Trans Arabia /S. Jones of Aldridge:A few pics

[kenb]

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

Ken Broster

[robert1952]

Kenb:
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

Ken Broster

That’s interesting. I used to know another Andy Andrews who did about 7 years on Saudi internals about the time you were out there. Well-built chap. We both pulled DTS (Brimsdown) trailers on the Morocco run. Last time I saw him he was driving for Longs the heavy agricultural machinery haulier. Good bloke. Robert

[kenb]

robert1952:

Kenb:
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

Ken Broster

That’s interesting. I used to know another Andy Andrews who did about 7 years on Saudi internals about the time you were out there. Well-built chap. We both pulled DTS (Brimsdown) trailers on the Morocco run. Last time I saw him he was driving for Longs the heavy agricultural machinery haulier. Good bloke. Robert

Hi Robert
This guy was from Leicester/from Jamacion background - obviously black. A nice guy but had a history in the UK! He only stayed with us 12months it was getting to him the way in which he was treated by the locals- but he was very good driver and had a good reputation with S Jones on the tippers
Do not think he went back to Jones though
Cheers

When’s your book out? Want a copy
Ken Broster

[john_west]

Kenb:

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

Ken Broster

‘Mr Hawkins?’

Ken,

Surely ‘Aaawkins’, ‘That useless ******* A******* has broken down down again! Sort it out!’

KB, returns to air conditioned office, RH has 3 days of 40 degree heat!

Black John, who worked for Simons International when they worked with us at caravan had a similar problem at the port gates.

‘They start rabbitin’ on in f****** Arabic, an’ I don’t understand a f****** word!’

Great guy - is he still knocking about?

John

[robert1952]

Kenb:
When’s your book out? Want a copy
Ken Broster

End of April. Just going to print now. Robert

[ronhawk]

Trans Arabia-It ain’t arf hot mum!

Just remember ing all “our " Lads. that have driven in Saudi.from the Persian gulf across the yellowish sands in the east ,passed-the red sands, in the middle , towards Riyadh , To the.mountain roads along the west coast from Jeddah to Yemen border, they deserve to be praised , 44deg. Was the temperature, that Geoff Lloyd Tms’ recorded for one month at mid day in the shade near Damman , driving south with no air con ?the hot wind made your ears. burn, the D10’s continually pushing back sand dunes that had crossed the Abquac rd and the ruts in the road , was difficult enough keeping out of the line of fire ,from on coming trucks . Shimmering heat made it look as if you where driving though vast lakes that blended into the Sky , with no horizon , but in reality you where in the middle of the desert ,it really was unreal ,From Jedda !!to the top of Tief mountain, was a slow drive , but pretty safe at night , with only one way traffic it was all low gear and never flat out . something that the trucks felt ok with.” Unless you had the straw that broke the camels back ? reaching the top there was a good park era where you could rest up and meet your fellow truckers ,may be Jonnie Longhorn ? with his bowl of water and towel on the bonnet trying to keep cool, Driving along this mountain road going south ,The further you went the more your skills where called for, the Eaton twin splitter ,was the right box for this terrain 350 miles of steep down grades ,sheer drops, Tonkers coming on strong, loaded to the gunnels With cement etc, no wonder there where wrecks every where , you could see they where over loaded. Following them at night They swayed with there weight climbing to the mountain tops Scull & x Bones Signs ?that you must observe, Finding some where to park up ?then moving on again , because the wind blowed out the pri’mus stove ,this road only got worse ? still red Hot J/P. did well to stop he’s Mack before he lost it , the Mack was a bit Agricultural Compared to our ERF s , he was just short of Khamis, I can’t go on talking about These roads!! only to say that you have to have done it ,to re live it, Coming in from Damman to Nazran in the south west with 800mls of red hot desert. That can Soar to 48 plus, John West you know the score . Break downs out there where challenging to say the leased , repairs to the trucks , Heavy trailers on there knees , blow outs clutch burn outs Brake burn outs tells it’s own story, Evan the spanners got to hot to handle ,No air guns no phone no hotel no shade no cafés and no crumpet! Khamis Nazran - Jizan.the mountains where nearly twice as high as Tief , Tief was just a training road ? Before you got to the real thing, These men earned there Salt and my praise, That’s Nelson taking this photo in the late evening sunshine,the road was just drying out after some heavy rain , at Khamis . The trucks look clean after the rain Photo of me and the Mac, before the Lightening Strikes ? The silhouette is not of a Maasai warrior It’s Nelson. The ERF on the left is the same one , that got tipped over just north of Jedda ,with a new door windscreen etc , you just Can’t keep a good truck down .

Photo of a proper fuel stop ? Normally it was just a tanker on a bank. gravity feed to a pipe . This young Yemen lad was playing A White Sports Coat And Pink carnation? On his tape deck. A song I knew well,I payed ten rats for it , it made my day, and took me straight back to the Tramways Club Walsall, great times . G Spanner.

[robert1952]

Kenb:

robert1952:

Kenb:
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

Ken Broster

That’s interesting. I used to know another Andy Andrews who did about 7 years on Saudi internals about the time you were out there. Well-built chap. We both pulled DTS (Brimsdown) trailers on the Morocco run. Last time I saw him he was driving for Longs the heavy agricultural machinery haulier. Good bloke. Robert

Hi Robert
This guy was from Leicester/from Jamacion background - obviously black. A nice guy but had a history in the UK! He only stayed with us 12months it was getting to him the way in which he was treated by the locals- but he was very good driver and had a good reputation with S Jones on the tippers
Do not think he went back to Jones though
Cheers

When’s your book out? Want a copy
Ken Broster

The book is now at the printer and will be available end of April. I wish I’d known about you earlier because I could have interviewed you for the book. Never mind, I suspect I’ll be writing a book 2 or a sequel, given the amount of new info I’m receiving so I may still be asking you… Cheers! Robert

[robert1952]

ronhawk:
Trans Arabia-It ain’t arf hot mum!

Just remember ing all “our " Lads. that have driven in Saudi.from the Persian gulf across the yellowish sands in the east ,passed-the red sands, in the middle , towards Riyadh , To the.mountain roads along the west coast from Jeddah to Yemen border, they deserve to be praised , 44deg. Was the temperature, that Geoff Lloyd Tms’ recorded for one month at mid day in the shade near Damman , driving south with no air con ?the hot wind made your ears. burn, the D10’s continually pushing back sand dunes that had crossed the Abquac rd and the ruts in the road , was difficult enough keeping out of the line of fire ,from on coming trucks . Shimmering heat made it look as if you where driving though vast lakes that blended into the Sky , with no horizon , but in reality you where in the middle of the desert ,it really was unreal ,From Jedda !!to the top of Tief mountain, was a slow drive , but pretty safe at night , with only one way traffic it was all low gear and never flat out . something that the trucks felt ok with.” Unless you had the straw that broke the camels back ? reaching the top there was a good park era where you could rest up and meet your fellow truckers ,may be Jonnie Longhorn ? with his bowl of water and towel on the bonnet trying to keep cool, Driving along this mountain road going south ,The further you went the more your skills where called for, the Eaton twin splitter ,was the right box for this terrain 350 miles of steep down grades ,sheer drops, Tonkers coming on strong, loaded to the gunnels With cement etc, no wonder there where wrecks every where , you could see they where over loaded. Following them at night They swayed with there weight climbing to the mountain tops Scull & x Bones Signs ?that you must observe, Finding some where to park up ?then moving on again , because the wind blowed out the pri’mus stove ,this road only got worse ? still red Hot J/P. did well to stop he’s Mack before he lost it , the Mack was a bit Agricultural Compared to our ERF s , he was just short of Khamis, I can’t go on talking about These roads!! only to say that you have to have done it ,to re live it, Coming in from Damman to Nazran in the south west with 800mls of red hot desert. That can Soar to 48 plus, John West you know the score . Break downs out there where challenging to say the leased , repairs to the trucks , Heavy trailers on there knees , blow outs clutch burn outs Brake burn outs tells it’s own story, Evan the spanners got to hot to handle ,No air guns no phone no hotel no shade no cafés and no crumpet! Khamis Nazran - Jizan.the mountains where nearly twice as high as Tief , Tief was just a training road ? Before you got to the real thing, These men earned there Salt and my praise, That’s Nelson taking this photo in the late evening sunshine,the road was just drying out after some heavy rain , at Khamis . The trucks look clean after the rain Photo of me and the Mac, before the Lightening Strikes ? The silhouette is not of a Maasai warrior It’s Nelson. The ERF on the left is the same one , that got tipped over just north of Jedda ,with a new door windscreen etc , you just Can’t keep a good truck down .

Photo of a proper fuel stop ? Normally it was just a tanker on a bank. gravity feed to a pipe . This young Yemen lad was playing A White Sports Coat And Pink carnation? On his tape deck. A song I knew well,I payed ten rats for it , it made my day, and took me straight back to the Tramways Club Walsall, great times . G Spanner.

Ron, your literature haunts me! Someone needs to set down the history of the whole incredible Trans Arabia story before it gets lost! Robert

[john_west]

Brilliant stuff Ron, thanks for the memories!

Also Merlin and Ken. Plus of course Jerry’s photos and Robert’s input. Also Backsplice. Saramat were very much part of the scene.

My Brother Andy has some great photos of the escarpment after you left Riyadh for Jeddah. I must get him to scan them and put them on here. I borrowed a video camera from Peter Best when Linda, my first wife, came out to Saudi, and took some video of that escarpment, including the great sandstone pillars of rock in the valley, which looked something like a scene from an American cowboy movie. Unfortunately, they got lost in the divorce, sorry!

I’d forgotten that we called Saudi Rials ‘rats’ - amazing how you adapted to the currency, so that you thought in rials rather than pounds.

As you say, at the bottom end of the Asir mountains, the road down, heading for Jizan was twice as high as Taif, and in 1979 much more scary! Still dirt track, switch back, carved out of the side of the mountain. I wish I had photos, it was unbelievable!

Remember John Longhorn returning to Dammam. Not happy! Had parked at the bottom of Taif overnight. Trying to get cool he had left the doors open and every square inch of his skin was covered in mosquito bites!

We used to close the doors and windows and spray ‘Raid’ to try and not get bitten. Not always successfully. Ginger McNeill used to say ‘I’m not sure if that f****** raid kills the mozzies, but it’s sure killing me!’

I remember parking in Jeddah near what I think was called ‘the lagoon’ - a slightly tidal stretch of water near Bayaah square that was so polluted it was a sort of pink colour and waking up to the sound of Mozzies. Close the doors, spray the Raid, ignore the fact that it’s still over 80 degrees!

John.

[backsplice]

I enjoy reading all these threads and as age sets in the memories become foggier but I did a few runs to Al Ghat there was a swiss construction Co building a sports complex Why ■■? search me but apparently the Kings Grannie was born there or something the camp there was pretty good we were given cabins to stay in if there overnight and fed in the "canteen " …I spent the night there when it was my birthday I would have turned 36 was feeling a bit I think melancholy and one of the managers came over at tea time and said this ,ll cheer you up …I could,nt believe it a bottle of Ballantines …he said happy birthday me and the lad I was with had a headache the next day …got underway though … on the back road to Riyahd via Medina we wewould arrange to meet at ewwhat we called 'Norman,s Cafe Brotherton and have omelette and a glass of chia and were always made to feel welcome can any of you lads recall a great big set of rocks on the left heading towards Riyahd they looked like a big BUM we referred to it as bumrock I climbed to the top in flip flops took a pic of the trucks below which you would have thought was taken from an areoplane ( i,ve posted before but attached again ) …anyway keep the yarns coming also an early pic at the bottom an approach to Tief which you never know if it was going to be open or closed !!!.. I remember when I started out there I was advised to keep flicking the range change on the gear stick so that the cable would,nt melt and stuff it up … I did and it did,nt but have no idea if that really worked …Mah Salam

[kenb]

John West:
Brilliant stuff Ron, thanks for the memories!

Also Merlin and Ken. Plus of course Jerry’s photos and Robert’s input. Also Backsplice. Saramat were very much part of the scene.

My Brother Andy has some great photos of the escarpment after you left Riyadh for Jeddah. I must get him to scan them and put them on here. I borrowed a video camera from Peter Best when Linda, my first wife, came out to Saudi, and took some video of that escarpment, including the great sandstone pillars of rock in the valley, which looked something like a scene from an American cowboy movie. Unfortunately, they got lost in the divorce, sorry!

I’d forgotten that we called Saudi Rials ‘rats’ - amazing how you adapted to the currency, so that you thought in rials rather than pounds.

As you say, at the bottom end of the Asir mountains, the road down, heading for Jizan was twice as high as Taif, and in 1979 much more scary! Still dirt track, switch back, carved out of the side of the mountain. I wish I had photos, it was unbelievable!

Remember John Longhorn returning to Dammam. Not happy! Had parked at the bottom of Taif overnight. Trying to get cool he had left the doors open and every square inch of his skin was covered in mosquito bites!

We used to close the doors and windows and spray ‘Raid’ to try and not get bitten. Not always successfully. Ginger McNeill used to say ‘I’m not sure if that f****** raid kills the mozzies, but it’s sure killing me!’

I remember parking in Jeddah near what I think was called ‘the lagoon’ - a slightly tidal stretch of water near Bayaah square that was so polluted it was a sort of pink colour and waking up to the sound of Mozzies. Close the doors, spray the Raid, ignore the fact that it’s still over 80 degrees!

John.

Hi John

I remember that Lagoon well - what stinking hole it was - yes pink - that says it all about pollution.
That area seemed to be where all the Brit overland congregated for local work etc - bandit corner!!
Keep smiling

Ken Broster

[backsplice]

Arriving in Jeddah for the first time at 4.00 am Saudi Air DC 10 banking over the city on approach the Lagoon looked great with the reflections of the city neon lights … then in the cold light of day ■■? what a let down and from memory there was a kind of smell in the air !!! it soon became familiar

[john_west]

backsplice:
Arriving in Jeddah for the first time at 4.00 am Saudi Air DC 10 banking over the city on approach the Lagoon looked great with the reflections of the city neon lights … then in the cold light of day ■■? what a let down and from memory there was a kind of smell in the air !!! it soon became familiar

Hi Ken and Backsplice,

Funny how one memory evokes others. There was a fried chicken restaurant near the lagoon. The guy in there tried to teach me arabic. He would say ‘the food is ready’ - something like ‘Al akul jehaz’ (maybe miles out, Robert will know!). We would eat our chicken Tikka, then as you walked out the smell of open sewer would waft up from the lagoon!

The Neon sign I remember that used to reflect in the lagoon said ‘kenwood’. Not the ‘chef’, but a make of hifi, which I think had to be sold in Britain under another name. There was a sign in Dammam over a Tyre shop which was in neon letters over a framework. From the front it said YOKOHAMA but from the back it read AMAHOKOY.

I don’t remember ‘Bum Rock’.

The most memorable rock I remember was on the Khamis road, somewhere near Abha I think. It must have been several hundred feet high and looked like the mountain in ‘close encounters of the third kind’.

Why oh why didn’t I take photographs!

John

[jimski]

Any of you Middle East guys on this thread got a clear picture of the Saramat or was it Trans Arabia logo that was on the doors of the 89’s ? ( the cross Sabre’s ) I would like to build a model an 89 in the Saramat or T/A livery .
Regards Jimski.

[ozzyhugh]

Hi Jimski

The following photo’s might help ?

Unfortunately the Arabic script isn’t too clear - sorry I havn’t got anything better

Hope it helps

[wirlinmerlin]

Backspice,
Reference your - " can any of you lads recall a great big set of rocks on the left heading towards Riyahd they looked like a big BUM we referred to it as bumrock"

I don’t remember the “bumrock” but well remember the famous “knobrock!” a picture of which I attach below.
Can’t remember exactly where but it was perhaps about two hours outside Dammam and behind it, as you can see, was a huge green oasis.

[wirlinmerlin]

See below, more pictures of “knobrock” and the surrounding oasis which stretched as far as the eye could see!! ( of course totally changing my understanding of what an oasis could look like.) There was also a huge and quite deep pool.

[jimski]

OzzyHugh:
Hi Jimski

The following photo’s might help ?

Unfortunately the Arabic script isn’t too clear - sorry I havn’t got anything better

Hope it helps

Many thanks OzzyHugh can probably do something with that, one of my customers at work is Eygptian I’ll ask him to see if he can read the Arabic part and rewrite it so my decal man can copy it !!
Many thanks again !
Regards Jimski

[robert1952]

John West:

backsplice:
Arriving in Jeddah for the first time at 4.00 am Saudi Air DC 10 banking over the city on approach the Lagoon looked great with the reflections of the city neon lights … then in the cold light of day ■■? what a let down and from memory there was a kind of smell in the air !!! it soon became familiar

Hi Ken and Backsplice,

Funny how one memory evokes others. There was a fried chicken restaurant near the lagoon. The guy in there tried to teach me arabic. He would say ‘the food is ready’ - something like ‘Al akul jehaz’ (maybe miles out, Robert will know!). We would eat our chicken Tikka, then as you walked out the smell of open sewer would waft up from the lagoon!

The Neon sign I remember that used to reflect in the lagoon said ‘kenwood’. Not the ‘chef’, but a make of hifi, which I think had to be sold in Britain under another name. There was a sign in Dammam over a Tyre shop which was in neon letters over a framework. From the front it said YOKOHAMA but from the back it read AMAHOKOY.

I don’t remember ‘Bum Rock’.

The most memorable rock I remember was on the Khamis road, somewhere near Abha I think. It must have been several hundred feet high and looked like the mountain in ‘close encounters of the third kind’.

Why oh why didn’t I take photographs!

John

Your Arabic is spot-on! Robert

[john_west]

Thanks Robert. As said, was quite good selling containers in Arabic, but could listen to the news and only catch one word in ten!

Your Egyptian will be more help than me Jimski, but with google’s help found an arabic typewriter.

سآرآمآت

Ignore the little tildes at the top of the 'a’s (the letters that look like l)

Having not formally studied Arabic, I’ve never understood what they do.

More help needed Robert!

Also a translation. Leader?

Merlin, I think you’ve trumped us all on the rock formation! Didn’t know it existed.

I remember as we came down from cruising altitude in the thrice weekly overnight VC10 flight (as opposed to the daily Paddy Zulu 747 - BA really spoilt us didn’t they!) looking down with Peter Best and seeing mile after mile of green lushness and not being able to figure it out at all - we only seemed to see sand and thorn bushes when driving!

Maybe we were above your huge oasis?

John.