Have just seen these photos on a F/B site. They are courtesy of Gavin Smith. A few years back I told a story on Trucknet which revolved around the place names seen here. On this occasion I had flown into Baghdad but when my passport was looked at, the Iraqi Immigration officer asked where my lorry was. It was then I knew I had a problem. Especially as he personally escorted me outside the terminal and pointed to the steps of the BA Tristar that I had just left. The problem arose because I had a lorry drivers visa upon which it said this man must enter Iraq with a lorry. A couple of days later I was on another plane to southern Turkey but was unable to land at the usual airport as the runway was being resurfaced so we were diverted to Batman, a Turkish Airforce Base. Here I got a taxi to take me down to Kiziltepe which was on the route to Habur and Iraq. On the way down, it was in the evening and dark, I noticed the taxi driver had a gun in his belt. I pointed to it and he waved his arms around and said bandits. Yes I thought and are you the biggest of them all. Anyway we got to the lorry park in Kizeltepe ok and I lugged my heavy suitcase into the cafe hoping to find a friendly driver to take me to Baghdad. Sure enough there was a Brit who said no probs and a few hours later I entered Iraq at Habur/Zahko onboard a lorry.
Just look at the modern roads in the area now. Tarmac and motorways everywhere and not a pothole in sight.
Just noticed on one of the photos the town of Mardin is mentioned. That’s where I ended up in court on another trip. Told the story on here years ago but may retell it sometime.
A few more photos from Gavin Smith. This time they’re from Aksaray. I remember arriving in town from the direction of Ankara and one of the first building you came to was a bakery on the right selling delicious ekmek bread straight out of the oven. From there I would drive down a bit farther where there was a parking area on the left where I had my lunch.
Was atop the Port de Bales in the Pyrenees yesterday and saw this wagon loading up with sheep. He loaded at some pens at the very top, 1755m or 5,757ft. He then proceeded down the mountain in what seemed to be the lowest gear he had at his disposal. Definitely a clenched b-m job that one.
I was coming down from the ski station at Piau-Engaly in the high Pyrenees to a t-junction with the road up to the Beilsa tunnel and Spain. At the junction was this Scanfor lorry which I believe was from Belgium. He had just turned himself around as the road up to the tunnel was closed. Now I don’t know who routed him this way but, as I passed the lorry I saw the driver at the rear of his trailer taking photos of the barrier, no doubt to prove to his boss he was going to be a day or two late delivering his load.
Photos courtesy of Promotor driver Frank Gough. A day out to Goodwood with a couple of Ford’s finest. Funny to think we were trundling these cars or very similar to events 40 years ago.
This photo courtesy of Robert Steven is what I assume is a homemade fold down bed for an AEC. Must admit it’s far grander than I had and it certainly looks more comfortable than the boards laid across from the window to the centre cowling that I used.
Also have the powers to be changed the rules on here. This is now the fifth posting I’ve put on without being blocked.
Airforce Base. Here I got a taxi to take me down to Kiziltepe which was on the route to Habur and Iraq. On the way down, it was in the evening and dark, I noticed the taxi driver had a gun in his belt. I pointed to it and he waved his arms around and said bandits. Yes I thought and are you the biggest of them all. Anyway we got to the lorry park in Kizeltepe ok and I lugged my heavy suitcase into the cafe hoping to find a friendly driver to take me to Baghdad. Sure enough there was a Brit who said no probs and a few hours later I entered Iraq at Habur/Zahko onboard a lorry.
