jmc jnr:
I was based in Jeddah in Medina North, sub-contracted to Raytheon on the Anti-Aircraft missile base buried in the spit.
Ratheon lent us a nissan pick-up and we went paddling in the creek one Friday. Caught an Octopus! They were building
the new international airport (1978) at the time and were burying the old airliners at the first with caterpillars.
After that job I flew to Doha via Dahahran and spent 5 months on Qatar National theatre. Big changes now. Jim.
The old airport was as I remember, not actually far from the centre of Jeddah. It was used as a military and civilian airport.
While I was there an airport employee was going past a line of fighters (don’t know what type) and decided to do a couple of ‘pull ups’ on the long spike protruding from the nose cone. He then realised he’d bent the spike down.
To cover his tracks, he did the same with the other 5 aeroplanes lined up! It was in the Saudi Gazette that the damage was several million riyals!
The airport was by 1976 surrounded by the city. You could stand at the fence perhaps twenty feet from the runway. To stand there when the military jets were doing circuits and bumps with the reheat on was the experience of a lifetime. It may also have contributed to my current deafness. It wasn’t so much a sound as a feeling!
Spencer Tart watercolours and line drawings from Saudi.
Baiya Square
Gabel Souk
Hubbly Bubbly pipe smokers in Al Khobar
I used to have another drawing of the donkey drawn water carts that can be seen in the painting of Baiya Square. But my wife didn’t like it and gave it away to an American relative.
Apologies for the quality - as a photographer I make a good truck driver!
Wirlinmerlin:
From the pen of Ron Hawkins.
Entitled:
British and Proud!
I was there when the Queen ( not Freddy!) visited Damman in the royal yacht Britannia The port road in Dammam had a shanty town stretching from the port all the way down, nearly to the traffic lights on the Khobar road. It was a sorry state. To hide this from H R H’s eyes the king of SA ordered that a 6 ft tall wall be built down this road in double quick time !! While the queen was being lavishly treated by King the royal yacht Britannia sailed round to Jeddah but I don’t think HRH came to Jeddah (■■?) Maybe they didn’t have enough breeze blocks!!
Well, Britannia docked in the Port and John Davies got a couple of passes for a show that the Royal Marines were putting on. Britannia was lit up and looked Fantastic!! The Marines were in dress uniform with their white safari hats on and standing against the back cloth of the blue and gold Britannia it really was great to be British. The night was hot and the Tattoo was fantastic as they marched up and down on a brand new strip of Tarmac! JD and I were right next to them. The Band and marching was something never to be forgotten.
The Saudi Guards!! Not a patch on our lads. They just Just slouched away out of sight of the search lights. We felt very proud.
G Spanner Stories. P/s Here are couple of photos My Mate. Gogy RIP
Yes I remember Britannia coming to Jeddah afterwards - no Queen though, it was a PR exercise for the British Embassy. I remember going to watch the Tatto - very emotional - when you looked at our lads against the local police etc some who had not even fastened there shoe laces and were picking there noses!! It made you really proud to be British
Gogy. RIP. Did not know. He was a great guy full of character and confidence a bloody good driver and throughly good man
Ken broster
John West:
Spencer Tart watercolours and line drawings from Saudi.
Baiya Square
Gabel Souk
Hubbly Bubbly pipe smokers in Al Khobar
I used to have another drawing of the donkey drawn water carts that can be seen in the painting of Baiya Square. But my wife didn’t like it and gave it away to an American relative.
Apologies for the quality - as a photographer I make a good truck driver!
John
2
1
0
Your pictures are really interesting
The Binzagr family were our partners and one one family a female called Safeya Binzagr was a very good artist and I have a number of her pictures of the souk area - I am hoping they will become valuable one day!!! Ha ha. Look her up on the Internet - at least she is one Saudi woman who has made a difference and done something with her life
But there again the Binzagr family were very Liberal and outward facing
Wirlinmerlin:
A story from the pen of Ron Hawkins.
Entitled-
Good Lads, good memories.
Binzagers container ship had just docked and Trans Arabia had to off load the full containers and then reload with the empty ones, none stop for 48 hours! We were all parked up on the dock waiting for the ship to be cleared by the Customs so we could start. I distinctly remember Jonnie Mathews siting on the bonnet of his MAC with his back against the screen. This was about 1800 hours on a very warm night . His yellow side lights on ether side on the cab roof were on and he was playing his country and western 8 track tape. We all were looking up at the crumpet on the ships bridge who ocasionally gave us a wave. This was a magical scene and will remain in my memory for ever.
Whilst we were working on the off loading there was another company using 6 wheeled Mercs to off load the containers on another ship some of which were coming off on the sharp turns in the port road. The Merc drivers looked puzzled as we zipped round them, smiling to our selves. They did not know that we had twist locks! When at last they caught on, they started putting chains and stretchers round the middle of the 40 foot containers, locking them down so tight they looked like crisp packets pulled ino the middle! I don’t remember how many boxes but it was at least 2000 !! It was a massive ship ! KB. will know. Jonnie Mathews was a great kid . Here he is in the middle with John left and Taffie Bill right. He had a very dry sense of humour. I liked him a lot. RIP. The lads by The MACS are Toni T, Ginger Taylor, my mate Mathews and Taffie Bill RIP. The best band of brother Truckers in S / A. G spanner Stories.
Oh this is not a good morning RIP - Goggi and Taffi Bill. Very sad - they were good blokes and well as very professional and well abled drivers
The Binzagr container ship would have been the Barber Line Roll on Roll off ships that circumnavigated the globe every 3 to 4 months. 2000 containers sounds a bit big as these ships were a mixture of containers and roll on and off cargo
You weren’t there when we did our first bulk movements of containers into the port. Before I went to Jeddah I had a very good relationship with a number of container companies, one being Maintainer, the UK had passed my name onto their Jeddah ops man - he asked me to meet him in a hotel just off the souk and requested that we move a large number of containers from a yard into the port that night, a rare was agreed and I returned to Villa Trans Arabia to find that the boys were in bed - so I had to raise them!! Right boys job on - most thought I was having them on, so some turn out in night cloths!! 3 hrs
After they were still in them - they did not take me lightly in future.
The rub came when I presented the bill to the guy who then demanded a 25percent kick back, needless to say he did not get it nor did we did any more for him.
The story of the eternal ex pat.
There but for the grace of god, the power of compound interest, the size of end of contract bonus and the pull of the English rose…go I!
We probably all know of one or two who fell into the trap. I’ve just been talking on the telephone to Jerry Cook. He tells me that the Fillipino driver from 1983 , Nelson, is still out there!!
Enjoy the story below and thank goodness you escaped without too much psychological damage.
Wirlinmerlin:
The story of the eternal ex pat.
There but for the grace of god, the power of compound interest, the size of end of contract bonus and the pull of the English rose…go I!
We probably all know of one or two who fell into the trap. I’ve just been talking on the telephone to Jerry Cook. He tells me that the Fillipino driver from 1983 , Nelson, is still out there!!
Enjoy the story below and thank goodness you escaped without too much psychological damage.
Nelson has been there longer - 1978. Also the young Philipino traffic lad (Dante Ferre) I took on is also still there - 32 years
The Trans Arabia lads looked good in the sailing dingy at SARAMAT we did,nt have such luxuries …just a table tennis set up and a couple of dart boards …but we did have a couple of ships though …took part in unloading lots of times that was just like playtime ■■?
backsplice:
01The Trans Arabia lads looked good in the sailing dingy at SARAMAT we did,nt have such luxuries …just a table tennis set up and a couple of dart boards …but we did have a couple of ships though …took part in unloading lots of times that was just like playtime ■■?
Hi
To be fair the drivers found the boat and refurbished it and made a bloody good job of it - having said that I am not sure what finally happened to it.
I met a depot manager from Saramat - Ian Herert on a number of occasions
One job going out along the Christian By pass during the Hajj I could see tipper trucks , tipping full loads of dead sheep and other animals in piles everywhere! I realised this was the result of the huge numbers of sacrifices at Mecca. I though what a waste! And why do it on our Strip!! But then we where the foreigners! No wonder there were flies on the flies ?
Another time approaching Tief mountain late afternoon I could see lightening flashes all over the top of the mountain. I thought bloody hell that’s where I am heading? Well, getting to the bottom of the mountain it was raining hard. Driving up there were boulders scattered on the road. The rain was torrential. I was heading towards khamis but it was undriveable with accidents all over the place. I parked up and tried to get some sleep . The noise on the roof was deafening and almost like the end of the world.
I woke early and the rain had stopped. Driving on, the sights were chaotic with big boulders all over the place and parts of the road washed away by water falls and rivers which had appeared from nowhere. It was something I had not seen before in this normally dry and barren land.
Hear are a couple of photos. Top man John Davies alongside Copie. Another showing KB saying, “I only just paid for that air con to be gassed up!!” Another of me saying, “The Chicken’s cooked.”
Wirlinmerlin:
Memorable trips out.
From the pen of Ron Hawkins.
One job going out along the Christian By pass during the Hajj I could see tipper trucks , tipping full loads of dead sheep and other animals in piles everywhere! I realised this was the result of the huge numbers of sacrifices at Mecca. I though what a waste! And why do it on our Strip!! But then we where the foreigners! No wonder there were flies on the flies ?
Another time approaching Tief mountain late afternoon I could see lightening flashes all over the top of the mountain. I thought bloody hell that’s where I am heading? Well, getting to the bottom of the mountain it was raining hard. Driving up there were boulders scattered on the road. The rain was torrential. I was heading towards khamis but it was undriveable with accidents all over the place. I parked up and tried to get some sleep . The noise on the roof was deafening and almost like the end of the world.
I woke early and the rain had stopped. Driving on, the sights were chaotic with big boulders all over the place and parts of the road washed away by water falls and rivers which had appeared from nowhere. It was something I had not seen before in this normally dry and barren land.
Hear are a couple of photos. Top man John Davies alongside Copie. Another showing KB saying, “I only just paid for that air con to be gassed up!!” Another of me saying, “The Chicken’s cooked.”
Well Ron you certainly have some good pictures with stories to them
I really cannot remember the incident of truck on side!! Fill me in with the details: who and where etc
I see Scouse written on one truck that you are looking into the engine bay - another sump full of piston and conrod pieces?? Who was Scouse? Obviously from Liverpool
Keep them coming - will have to get mine out of the cupboard
I’ve just popped that pic of the ERF on it’s side on the ‘ERF European 1975’ thread, along with a couple more pics of it that Mick Jones sent me. I’ll bet Jerry remembers which one it was! Robert
EDIT: Jerry Cooke rang me this morning and it was Trans Arabia No. 110. Robert
All great stuff these stories …we all have several memories of things that we had to do and pickles we found ourselves in and had to get out of …no roadside phone boxes there …I would like to relay one of my pickles …
Picture this 3 SARAMAT F89.,s pulling 40’ tilts loaded ( very heavy ) with diesel generators for MEDINA D/E power station me and another Scot and a Greek . We came to the Christian by-pass but route instructions said head to MEDINA so proceeded cautiously past the first sign NO ENTRY TO NON MUSLIMS !!! no sign of any Power station …conflab ok a wee bit further all the time bearing in mind stories of Christians disappearing for ignoring the warnings …next sign No2 same message … conflab …no sightings of religious police ok a wee bit further well anyway after the third sign we found a road leading down into this deep valley and there it was but the temp was about 50 degrees and no shade start stripping the tilts in that heat we soon exhausted our drinking water …and now we had to wait for a big mobile crane driven by another European (had the same trouble as us getting there ) saved by an official took us into a deep, cave and pointed to the spring water running and got us to fill our containers it was what they called sweet water very pure anyway we eventually unloaded but did,nt reassemble the tilts everything was bundled in a tidy heap and strapped down
was glad to leave and head back to Jeddah… the other pic is back at Jeddah on the beach up the coast a wee bit passed the embassies I think…me on left
Going down town on a Friday with the lads , it just so different , I remember sitting at a table having Shi, with Taffie Bill Jonnie Mathews next to the locals smoking there hubbly bubbly pipes. Watching the. Guinness bottles go by ,beggars trying to get blood out of a stone■■? One young girl about 5 or 6 pinching my arm so tight and twisting the soft skin this really hurt until I gave her 5 rats ? ,The money exchange ally , with unbelievable amounts of money stacked up on tables I mean unbelievable?? this is out side in the ally’s with Bars of Gold holding down The stacks of Queen Elizabeth’s King Fiezals U/S Dollars and every other Foreign currency. that you could think of ? Trying to get the best rate ,for our Hard earned Micky Mouse money ?calling in at the Gold Suke bying trinkets for our Girls back home ? Great Days’ The football matches we went to Spectacular scenes every body in white with fan belts on the clapping in a rhythmic way ? Another time at the Damman stadium sitting in a Leather arm chair With The Top Saudis bing served With Shi , by waiters with white gloves can you be leave it ? Kevin Keegan and LFC Out playing there top team This was when I worked for GCC As there ■■■■■■■ engineer ? now that’s a Story ■■? I would like to tell ■■? Working for GCC I was called upon to Commission The two ■■■■■■■ Gen sets in The KSA Bunker at the Royal Air. Base Damman ? getting Special passes to get into the Base .iwent with GM Roy Oakhill to start up there two Gen sets ■■? The bunker was under the Desert ?to get in ? Through two walls of reinforcing concrete Each one 1mt thick Doors that where like Submarine with wheel steel locks on ? I thought this is something els ? getting to the engine room this is about 100ftsq x50ft ht just off the main. Corridor with two Massive doors .There sitting side by side are Two brand new ■■■■■■■ VTA. V12 Gen sets ? very impressed Checking over ? Ånd connecting the batteries Twin Starters ! I primed up the fuel RO said we will start up tomorrow every thing was the best that money could by the radiators had giant fans 8 ft !!di ? Driven from the front with pulleys with guards round Next Day start up? Now these engines come On line. Almost. Immediately full Bore 2100rp When you press the button. RO said ok Ron Start up?! I pressed the Start They just Roared into life it was Deafening and it felt frightening Bloody hell i felt the fans pulling me in ??good job they had Guards round I did not feel right ■■ Then I noticed the massive Doors were buckling ■■? I shut them down ?well. The noise gradually got back to normality the Fans slowing down RO said what did you shut down for ■■ I said the Doors .are buckle ing ■■?He said Start up ■■? you could not hear your self think OK re started I pointed to the Doors He jested to open them ■■ Tried And he tried We could not open ■■? they where sucked tight ■■? There was a big Problem with the air? flow ? And I shut them down again? It was obviously a design fault. With the build ? Reporting to the Saudis they called a meeting with the Top Brass The U S A airforce top and the Saudi top ,■■?sitting round the Board room with these big chiefs there was a lot of talking ■■? But no answers ? Then I stood up and put My Hand across my mouth ■■ And tried. To Breath through my Tight Fingers ■■?
They Got The Message G Spanner Stories
Ps I’ left before the bombs started falling
This job was very demand ing with a virtual conveyor belt of ■■■■■■■ engines of every size coming in from the Oil Fields that had to be over hauled in Double quick. time
See photos of good hard working Men. Ron & the Lads Blood Sweat &Tears
These men where recruited By KB from an outfit just up the Mandeana rd Allen & Mack ? The former had bushy eye brows and a. Mop of black curly hair He reminded me of the Drummer out of the Muppets?? He was obviously attracted to An unveiled lady who hung out her washing on her balcony Just across the Rd from the. Trailer Park ■■? Right next to our workshop Container You can see this in the background Well I when’t round to start work With ?JD ?/JC?? Early one morning. And an Arab man ■■?Drove his Toyota jeep Straight at us. He was Crazy I mean really Crazy He was trying to brake down the fence with one off the fence posts in the middle of his Radiator He kept reversing and bashing at the fence. THE Bloke was out of his mind ■■?we did not know who he was? ■■ we tried telling him we don’t service Forein rubbish ■■ And there is a gate round there■■? The next thing we new was the trailer park was closed down ■■?It transpired that this bloke was the local Chief of this area and had got some pull ■■?and had found out about The Drummer ■■?the bloke with the Bushy eye brows Thinking about him now he was attractive in a funny sought of way■■? there was Hell to play about this ■■?KB don’t blame me ■■ I am innocent this time? The same driver the Drummer ■■ Tipped his truck over going up to the north creek turning sharp left I. Just had time. To grease the prop shaft before it got back UP !!!
ronhawk:
Going down town on a Friday with the lads , it just so different , I remember sitting at a table having Shi, with Taffie Bill Jonnie Mathews next to the locals smoking there hubbly bubbly pipes. Watching the. Guinness bottles go by ,beggars trying to get blood out of a stone■■? One young girl about 5 or 6 pinching my arm so tight and twisting the soft skin this really hurt until I gave her 5 rats ? ,The money exchange ally , with unbelievable amounts of money stacked up on tables I mean unbelievable?? this is out side in the ally’s with Bars of Gold holding down The stacks of Queen Elizabeth’s King Fiezals U/S Dollars and every other Foreign currency. that you could think of ? Trying to get the best rate ,for our Hard earned Micky Mouse money ?calling in at the Gold Suke bying trinkets for our Girls back home ? Great Days’ The football matches we went to Spectacular scenes every body in white with fan belts on the clapping in a rhythmic way ? Another time at the Damman stadium sitting in a Leather arm chair With The Top Saudis bing served With Shi , by waiters with white gloves can you be leave it ? Kevin Keegan and LFC Out playing there top team This was when I worked for GCC As there ■■■■■■■ engineer ? now that’s a Story ■■? I would like to tell ■■? Working for GCC I was called upon to Commission The two ■■■■■■■ Gen sets in The KSA Bunker at the Royal Air. Base Damman ? getting Special passes to get into the Base .iwent with GM Roy Oakhill to start up there two Gen sets ■■? The bunker was under the Desert ?to get in ? Through two walls of reinforcing concrete Each one 1mt thick Doors that where like Submarine with wheel steel locks on ? I thought this is something els ? getting to the engine room this is about 100ftsq x50ft ht just off the main. Corridor with two Massive doors .There sitting side by side are Two brand new ■■■■■■■ VTA. V12 Gen sets ? very impressed Checking over ? Ånd connecting the batteries Twin Starters ! I primed up the fuel RO said we will start up tomorrow every thing was the best that money could by the radiators had giant fans 8 ft !!di ? Driven from the front with pulleys with guards round Next Day start up? Now these engines come On line. Almost. Immediately full Bore 2100rp When you press the button. RO said ok Ron Start up?! I pressed the Start They just Roared into life it was Deafening and it felt frightening Bloody hell i felt the fans pulling me in ??good job they had Guards round I did not feel right ■■ Then I noticed the massive Doors were buckling ■■? I shut them down ?well. The noise gradually got back to normality the Fans slowing down RO said what did you shut down for ■■ I said the Doors .are buckle ing ■■?He said Start up ■■? you could not hear your self think OK re started I pointed to the Doors He jested to open them ■■ Tried And he tried We could not open ■■? they where sucked tight ■■? There was a big Problem with the air? flow ? And I shut them down again? It was obviously a design fault. With the build ? Reporting to the Saudis they called a meeting with the Top Brass The U S A airforce top and the Saudi top ,■■?sitting round the Board room with these big chiefs there was a lot of talking ■■? But no answers ? Then I stood up and put My Hand across my mouth ■■ And tried. To Breath through my Tight Fingers ■■?
They Got The Message G Spanner Stories
Ps I’ left before the bombs started falling
This job was very demand ing with a virtual conveyor belt of ■■■■■■■ engines of every size coming in from the Oil Fields that had to be over hauled in Double quick. time
See photos of good hard working Men. Ron & the Lads Blood Sweat &Tears
Hi Ron,
Enjoyed your tales via Merlin and now yourself. Where have all the years gone? You were young!
I also went to that football match with Pat Conway (sweet water Patrick) to watch Kevin Keegan play for England.
The road from Taif to Khamis was something else wasn’t it. I once went to Sharourah miles into the ‘empty quarter’ before the road was finished. I was stuck halfway up a steep incline when an Arab wanted to have a go at getting my truck up the hill. I knew he would only make things worse, but he did have a large rifle over his shoulder, which made me consider his offer seriously! Down near the Yemen border was another world.
Luckily, before I had to make a decision, a D10 arrived and pulled me over the top. It was always most peculiar - when you arrived at the camp, in the middle of nowhere, they usually had all the home comforts, A/C, steak, ice cream etc.
It certainly was an adventure I suspect there are loads of forgotten memories out there talking about football there were a couple of teams one was green and white the other black and yellow one was El Etihad the other is a big ■■?
I had caps of both teams if when wearing one and the security on the port was,nt a supporter he would,nt let you in so it was a case of just switching caps and away you go …I was told on many occasion "Where was Scotlands magic " the world cup was in progress at the time !!!
The lads went out along the back road, past the tip to save going through Jedda late after noon. With stories of mad dogs jumping up the cabs, some of the dogs lived in our Trailer park under the shade of 40 ft flat beds and they where bloody frightening, when trying to hitch up at night ! Day time The tip was a hell of place , all the rotting flesh from the open abattoir and waste, just dumped all over the place, which stunk to holy heaven - you got ear ache just driving past. A bit further on you could see Flamingos - flocks of them . Just near the Navy Base in the shallows of the Red Sea they looked brilliant and with the shimmering heat were twice as tall . Late evening driving along the road towards Mecca , turning right onto the Christian By Pass towards the lorry Park at the bottom of Tief Mountain. In Day light you got the occasional wave from the Bedouin Women, when blowing your horn, goat heard ing their flock .after blowing your horn, Passing a water hole by some big rocks you were halfway there. The Police lifted the barrier up at midnight to allow the trucks up this 3hr drag to the top. Passing the tin huts a wide stretch where you could get a drink, There was a string of dull lights from the exhaust glowing in the dark i could see when over taking I can only admire our lads.The skill of all our Drivers that had the belief that the trucks where up to the Job!!! The ERFs with ■■■■■■■ were proved to be good with very good Maintenance they did well also the Macs. But it was all about the lads ,they where the adventure ,s and never backed away from the dangers that Saudi had? N/S/E/&Wst desert and mountains in 110 + .on there own. Heavy loads , and sometimes Road trains , tyre failures, Tonka drivers ,accidents. at least 4 days out , coast to coast, the banta at breakfast time ? And all the preparation of the trucks. And trailers , before the lads went out ,The camaraderie was great . Passing the chard road where Mr Perfect cooked his chicken !, you were nearly at the top . Eventually, reaching the Top park area you could have a well earned Cup of Tea, then head down for some sleep . Day break, off down the road to Khamis . The cooler box on the side of the trailers kept the food edible until the blocks of ice melted. Most of the lads had a chicken in there ? until Bill Smith!! Put a chain & lock round the freezer ? driving on into valleys and up again to the next mountain - with no barriers. The wreaks that had come to grief together with Aly driving - kept your eyes wide open for the full day! and it was Red hot. Trans Arabia had delivered some brand new Macs to Khamis and when the drivers got back, the talk of this road was absorbing and with the fantastic scenery it was found out to be very true. Scull &X bone signs on bill boards See Photos Tief Mountain as it is now!!its been turned into a tourist scenic spectacular route !! Now a much safer road has been built by passing the Kentucky fried chicken!!!ll… If you get my drift ? ? And. As it was !! Also a flock of Vultures on one mountain top, Yes John It was one road to talk about, I went to the night market in Khamis , and bought some Bedouin Jewellery. And have it on our stairs wall. This brings back memories! of all the trips out under the Stars!!! And in the heat of the desert on break downs . Water Water was life giving Fuel for us all . That was a good ploy by Backsplice ? With his football hats on !!to get into the port . We had a Jamaican driving for us Andy he always had trouble at the gate ? I just smiled!! P/s. I would not say the natives where slow to react ? But i remember in Khobar when the lights went to Red ? They Stopped the other side, G spanner .
Vultures just took off as i tried to get closer .!!
ronhawk:
The lads went out along the back road, past the tip to save going through Jedda late after noon. With stories of mad dogs jumping up the cabs, some of the dogs lived in our Trailer park under the shade of 40 ft flat beds and they where bloody frightening, when trying to hitch up at night ! Day time The tip was a hell of place , all the rotting flesh from the open abattoir and waste, just dumped all over the place, which stunk to holy heaven - you got ear ache just driving past. A bit further on you could see Flamingos - flocks of them . Just near the Navy Base in the shallows of the Red Sea they looked brilliant and with the shimmering heat were twice as tall . Late evening driving along the road towards Mecca , turning right onto the Christian By Pass towards the lorry Park at the bottom of Tief Mountain. In Day light you got the occasional wave from the Bedouin Women, when blowing your horn, goat heard ing their flock .after blowing your horn, Passing a water hole by some big rocks you were halfway there. The Police lifted the barrier up at midnight to allow the trucks up this 3hr drag to the top. Passing the tin huts a wide stretch where you could get a drink, There was a string of dull lights from the exhaust glowing in the dark i could see when over taking I can only admire our lads.The skill of all our Drivers that had the belief that the trucks where up to the Job!!! The ERFs with ■■■■■■■ were proved to be good with very good Maintenance they did well also the Macs. But it was all about the lads ,they where the adventure ,s and never backed away from the dangers that Saudi had? N/S/E/&Wst desert and mountains in 110 + .on there own. Heavy loads , and sometimes Road trains , tyre failures, Tonka drivers ,accidents. at least 4 days out , coast to coast, the banta at breakfast time ? And all the preparation of the trucks. And trailers , before the lads went out ,The camaraderie was great . Passing the chard road where Mr Perfect cooked his chicken !, you were nearly at the top . Eventually, reaching the Top park area you could have a well earned Cup of Tea, then head down for some sleep . Day break, off down the road to Khamis . The cooler box on the side of the trailers kept the food edible until the blocks of ice melted. Most of the lads had a chicken in there ? until Bill Smith!! Put a chain & lock round the freezer ? driving on into valleys and up again to the next mountain - with no barriers. The wreaks that had come to grief together with Aly driving - kept your eyes wide open for the full day! and it was Red hot. Trans Arabia had delivered some brand new Macs to Khamis and when the drivers got back, the talk of this road was absorbing and with the fantastic scenery it was found out to be very true. Scull &X bone signs on bill boards See Photos Tief Mountain as it is now!!its been turned into a tourist scenic spectacular route !! Now a much safer road has been built by passing the Kentucky fried chicken!!!ll… If you get my drift ? ? And. As it was !! Also a flock of Vultures on one mountain top, Yes John It was one road to talk about, I went to the night market in Khamis , and bought some Bedouin Jewellery. And have it on our stairs wall. This brings back memories! of all the trips out under the Stars!!! And in the heat of the desert on break downs . Water Water was life giving Fuel for us all . That was a good ploy by Backsplice ? With his football hats on !!to get into the port . We had a Jamaican driving for us Andy he always had trouble at the gate ? I just smiled!! P/s. I would not say the natives where slow to react ? But i remember in Khobar when the lights went to Red ? They Stopped the other side, G spanner .
Vultures just took off as i tried to get closer .!!
A very evocative post, Ron - I could really sense the atmospheres of those scenes from your words! Cheers. Robert
ronhawk:
The lads went out along the back road, past the tip to save going through Jedda late after noon. With stories of mad dogs jumping up the cabs, some of the dogs lived in our Trailer park under the shade of 40 ft flat beds and they where bloody frightening, when trying to hitch up at night ! Day time The tip was a hell of place , all the rotting flesh from the open abattoir and waste, just dumped all over the place, which stunk to holy heaven - you got ear ache just driving past. A bit further on you could see Flamingos - flocks of them . Just near the Navy Base in the shallows of the Red Sea they looked brilliant and with the shimmering heat were twice as tall . Late evening driving along the road towards Mecca , turning right onto the Christian By Pass towards the lorry Park at the bottom of Tief Mountain. In Day light you got the occasional wave from the Bedouin Women, when blowing your horn, goat heard ing their flock .after blowing your horn, Passing a water hole by some big rocks you were halfway there. The Police lifted the barrier up at midnight to allow the trucks up this 3hr drag to the top. Passing the tin huts a wide stretch where you could get a drink, There was a string of dull lights from the exhaust glowing in the dark i could see when over taking I can only admire our lads.The skill of all our Drivers that had the belief that the trucks where up to the Job!!! The ERFs with ■■■■■■■ were proved to be good with very good Maintenance they did well also the Macs. But it was all about the lads ,they where the adventure ,s and never backed away from the dangers that Saudi had? N/S/E/&Wst desert and mountains in 110 + .on there own. Heavy loads , and sometimes Road trains , tyre failures, Tonka drivers ,accidents. at least 4 days out , coast to coast, the banta at breakfast time ? And all the preparation of the trucks. And trailers , before the lads went out ,The camaraderie was great . Passing the chard road where Mr Perfect cooked his chicken !, you were nearly at the top . Eventually, reaching the Top park area you could have a well earned Cup of Tea, then head down for some sleep . Day break, off down the road to Khamis . The cooler box on the side of the trailers kept the food edible until the blocks of ice melted. Most of the lads had a chicken in there ? until Bill Smith!! Put a chain & lock round the freezer ? driving on into valleys and up again to the next mountain - with no barriers. The wreaks that had come to grief together with Aly driving - kept your eyes wide open for the full day! and it was Red hot. Trans Arabia had delivered some brand new Macs to Khamis and when the drivers got back, the talk of this road was absorbing and with the fantastic scenery it was found out to be very true. Scull &X bone signs on bill boards See Photos Tief Mountain as it is now!!its been turned into a tourist scenic spectacular route !! Now a much safer road has been built by passing the Kentucky fried chicken!!!ll… If you get my drift ? ? And. As it was !! Also a flock of Vultures on one mountain top, Yes John It was one road to talk about, I went to the night market in Khamis , and bought some Bedouin Jewellery. And have it on our stairs wall. This brings back memories! of all the trips out under the Stars!!! And in the heat of the desert on break downs . Water Water was life giving Fuel for us all . That was a good ploy by Backsplice ? With his football hats on !!to get into the port . We had a Jamaican driving for us Andy he always had trouble at the gate ? I just smiled!! P/s. I would not say the natives where slow to react ? But i remember in Khobar when the lights went to Red ? They Stopped the other side, G spanner .
Vultures just took off as i tried to get closer .!!
Mr Hawkins
Good story - when we first started the Taif road was not completed so was much worse and
the Khamis road was also very hairy as a number of the bridges were not completed
I remember Bill putting a chain on the freezer - he said plus Hamza the indonesian cook that you were all likely to get food poising with cooked chicken in the heat!!
Yes our british/jamacion Andy Andrew from Leicester ex Jones man - I had grea t concerns for him as he had a reputation from UK with a short fuse - the Arabs could not understand why he could not speak Arabic because he was black!! Yes the port gate was a real issue for him - I think he did 12mnths and finished?
In my time and think we were very lucky to have had no serious accident resulting in any of our guys dying and that was down to good common sense driving - I know That there was the odd incident when driving drivers got out the cabs raging at being cut up - Copee at kilo 26 Mecca road comes to mind when he put a lump off wood over the bonnet of a merc car or was he trying to nick the hub caps etc etc
Ron will get in touch when I get home -we must meet up
