Just wondered if anyone has any good memories of a night out they’ve had whilst over the water ?
I got to thinking after remembering a time I went to Zeebrugge for a trailer change. I parked in the Total garage just on the way out of the dock. I found the truck which had my trailer behind but no sign of the driver. Anyway, got talking to a tanker driver from Widnes and we decided to walk back up the road towards the dock to see if there was a pub which there was ! All I can remember is that the barmaid was called Betty ! I remember coming out of there hammered. I was booked on the boat for 7am and also forgot about the local time difference to my ‘English’ clock ! Needless to say I missed the boat, the drive from Dover to Manchester later the next day was a drive I never want to repeat. Talk about a hangover haha. Anyone else with stories ?
,Marseilles,hope that’s the spelling! 2002 down at the docks parked up what a night ,my eyes were opened that night.although when wee got back to the trucks we had a job keeping the thieves at bay all night.but what a night.
Too many to mention but my favourite place for a night out was salou on a Saturday night. We used to do a regular run to Valencia that had to clear customs at la jonquera , in those days we could control the time a bit easier and would always make sure their we’re two of us clearing Saturday morning. Then it was on to salou, park opposite a hotel on some waste ground ( the manager was an ex driving Englishman ) quick swim in the pool and douche off in the poolside shower. Got a few looks when we broke out the shower gel . Then it was off down slammer street, a free tequila slammer in every bar as you entered. Jesus we got in some messes but it was great fun.
Yep, Salou was cracking. Spent quite a few weekends there. Parking in the coach park was expensive but the firm paid no problem.
Milan was always a good weekend. Had some good ones in Dover and Folkestone as well.
As somebody who mostly did fridge work you tended to follow the fruit around Europe and as such there was always a focal point to meet up with others and usually the Craic was had.
For me my favourites were in no particular order:-
Sagunto : Used to load oranges in a few pack houses here on my first European job working for DR Bailey. As usual there was plenty of hanging around waiting to load so it was camion stew and a few cervesas. Always a few of us loading as well as drivers from Ralph Davies who were still doing the far flung stuff at the time so plenty of tales to draw the newby in.
Nules : Fast forward a few years and I was working for Davies of Southampton. Hotel simba was a big hotel on the old road north of Valencia with parking for around 100 trucks and was the place to head for if loading oranges. Good clean showers, good cheap food and come closing time always somebody prepared to pull the pin for a quick run up the road to upstairs/downstairs. Always a good night out and usually 24 off to recover from it afterwards.
Greece : During the short grape season we used to ship,over and run to Kiato and wait for loading instructions. Swimming in the sea all day and a great little bar/restaurant across the road. The bar was run by Maria who’s husband was mostly absent. God knows how much she made from the Davies drivers alone but the service was second to none and she could always find you directions to that load point in the middle of nowhere. If you loaded late and missed the boat then no night in Patras was complete without a visit to the Fish Bar. Drivers from all over could be found in here and it could get pretty lively.
San Salvo: This was usually one of the first loads of the Italian peach season. For some reason there was always a wait for a day or two which gave chance to spend time on the beach and a relaxing evening meal in the village.
As most of my work was into southern Europe and therefore a couple of days running from the French ports there were always first night stopovers worth a visit. Cluses when heading to Italy via the blanc or Castets to the south of Bordeaux if heading for Spain. Typical French routiers with a good meal and plenty of wine.
I also enjoyed some of the smaller French routiers in out of the way places where you would all sit together at one long table and the menu consisted of what was put on the table. Quite often I’d be the only English speaker but I always found if I made an effort then communication was possible and quite often lead to a very enjoyable evening.
It sounds like the job consisted of nothing more than hopping from bar to bar but in reality you’d find that a 3 week trip might involve only 2 or 3 such nights with the rest of time spent on your own.
Happy days anyway and I’m glad I got the chance to do the job whilst it still could be sociable.
I remember being parked in Eifeltor near köln one easter with my mate Colin. We came up with a great plan after a few beers to hook up a lady of the nights caravan to a unsuspected car driver’s tow bar ! One of the funniest nights of my life !
jimboy124:
I remember being parked in Eifeltor near köln one easter with my mate Colin. We came up with a great plan after a few beers to hook up a lady of the nights caravan to a unsuspected car driver’s tow bar ! One of the funniest nights of my life !
jimboy124:
I remember being parked in Eifeltor near köln one easter with my mate Colin. We came up with a great plan after a few beers to hook up a lady of the nights caravan to a unsuspected car driver’s tow bar ! One of the funniest nights of my life !
Well, as I said it was a good Friday and obviously a driving ban for my particular truck.So we parked unit only in Eifeltor. As some of you may know the truckstop you will also know that it is quite famous for its ladys that ply there trade in these caravans
As the white beer,truckerbraü and BS flowed and stuck a heap of money in those slot machines we decided to retire to bed . As our units were parked in the car park area of the truckstop we shared it with these caravans . I then thought it would be a great idea to try and break into one and have a nose about …as you do ! Several attempts to break in failed then colin said " better not let there pimps catch us " I then said " ■■■■■■■■ to them!"
He then started mucking about with the towing hitch and proclaimed " lets hook it up to that Omega over there " over there happened to be at least 40 feet away . We pulled and pushed this “love machine” across this car park in fits of laughter, Colin was laughing so hard that beers spraying out of his nose and mouth . We then dropped the " ■■■■■■■■ " onto the omega with a satisfying 《clunk》. I then looked at Colin who was belly laughing so much it made me laugh so hard a little bit of ■■■ came out of me !!!
When we woke in the morning the " passion wagon" was back in its rightful place and the omega was gone …
We then spent a day in Köln drinking more beer in Barneys and a afternoon in some kind of Club … I think it was called Pascha … on Hörnstraße … but cannot be sure !
neilf:
As somebody who mostly did fridge work you tended to follow the fruit around Europe and as such there was always a focal point to meet up with others and usually the Craic was had.
For me my favourites were in no particular order:-
Sagunto : Used to load oranges in a few pack houses here on my first European job working for DR Bailey. As usual there was plenty of hanging around waiting to load so it was camion stew and a few cervesas. Always a few of us loading as well as drivers from Ralph Davies who were still doing the far flung stuff at the time so plenty of tales to draw the newby in.
Nules : Fast forward a few years and I was working for Davies of Southampton. Hotel simba was a big hotel on the old road north of Valencia with parking for around 100 trucks and was the place to head for if loading oranges. Good clean showers, good cheap food and come closing time always somebody prepared to pull the pin for a quick run up the road to upstairs/downstairs. Always a good night out and usually 24 off to recover from it afterwards.
Greece : During the short grape season we used to ship,over and run to Kiato and wait for loading instructions. Swimming in the sea all day and a great little bar/restaurant across the road. The bar was run by Maria who’s husband was mostly absent. God knows how much she made from the Davies drivers alone but the service was second to none and she could always find you directions to that load point in the middle of nowhere. If you loaded late and missed the boat then no night in Patras was complete without a visit to the Fish Bar. Drivers from all over could be found in here and it could get pretty lively.
San Salvo: This was usually one of the first loads of the Italian peach season. For some reason there was always a wait for a day or two which gave chance to spend time on the beach and a relaxing evening meal in the village.
As most of my work was into southern Europe and therefore a couple of days running from the French ports there were always first night stopovers worth a visit. Cluses when heading to Italy via the blanc or Castets to the south of Bordeaux if heading for Spain. Typical French routiers with a good meal and plenty of wine.
I also enjoyed some of the smaller French routiers in out of the way places where you would all sit together at one long table and the menu consisted of what was put on the table. Quite often I’d be the only English speaker but I always found if I made an effort then communication was possible and quite often lead to a very enjoyable evening.
It sounds like the job consisted of nothing more than hopping from bar to bar but in reality you’d find that a 3 week trip might involve only 2 or 3 such nights with the rest of time spent on your own.
Happy days anyway and I’m glad I got the chance to do the job whilst it still could be sociable.
Cheers
Neilf
good stories neil.
how long ago, were you stopping at simba, and popping to nules
i did general, and had a spell of getting that way now and then late 90’s early 00’s
always thought upstairs was good for a giggle. went a long spell without getting that way, then a couple of years ago ended up their again for 1 night. it seemed to have gone down hill alot, although the downstairs was still good for food and drink, but everything else was looking shabby.
Kerbdog:
Just wondered if anyone has any good memories of a night out they’ve had whilst over the water ?
I got to thinking after remembering a time I went to Zeebrugge for a trailer change. I parked in the Total garage just on the way out of the dock. I found the truck which had my trailer behind but no sign of the driver. Anyway, got talking to a tanker driver from Widnes and we decided to walk back up the road towards the dock to see if there was a pub which there was ! All I can remember is that the barmaid was called Betty ! I remember coming out of there hammered. I was booked on the boat for 7am and also forgot about the local time difference to my ‘English’ clock ! Needless to say I missed the boat, the drive from Dover to Manchester later the next day was a drive I never want to repeat. Talk about a hangover haha. Anyone else with stories ?
That draught beer in Zeebrugge was pure evil, you could lose a weekend on it. I have lost several. Primus 33 was a lot more driver friendly
Barcelona was a good (better) night before they ‘cleaned it up’ ahead of the 92 'Olympics - park down the docks, short stroll to the Ramblas - Kentucky Bar and Loch Ness, fantastic crack! Maybe an excursion later with 4 or 5 to somebody’s unit to annoy the bonfire ‘girls’ up behind the University
East side of Milan, somewhere between Agrate and Liscate(?), where the Danzas warehouse was(is) anyway.
I met a couple of Finnish drivers subbing for Schenker. I was invited to accompany them to the pizzeria as I’d helped one of them out. It was a bit too early to eat just then, so we went to a bar for a few beers first. Then had our pizzas, sharing a bottle of wine between us, then another bottle, then another one. Then we obviously went back to the bar for the cafe-amarettos, as you do , and a few more beers. We finished off the evening in one of the Finns cabs sharing a bottle of aquavit, it has to be done, as you well know.
I met one of them the next evening in the cafe bar at Campo’, when I went in there for my cafe-amaretto. We both commiserated with each other over the condition of our heads and had a good laugh at his mates expense because he’d been too ■■■■■■ to get his days work done. Morning after drunk driving? In Italy ? Don’t be stupid, we would never do something like that (wearing shades man )
It would have been late 90s early 00s for me too Chillistrucker. Had some great laughs there during those days. All I can say is it was good job the oranges I didn’t load until the evening.
Im not surprised to hear that the place isn’t as thriving today. I would imagine that the dominant forces in today’s European haulage wouldn’t be spending their euros either up or down stairs.
Simon:
East side of Milan, somewhere between Agrate and Liscate(?), where the Danzas warehouse was(is) anyway.
I met a couple of Finnish drivers subbing for Schenker. I was invited to accompany them to the pizzeria as I’d helped one of them out. It was a bit too early to eat just then, so we went to a bar for a few beers first. Then had our pizzas, sharing a bottle of wine between us, then another bottle, then another one. Then we obviously went back to the bar for the cafe-amarettos, as you do , and a few more beers. We finished off the evening in one of the Finns cabs sharing a bottle of aquavit, it has to be done, as you well know.
I met one of them the next evening in the cafe bar at Campo’, when I went in there for my cafe-amaretto. We both commiserated with each other over the condition of our heads and had a good laugh at his mates expense because he’d been too ■■■■■■ to get his days work done. Morning after drunk driving? In Italy ? Don’t be stupid, we would never do something like that (wearing shades man )
Had a few nights with Finnish drivers when we used to use the northern German ports a lot. All I can say is them men can drink.
neilf:
It would have been late 90s early 00s for me too Chillistrucker. Had some great laughs there during those days. All I can say is it was good job the oranges I didn’t load until the evening.
Im not surprised to hear that the place isn’t as thriving today. I would imagine that the dominant forces in today’s European haulage wouldn’t be spending their euros either up or down stairs.
Cheers
Neilf
you’ve hit the nail on the head mate.
when i stopped a couple of years back, i knew i’d be good there for a good meal and a few beers. i pulled in, and the big flashy shower block they had built a few years back, was in a right state, it was a real shame, showers were unusable.
it was red hot too, so i really fancied a shower before dinner. had a chat with the bloke behind the bar, and he said a shower was no problem. took me over to a set of glass doors, opened them up, and shouted something up the stairs, a cleaner appeared and beckoned me up, as i reached the top of the stairs the penny dropped where i was
the cleaner took me to a room, and pointed out where the bathroom/shower was. to be honest, it was spotlessly clean, just glad i had my flipflops with me.
. Then it was off down slammer street, a free tequila slammer in every bar as you entered. Jesus we got in some messes but it was great fun.
