were any guard rails.It is a very strange effect climbing the circular stairs because the lean removes the effect of going upwards on one side while making you think that they are twice as steep the other.As for the lack of guard rails depending on which side you walked out from the upper floor you were met by a massively downward angled outside ledge which was trying to throw you off the unguarded edge.I’m wondering how many accidents were mistakenly put down to suicides.
jmc jnr:
Hello Jeff. Sounds like you did the American bases in Italy. Like you - no stopping for the Leaning Tower in Pisa when delivering Livorno, Capri or Pompei when weekended in Naples, but I did manage the Golden Nugget outside Vogelvegh when doing Germany. After the wagons I spent 6 months based in Baghdad and didn’t visit the Hanging Gardens at Babylon, but did see the Gates of Ninevah outside Mosul.
The huge regret I have is carrying a camera and not using it. Crikey! Who was going to be interested in photos of old lorries and places 40yrs later?
Jim
Some folk think I’m sad taking pics of the trucks I drive now but are interested in the pics I took 40 years ago.
I have some great pics of my visit to Babylon, and I have seen the Golden Mosque at Sammara, been around the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul many times.
The one place I always intended to visit was Troy, but every time I went past I was either running to the customs in Izmir or chasing a ferry at Cannakale.
I always found it frustrating to drive through Damascus without having a proper look. So eventually, I went back and explored it on my own as a tourist. Brilliant! So glad I did because not long afterwards Syria imploded… Robert
Jelliot:
I went past what I thought was The Mirrors.
Jeff…
‘The Mirrors’ was mentioned often, with the reverence of one of the seven wonders of the world, when I started on overland. When I did stop there, sure enough the walls were made from mirrors.
They were so old and dirty, the reflections were in sepia, with the silvering peeling from the back.
The food was the same as every other Saudi ‘restaurant’ - ok if you liked chicken & rice and your stomach had adapted to all the bugs liable to give you the squits in that part of the world.
My favourite memory from there was to see an Arab driver take a toothpick from the little holder in the centre of the table, use it, then carefully replace it!
Jelliot:
I went past what I thought was The Mirrors.
Jeff…
‘The Mirrors’ , at Hafr Al Batin on the Tapline, was mentioned often, with the reverence of one of the seven wonders of the world, when I started on overland. When I did stop there, sure enough the walls were made from mirrors.
They were so old and dirty, the reflections were in sepia, with the silvering peeling from the back.
The food was the same as every other Saudi ‘restaurant’ - ok if you liked chicken & rice and your stomach had adapted to all the bugs liable to give you the squits in that part of the world.
My favourite memory from there was to see an Arab driver take a toothpick from the little holder in the centre of the table, use it, then carefully replace it!
so it is work in progress
jimmy.
