‘Raid’ was our saviour in the M/E. Raid now makes eco-friendly non-toxic mozzie burner tablets that last for 8 hours - luxury! I used them when I was working in Cairo.
I do remember drivers who hadn’t got plug-in mozzie-burners actually grinding up tablets into a saucer and setting the dust alight to keep their cabs safe - but not their lungs, alas!
Robert
Hello All. We arrived in Jeddah International about 2-am on a Saudia Tristar. It was the first time I had experienced such heat. A small group of Scots had shared a bottle, or two, of whisky on the flight and they had a hard time getting through emigration and customs. We had been advised by our people to stay clean, as the flight was no- alcohol on sale and best to forget it, but the way we were treated was still a shock. Our cases were tipped out and anything “subversive” was taken away. There was no queuing - it was every man to himself. I had a Readers Digest that I had brought to read on the plane. The guy leafed through it and ripped out an advert for shoes that showed a womans ankles. Once free we were shown to a Partridge family style school bus that took us to our housing in Medina North. There were 8 of us on the team - all below 35 - I was 28.
The accomodation was like an up market holiday camp with a Squash court, Swimming pool and access to a private mini-supermarket accross a foot bridge that spanned a ditch. If you are still interested I will keep this up, but it is only of interest to guys who were there at that time. Jim.
I too arrived in Jeddah aboard a Saudi Air DC 10 Tristar very early I remember with a couple of other Scots lads we were all a bit how should I say …a wee bit seedy anyway Ron banking round before landing I distinctly remember …and always will… seeing the beautiful lagoon the neon lights reflected it all looked wonderful from the air ■■ however between seedy and apprehensiveness we landed and the n it took ages to get sorted out we were supposed to be picked up that never happened I had a crate of “Spares” that I had to get cleared through customs but after all that it was just becoming daylight still no pick up so outside the airport that was it …the heat …the smell arguing with the drivers of the little yellow cabs ( Toyota Coronas ).me and the crate and a couple of other lads got a cab to Mina Road and the SARAMAT terminal well going past the "Lagoon " dead cattle and a couple of wrecked cars and a lot of Sh…t did it hum ■■? anyway welcome to the KSA and Jeddah
jmc jnr the Scoots lads could have quite easily been me and the others I think it was early 78 I first arrived maybe March /April time has erased it …what year was the FIFA world Cup ■■
As for rain I only remember it once it was,t much but enough to flood and cause absolute chaos I remember I happened to be in at a place fueling up so filled up and parked up till it was all over …couple of pics courtesy of Ian ( The Pig ) Pender and me
more to follow
inshallah
Hello Backsplice. Time dims the memory, but our travel arrangements had to keep being delayed because the airport was flooded, I think for about a fortnight. As for the footy - No idea - But it was certainly that time of year, and the plane was a Lockheed Tristar (LA1011) cos I started in industry at Rolls Royce Aero Engines in the late 60’s and the RB211 engine for them was nearly in production. It broke the company and I finished my apprenticeship early and went to Ben Wyatt Plant. Jim.
Well thanks for the memories ,Jim & Backsplice The flood coming back off leave we got delayed in London because of the rain in Jeddah but we did land the next day in thick black cloud with our heads tucked in between our legs the condensation was dripping Inside , we all cheered when we finally touched down ,the floods where all over the town ,The hustle and bustle in Jeddah airport ? The chalk Mark that was almost rubbed off on my suitcase,and trying to convince the custom official that there was one ,what chaos what with PA & A ,India landing at the same time , happy days ehh !!! Ron
Brilliant to share those days with you guys, I expect the members are more interested in operating the lorries, but you stir good memories. Jim.
Right Lads … here,s what I Flew into KSA in … here,s what I flew around KSA in … and here,s whaat I flew out in
Mah Salahm
You can’t beat trucking stories that’s what this threads about , you name it Trans Arabia did it BIG TIME , with trucks that had the governor removed in more ways than one , the drivers we had proved there worth ,in this arshole of a place ,we talk of heat in over 45%+ flies and dead cows and things just rotting in the streets it’s all true ,and more, the killer trucks all around you trying to push you over ,but to realise it you have to have done it in this place named JEDDAH the loads we carted where unbelievable ,the drivers climbed that 8000ft mountain with little more than the shorts they had on , with the trucks that where stinking of hot oil it really was some feat , you just have to walk round the truck and get the sensation of Bloody Hell how did it get up after 3hrs of straining at the bit with all the power you had under your right foot to not daring to change up well may be once , but then wishing you had not and then to drive on and on for days, NSE&W our blokes did fantastic and the driver mechanics where exceptional the weights were increased even more with road Trains but still they trucked on , the trucks died young ,!!! the drivers of Trans Arabia live forever on this thread , Ron ,
OFF TOPIC HOWEVER Backsplice [Ben boats]
It probably will not count but a near-relative of my husband did Afghanistan with
an ERF then employed by Van Steenbergen, no airco, no fridge, just cash and luck!
The cargo contained spares for DAF, bulbs for Philips and printed matter.
Some research resulted in a one-way tour as the driver was sacked afterwards 
?
Could you just back it down there driver ■■?.. DBP Ben Boats ■■? I was on 2 of them …The Albanach & the Stac
Macadam-woman:
It probably will not count but a near-relative of my husband did Afghanistan with
an ERF then employed by Van Steenbergen, no airco, no fridge, just cash and luck!The cargo contained spares for DAF, bulbs for Philips and printed matter.
Some research resulted in a one-way tour as the driver was sacked afterwards
Normal for those days. What ERF model was used?
We had a bloke with us on one trip there were 3 of us running together to Riyhad the poor man had blowout after blowout so much so it nearly had him in tears (not quite but close ) by the time we got to Riyahd and went to our separate deliveries non of the 3 of us had a spare (truck or trailer) going back empty was,nt so bad the heat climbing Ta-if was chronic it was best to leave early get over the top in the "cool " and then have a kip at the top … we had to keep flicking the Range change switch so the inner cable would,nt stick to the shield … the F89,s were up to it though
Backsplice !!! That photo is fantastic ? It’s down town Jeddah unless I am very much mistaken ,thanks for putting that on ,the street lights,the wiring of the A/Cs , the wooden balconies ,the narrow alleyways, it’s all coming back to me now !!!the photo bellow is of the water tankers parked up for the night Donkey pulled Ron
AH Ron !! we all looked the same in them days …or did we ■■.. Ps I,ll be absent after tomorrow for a week unless I find a source to look in !!!
How to build a road Saudi style:
First…get a rough level using 5 D9s’.
Second…lay two feet thick of heat resistant bitumen.
Stand back and admire. Job done!!
The high tech security on Binzager Dammam’s main warehouse.
The bloke on the right was the boss and chief hand waver. The one on the left was his mate who would sometimes keep him company when the sun wasn’t shining on the little wooden platform.
The shed was the chief hand waver’s house!
Hello Mirlin , Benzagers warehouse Dammam ,I remember it well , loaded for Riyhad warehouse we pulled up in the late evening , Denise Purchase and I ,in stead of sleeping in the trucks by the concrete factory we had Mohamid open the gates and we parked up in the warehouse yard , hosing- each other down with the hose by the toilet in just our pants ?!!! Or was I naked ? " I forget "it was red hot ,I have most certainly got nothing to be ashamed off , on the contrarily as you well know !!! this was most refreshing ,we Brewed up and had something to eat , Mohamid locked the gates behind him I made a bed with the tarpaulin and had a great nights sleep,driving back to Damman after unloading the next day I was behind Jonny Ryder on a clear rd we played catch up there was nothing on the rd apart from the D10,s pushing back the sand dunes with the sun on our backs ,the Mac,was not as fast as the ERF and the swine kept me out for ages , just like the Tonkers ■■? That will send a shiver down your Spine , Ron. Ps is that you Mirlin trying to get buried with that D 9 ■■ If that is you? where trying to give the driver a ice cream
