When I was on with Cantabrica, I think the company was Drivers Abroad that used to take us off at Montpellier or Perpignan Nord?
It certainly was good days, especially when you had eight or nine coaches on departure day, and two or three coaches ended up at the same resort. We all had some good times during those nine hours off in Port Grimaud, or Perpignan when we used to take the bottom end driver’s car (with his permission) down to the beach.
toby1234abc:
It has been known for a driver to swap seats while the coach was in motion.
My Dad saw them swapping seats in the middle of the night when the passengers were asleep.
Some coaches have a drivers compartment that is not in view from passengers or there is a curtain obscuring driver swaps.
If the coach stopped to change driving seats,it would wake up the passengers.
The trick is to get in position with the foot on the accelerator being the first and last contact while swapping.Both hold the wheel in the swap.
Before digis and slacker control checks on tachos.double teams of truckers did the same.Husband and wife teams.
To be fair that rarely happened. Driver on those runs do 4 or so hour stints, so you needed to stop to swap tachos. And yes, most of them on that work had a bunk, not the most comfortable of things, but better than nothing, unless you didn’t trust the driver then you spent the whole time awake in the courier seat
switchlogic:
toby1234abc:
It has been known for a driver to swap seats while the coach was in motion.
My Dad saw them swapping seats in the middle of the night when the passengers were asleep.
Some coaches have a drivers compartment that is not in view from passengers or there is a curtain obscuring driver swaps.
If the coach stopped to change driving seats,it would wake up the passengers.
The trick is to get in position with the foot on the accelerator being the first and last contact while swapping.Both hold the wheel in the swap.
Before digis and slacker control checks on tachos.double teams of truckers did the same.Husband and wife teams.To be fair that rarely happened. Driver on those runs do 4 or so hour stints, so you needed to stop to swap tachos. And yes, most of them on that work had a bunk, not the most comfortable of things, but better than nothing, unless you didn’t trust the driver then you spent the whole time awake in the courier seat
In 1982, I travelled as a passenger with a bunch of other students, on a coach from London to Athens
It was a British coach that took us down to Dover at 6pm. Then, we travelled as foot passenger to Zeebrugge on Townsend Thoreson (hey, it might even have been the Herald?) arriving in the early hours, where an elderly Mercedes 303 Greek coach was waiting in the port. The two swarthy Greek drivers loaded the luggage, and then one reached under the driver’s seat and pulled out a Machete, waved it at all of us, and shouted “Any trouble, and you get this. Okay■■?”
Nice welcome 
We then drove half an hour down the road before they pulled up outside an all night bar. They switched the lights off, went inside the bar, and we all watched through the window as the two drivers had a couple of beers. They then got back on the coach, and we set off through the night, travelling through Belgium and France. When they got tired, they just swapped seats while the coach was moving as already described by Toby, in full view of us. They weren’t bothered, and one would kip on the back seat of the coach.
We eventually got to Basle, and were supposed to go from France to Switzerland, but they took the wrong turning and we ended up in Germany by mistake. We spent ten minutes in Germany before turning around and going back into France, and then into Switzerland. We made it through Switzerland without incident and then into Italy. We dropped some people in Milan, and then headed down to Rome. On the way, we had a high speed blow out on the inner rear tyre. We all stood on the embankment of the autostrada while the two drivers pulled out the tools and changed the wheel.
We made it down to a small Italian port called Otranto on the heel of Italy, from where we were to catch the ferry to Corfu, and then continue on the same boat to Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland. It was only a small ferry, much smaller than the ones that run from Brindisi. There was only space left for one coach on the ferry and there was a French coach on the dockside already. It was a double booking. The French and Greek coach drivers decided to try and resolve the ‘impasse’ by brawling on the dockside. Finally, it was resolved by the ships crew squeezing both coaches on board with a lot of shouting and gesticulating, leaving our coach chained on the open car deck with just inches to spare between the rear bumper and the stern door
It was then an all night sailing to Corfu, and then most of the day sailing and driving to finally reach Athens late evening. I think the whole journey from London to Athens took three days and three nights, and the two Greek drivers drove non stop from Zeebrugge to Athens, with only short breaks for us to stretch our legs every few hours.
I have to say, it was quite an entertaining trip, and the two Greek drivers were quite expert at swapping seats while driving at speed, and driving for three days in one hit, with not a tachograph in sight. Needless to say, I decided to fly back from Athens. Didn’t really want to trust my luck a second time on a Greek coach !
citycat:
When I was on with Cantabrica, I think the company was Drivers Abroad that used to take us off at Montpellier or Perpignan Nord?It certainly was good days, especially when you had eight or nine coaches on departure day, and two or three coaches ended up at the same resort. We all had some good times during those nine hours off in Port Grimaud, or Perpignan when we used to take the bottom end driver’s car (with his permission) down to the beach.
Thats them! Looks like John Delaney. Quality pics there. I only did one Perpignan hotel stay, it was normally Italy for me or occasionally Port Grim or Estartit.
One of the lads fell asleep on his front on the beach at Port Grim, he was in agony, his mate drove it all the way home while he cried in the bunk!
The J reg`s had gone by the time i got there. K700 was my allocated motor but i only drove it once, started on K999, onto L7 and then onto the 340 horse M9.
Happy Days indeed.
A coach driver who worked for a large firm on long distance all over Europe,told me some drivers burn out or have mental breakdowns due to years of doing nights.
Most were heavy smokers and drank lots of coffee.
That Greek trip sounded a blast.As said,tacho checks were non existent years ago.
jon boy 100:
milodon:
two drivers from st. petersburg to munich, 7 hours off in munich, back towards st. petersburg. that’s how ecolines.net do it, according to a report by a newspaper a few months agoThe minimum rest on 2 man work used to be 8 hours, not sure if that`s changed.
yes it’s nine now 21 hours + 9 = thirty! 
jon boy 100:
In my day it was 22 hours too.
with 8 hours off = 30 hours too! 
switchlogic:
unless you didn’t trust the driver then you spent the whole time awake in the courier seat
This…
Nightmare if you have a long run with an idiot, and the crew seat is in the most vulnerbale position.
Other crew seat woes are that it often doesnt adjust and getting your legs / feet comfy is a nightmare.
Luckily on the work I did, when I needed a second man, they joined me, and I made sure I maxed my driving time and chose which bits they would drive. I’m not bothered about admitting I am a bad passenger generally mind!
zippy!:
switchlogic:
unless you didn’t trust the driver then you spent the whole time awake in the courier seatThis…
Nightmare if you have a long run with an idiot, and the crew seat is in the most vulnerbale position.
Other crew seat woes are that it often doesnt adjust and getting your legs / feet comfy is a nightmare.
Luckily on the work I did, when I needed a second man, they joined me, and I made sure I maxed my driving time and chose which bits they would drive. I’m not bothered about admitting I am a bad passenger generally mind!
Yeah, had a few idots over the years too, i remember one job were the tool was right up behind a car transporter, “Any closer and that car will be on my ■■■■■■■ lap” i barked at him!
we ran a fair few multi coach jobs when they were newbie`s were just instructed to follow the coach in front to allow you to crash in the bunk.
Fatboy slimslow:
jon boy 100:
milodon:
two drivers from st. petersburg to munich, 7 hours off in munich, back towards st. petersburg. that’s how ecolines.net do it, according to a report by a newspaper a few months agoThe minimum rest on 2 man work used to be 8 hours, not sure if that`s changed.
yes it’s nine now 21 hours + 9 = thirty!
jon boy 100:
In my day it was 22 hours too.with 8 hours off = 30 hours too!
Ta, bit out of touch with drivers hours these days.
citycat:
Heading down to the sun !
Nice pics citycat, If i get chance i`ll stick some of mine up tomorrow.
I still have my Club tie too.
jon boy 100:
zippy!:
switchlogic:
unless you didn’t trust the driver then you spent the whole time awake in the courier seatThis…
Nightmare if you have a long run with an idiot, and the crew seat is in the most vulnerbale position.
Other crew seat woes are that it often doesnt adjust and getting your legs / feet comfy is a nightmare.
Luckily on the work I did, when I needed a second man, they joined me, and I made sure I maxed my driving time and chose which bits they would drive. I’m not bothered about admitting I am a bad passenger generally mind!
Yeah, had a few idots over the years too, i remember one job were the tool was right up behind a car transporter, “Any closer and that car will be on my [zb] lap” i barked at him!
we ran a fair few multi coach jobs when they were newbie`s were just instructed to follow the coach in front to allow you to crash in the bunk.
Yep tailgaters, the worst.
Also you always seem to judge when they are getting tired.
And then there are loads of drivers who have been everywhere, done everything and driven more miles in reverse than you have forward. You knew that was going to be a ■■■■ trip. Funny that they were often the ones that ended up in the crap for one reason or another.
jon boy 100:
citycat:
Heading down to the sun !Nice pics citycat, If i get chance i`ll stick some of mine up tomorrow.
I still have my Club tie too.
Just a few more photos for you.
This is journeys end at Castell Montgri, Estartit, Spain. The one Spanish resort that a two man team could reach in their driving hours without a bottom end driver.
Those were the days ! Pity the low cost airlines brought it all to an end. For Cantabrica anyway 
Top photos again citycat, didnt have time yesterday but i will upload them later this evening.
We stayed in the Itaca apartments while at Estartit, also in my 2nd spell i did a Estartit and Calella de palafrugell run (ok i admit i whipped the tacho out at Castll Montgri). When we got to Calella, the resort rep had all the punters lined up and told me i was taking the passengers straight back and she wasnt giving us a van to kip in. "If havent got a van in 5 mins ill be ringing Dave Stuart up, and while your at it get the passengers ready for an xxxx departure, ive just driven from England and not about to waste any further time" She knew we had brought it all the way but thought she could just get rid of us, that was the only time i had any grieve at Club.
While i am reminiscing about happy days, i`d also like to reflect on a sad occasion when one of my former hostesses lost her life after the coach rolled over in Germany, it also affected 2 of my friends, one whose coach was driving the lead coach in front and the other whose was in the bunk at the time of the accident and was badly affected by the whole incident.
R.I.P Rosie Nolan. Gone but not forgotten.
Outside our old house, L10 and Mick visits for the night  Paris tour with M9  M8 Estartit  L7 Danny Sebino services  The tent at Lago diso
M8 Port Grim, soon be time for the beach
Time to relax at Bellinzona
The shuttle boys having breakfast
Rolling off the K`s Northern France
citycat:
Those were the days ! Pity the low cost airlines brought it all to an end. For Cantabrica anyway
Indeed it did, it did for Shearings too, i left Macfarlane`s in July 2002 to get a job at Asda, i had about 6 weeks free so i rang up Shearings to see if i could do Shuttles till my new job started and they were hardly running any then and i believe they have fully stopped.
I spent my time back at Cantabrica again, but things were slowing down for them too.
Still have both 98/02 Brochures from Club too, one of the companys i watched as a small boy and always had on my “to work for” list.
We have used Siesta for holidays 3 times in the past and found them very good, never fancied working for them though.
What years did you work for Club citycat?
Hey, is that ‘upside down head’ outside the tent in Italy? Completely forgotten his name though we worked together many times. He was the one in the bunk when Rosie lost her life, wasn’t he? Poor Rosie
Worked with Danny a few times. He was a school teacher.
Port Grimaud was always my favorite. Nice short trip with the Paris tour included, picturesque run along the coast from Saint Maxime to the site, pleasant resort staff who loved it when I brought them the English newspapers. We sometimes hired one of the pedalos to go out into the bay for a couple of hours for our sunbathing session.
Yeah, great times no more
citycat:
Hey, is that ‘upside down head’ outside the tent in Italy? Completely forgotten his name though we worked together many times. He was the one in the bunk when Rosie lost her life, wasn’t he? Poor RosieWorked with Danny a few times. He was a school teacher.
Port Grimaud was always my favorite. Nice short trip with the Paris tour included, picturesque run along the coast from Saint Maxime to the site, pleasant resort staff who loved it when I brought them the English newspapers. We sometimes hired one of the pedalos to go out into the bay for a couple of hours for our sunbathing session.
Yeah, great times no more
Yeah, its Adrian Boorman. Indeed he was badly affected by the incident. I worked my first shuttle with him, and drove the 2nd Italy coach for most of that season, a bit slow but his heart is in the right place. I bumped into him a few years ago and im still in touch via facebook. He was also a school teacher and i used to drive his coach (M8) when he wasnt there. Danny was my number 2, which was unreal has he had a shed load of experience. He used to pick up the videos, travel money etc while i traveled down from Yorkshire. He wouldnt take the number 1 gig despite me saying he deserved it, it did make life very easy having Danny along. Shame he only did a few shuttles.
I loved Port Grim too, a lot tried to get out of doing the Paris tour but i always loved that bit as well. I have a photo of the beach somewhere and the pool and lake at d`iso but i cant find them at the moment.
Adrian Boorman, of course. Amazed I forgot his name.
Regarding, the number one driver gig. I never wanted it either and the responsibility that went with it. Just wanted to be number two and drive. However, sometimes I had no choice but to be number one because I was known as a calm driver so the office always put the agency guys or newbies with me. Lost count of the number of times I had to babysit a driver. I would normally put him in the seat down to Dover while I did the passenger list for the ferry. However, I was also keeping a discreet eye on the new guy’s driving, and could normally tell within the first half hour whether it was going to be a good trip or not? I personally took pride in driving the coach as smoothly as I could. Gentle acceleration and braking, and try not to let the passengers feel a single gear change. Especially with a steward or stewardess at the back serving hot drinks. The number of drivers though that just could not drive the coach smoothly 
Three memorable ones :
The first was the driver going down the M25 like a lunatic, tailgating cars and lorries, swerving from one lane to another, and stamping on the brake, throwing the hostess all over the back of the coach. I had to have a serious word with him down at Dover, before we even got on the ferry !
The second one. I took the coach from Calais to Paris, and did the Paris tour, driving and doing the spiel at the same time. He then took over driving from the Eiffel Tower and we got back onto the autoroute, stopping briefly at the services for a toilet break and leg stretch. While we stopped, I carefully told him how to get to our diesel stop at the BP truckstop at Macon Nord and to get me out of the bunk there. I asked him if he fully understood the directions and he said yes. I went down to the bunk and fell asleep. Next thing I know, the phone goes and he says “time to change over”. I go up top and look around. We’re at the peage just before Lyon.
“FFS, what happened to Macon Nord?” “Oh”, he says, “I think I missed the turn off so I carried on”. Bleedin’ hell, I look at the gauge and it’s well below the quarter.
I climbed into the seat and then he goes “right I’m off to bed now”. The cheeky little bleeder ! Misses the fuel stop, leaving us low on fuel, and now bleedin’ leaves me to sort it out. I had to drive through Lyon and then eventually stop at a Total services down the road and use my own credit card to put some fuel in until we could find another BP.
The third driver on the the way to Dover, proudly boasts that he’s done all of Europe, knows it like the back of his hand, and had got not just one, but two tee shirts.
Ok then, took him at his word. We were on a Port Grimaud (near St Tropez) shuttle, pretty simple you’d think. I got it down to Macon and he would take it to the breakfast stop. I actually checked he knew about the Orange split for the two autoroutes (one goes to Nice and the other goes towards Spain) and that he knew which way to go? He scoffed and said “of course”. I went to bed and fell asleep. Next thing I know, the phone goes. The coach is silent with the engine turned off and there is a scuffing noise above me of restless passengers moving their feet. I answered the bunk phone.
“Can you come up, I’m a bit lost” he says. I go up top and look out the window. We are in an industrial looking area, and there is a bright neon sign in the dawn light with the words ‘Gare Maritime de Marseille’ brightly illuminated. FFS ! We’re at the bleedin’ 'Marseille ferry port. How the **** did we land up here■■?
“Yeah”, he says. “I followed the sign for Marseille and got a bit mixed up when I lost the autoroute. I thought I’d better follow the signs for the port and try from there”
If any of you know the Provence region, you’ll know that he took the correct turning at the Orange split, and then later there is another split with Marseille one way, and Nice the other way. Marseille is way off route for the direction to Nice, and it’s far from easy to back track. You have to go right through Marseille city and head towards Aubagne, and then head down some back roads to the A8 autoroute, or continue towards Toulon and head up that way. Suffice to say, he added about two hours or more to the trip and we had to find our way with maps as sat nav wasn’t then available . So much for him knowing Europe like the ‘back of his hand’ !!!
I have to say though, he wasn’t the only driver to end up in Marseille. A few other drivers ended up there as well over the years.
However, despite problems with certain drivers, the Cantabrica years were some of the best of my life. The sun, the beaches, the swimming pools, the banter, the drivers and their 'individual characters, the laughs and the practical jokes. It was all like a paid holiday twice a week, with just a bit of driving involved. I know some truck drivers are adamant that they’d never want to drive a coach or have a live cargo. I respect your views, but all I can say is, you missed a lot of fun times if you never drove a coach, especially on holiday shuttles down to the Med ! Would I do it all again?? You bet I would 
Just a quck word on practical jokes. On our earlier coaches, the entrance to the bunk was just next to the courier seat. It always amused me to sneak out of the bunk towards the courier seat, and suddenly grab the hostess’s ankle as she sat there, making her scream, and then I’d quickly climb back into the bunk before she whacked me.
Another one was, before we left the yard, I’d tape one of them ■■■■ machines underneath a passenger seat about three rows back. The ■■■■ machine had an infared remote. Then, as I was driving, I’d watch in the mirror behind my sunglasses as I activated it occasionally, and try not to laugh as the passengers looked at each other, trying to work out who the ‘phantom farter’ was? Stupid, I know, but it helped to pass the time 
