European Mountain Man Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 My story my first trip to Verona Italy This is the first ever trip I did to Italy I had never drove in France and Italy and I had another problem the truck was a Volvo 89 and left hand drive this is years ago I was only in my late twenty's I was beginning to panic I have never been to Europe and also being a left hand drive truck the job was trip money if it took you a week or even longer you would .only get the sum for the trip I think it was about £150 to £200 it was a long time ago .and that was good money. I arrived at Ramsgate Kent to pick up the truck and all the paper work the load was on a flatbed trailer roped and sheeted the load was animal hides destination Verona Italy. I was still worried I had driven trucks in uk for several years but never abroad and also being a left hooker I collation I was going with a guy with another truck and to follow him he was going to Milan . well we set of for Folkestone to catch the ferry it took about 3/4 hr to get there we put the T forms and all the paperwork into custom there was a certificate for a vet to stamp because being animal hide's 20 ton of them and they where very smelly and leaking blood and they had like salt on . We went back to customs and collected all the paperwork for the loads by this time the ferry was ready for us to drive on there was not much room between the trucks on the ferry it was like sardines in a tin I had to squeeze out of the drivers door to get out we went for a Coffey or 2 . well arrived at Boulogne and we where ready to drive of the ferry we had to visit French customs to get our paperwork stamped and the permit for France we did this got back into the trucks and we got stopped by customs .they wanted to check how much diesel we had in the tank you are only allowed to enter France with so much if you had more you would get fined we where ok and they allowed us to carry on , well we got out of the port and headed for st omer to get on the motorway before we got on the motorway there was a payarge I got my ticked and we drove towards Paris it was very strange driving on the wrong side of the road and also having a left hooker in the uk we drive on the left , well got within 1hr of Paris we had to stop for a brake for yet more coffee we had stopped for the hr and we left the services and proceeded towards Paris on the A1 motorway we come to the payarge this is where I had to pay for the motorway paid and continued on to Paris . we hit Paris in the rush hr what a place we where now on the peripherique the ring road around Paris the French car drivers where cutting in front of me from both sides of the road at one time a car driver was in the far lane and cut right in front of me how I never hit I do not know he wanted to tern off across 3 lanes they are really crazy I was glade to out the other side of Paris and get on the A6 motorway it runs down to the south of France we drove about 4hrs the other side of Paris and stopped for the night for some sleep nr Dijon in a services on the A6. well the morning come round got about 6.am went for more coffee and we got back into our trucks and got back on the motorway and our next city was Lyon we had to go around the peripherique and it was just as crazy as Paris this was a Saturday afternoon and took us 2 hrs to get around and clear of Lyon well we kept going till we got just this side of Marseille and stopped for a nights sleep in a services . in morning we carried on till we got Marseille and left the A6 motorway and got on the A7 which would take us along the coast to nice where there was a very steep hill to go down some trucks get a escort down like tankers ect got down the hill arrived a nice and carried on until we come to the border of Italy we had to stop and get the paper work stamped and the Italian permit stamped we did this and carried on to we got to Laigueglia this was 5am we hit the sack till 8.00 am we had to go to customs and the vet to clear the good so we could deliver in Italy. it took several hrs once we had cleared customs we where on our way got to Geneva what a road this is all tunnels and viaducts running along the coast to Geneva we arrived at Genova and then picked up the Milan motorway that was all tunnels and viaducts what a road how they where built I do not know . well we got nr Tortona and stopped in a services had a nights sleep got up in the morning had coffee his was time for us to part I had to branch off for Piacenza and then Brescia got nr and stopped for the night I was really tired and needed some sleep . in the morning I started off for my destination Verona arrived unloaded the trailer and folded up the sheets and ropes up this was the afternoon left there found a Italian truck stop and had a meal and bed , got up in the morning had breakfast went back to my truck and guess what happened fro some reason the truck would not start I am afraid I am no mechanic but sounded to me like the batteries where flat and it just would not have it. I had been a week now and was not going to get any more money for the trip phoned the uk and they said it has had this problem before it was very old truck . they said phone tomorrow and I did they said they will send someone out as passenger a mechanic 2 more day went past still at this truck stop I was getting fed up and just wanted to get home to my wife and children by this time . I phoned after a day and a half and they said he will be here tomorrow and said are you going to give me any more money and they replied no you have had your money I was not very happy now . the mechanic arrived and said there was a big problem with the truck we do not know if to scrap it or repair it the mechanic had a hgv licence so he could drive the truck back I to;d them to stick it where the sun does not shine , collected my belongings and headed for the motorway had my taco card that I was holding up and I was in luck a English driver stopped for me he was going to dover he give me a lift to dover got there phoned my wife she come and picked me up from the docks in our car I was very happy getting home with my wife . I swore I would never do it again and go to Europe this lasted about a year then I decided to give it another go well this another go lasted about 25 to 30 years iam retired now and miss it like hell that was the good old days I am now 66 years old and loads of memories all nearly good regards Stewart hope you enjoy my story That truck was like this one very old as you can se the picture is not that truck but it was a Volvo F89 Well now for the flight from Exeter to Milan plenty of nice scenery on the way with p3dv4 and PTA hope you enjoy my screen shots some Italian shots are varese area ,Gallarate , Legnano , and Milan hope you like my screen shots regards stewart well it is raining again at Exeter airport on my way Sid mouth Devon le Havre le Havre Paris 1 Paris 2 pairs 3 Paris 4 Paris 5 Paris 6 nr Switzerland Switzerland nr lausanne the alps 1 alps 2 sion area a bit of snow ahead lovely scenery more mountains must be near Italy now river down there Italy now Milan 1 Milan 2 nr airport Milan 3 Milan 4 Millan 5 lining up for airport not far now getting closer I can now se the airport good to be landing at last well raining again I think it has followed me time for Coffey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sawyer Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 Well, first your shots look terrific Stewart. Your story, man what a tale. I think I would have done the same, said to heck with it and head back home, they treated you pretty poorly. I'm curious, on this first trip, how many land miles was it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 Thanks Jack for reading my story all true I do not know how I can remember but I can got loads in my head , and glad you liked my screen shots jack I will let you know how many miles tomorrow if I can work it out , I have been there loads of times since regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 1 hour ago, stewart1 said: Genova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly37 Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 What a story... considering Rome to Milan almost 500km, maybe 3500 4000km of trip ... When the story turn bad it is important, the possibility to tell, means you are alive... Nice shots and very detailed indication Thank Stewart, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwater Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 Another fantastic post, Stewart, both shots, flight & story. Quite some life experience in here... PS: In 2 years from now you can have the customs experience on every trip you make to Europe. Turn the clock back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 11 hours ago, stewart1 said: My story my first trip to Verona Italy This is the first ever trip I did to Italy I had never drove in France and Italy and I had another problem the truck was a Volvo 89 and left hand drive this is years ago I was only in my late twenty's I was beginning to panic I have never been to Europe and also being a left hand drive truck the job was trip money if it took you a week or even longer you would .only get the sum for the trip I think it was about £150 to £200 it was a long time ago .and that was good money. I arrived at Ramsgate Kent to pick up the truck and all the paper work the load was on a flatbed trailer roped and sheeted the load was animal hides destination Verona Italy. I was still worried I had driven trucks in uk for several years but never abroad and also being a left hooker I collation I was going with a guy with another truck and to follow him he was going to Milan . well we set of for Folkestone to catch the ferry it took about 3/4 hr to get there we put the T forms and all the paperwork into custom there was a certificate for a vet to stamp because being animal hide's 20 ton of them and they where very smelly and leaking blood and they had like salt on . We went back to customs and collected all the paperwork for the loads by this time the ferry was ready for us to drive on there was not much room between the trucks on the ferry it was like sardines in a tin I had to squeeze out of the drivers door to get out we went for a Coffey or 2 . well arrived at Boulogne and we where ready to drive of the ferry we had to visit French customs to get our paperwork stamped and the permit for France we did this got back into the trucks and we got stopped by customs .they wanted to check how much diesel we had in the tank you are only allowed to enter France with so much if you had more you would get fined we where ok and they allowed us to carry on , well we got out of the port and headed for st omer to get on the motorway before we got on the motorway there was a payarge I got my ticked and we drove towards Paris it was very strange driving on the wrong side of the road and also having a left hooker in the uk we drive on the left , well got within 1hr of Paris we had to stop for a brake for yet more coffee we had stopped for the hr and we left the services and proceeded towards Paris on the A1 motorway we come to the payarge this is where I had to pay for the motorway paid and continued on to Paris . we hit Paris in the rush hr what a place we where now on the peripherique the ring road around Paris the French car drivers where cutting in front of me from both sides of the road at one time a car driver was in the far lane and cut right in front of me how I never hit I do not know he wanted to tern off across 3 lanes they are really crazy I was glade to out the other side of Paris and get on the A6 motorway it runs down to the south of France we drove about 4hrs the other side of Paris and stopped for the night for some sleep nr Dijon in a services on the A6. well the morning come round got about 6.am went for more coffee and we got back into our trucks and got back on the motorway and our next city was Lyon we had to go around the peripherique and it was just as crazy as Paris this was a Saturday afternoon and took us 2 hrs to get around and clear of Lyon well we kept going till we got just this side of Marseille and stopped for a nights sleep in a services . in morning we carried on till we got Marseille and left the A6 motorway and got on the A7 which would take us along the coast to nice where there was a very steep hill to go down some trucks get a escort down like tankers ect got down the hill arrived a nice and carried on until we come to the border of Italy we had to stop and get the paper work stamped and the Italian permit stamped we did this and carried on to we got to Laigueglia this was 5am we hit the sack till 8.00 am we had to go to customs and the vet to clear the good so we could deliver in Italy. it took several hrs once we had cleared customs we where on our way got to Genova what a road this is all tunnels and viaducts running along the coast to Genova we arrived at Genova and then picked up the Milan motorway that was all tunnels and viaducts what a road how they where built I do not know . well we got nr Tortona and stopped in a services had a nights sleep got up in the morning had coffee his was time for us to part I had to branch off for Piacenza and then Brescia got nr and stopped for the night I was really tired and needed some sleep . in the morning I started off for my destination Verona arrived unloaded the trailer and folded up the sheets and ropes up this was the afternoon left there found a Italian truck stop and had a meal and bed , got up in the morning had breakfast went back to my truck and guess what happened fro some reason the truck would not start I am afraid I am no mechanic but sounded to me like the batteries where flat and it just would not have it. I had been a week now and was not going to get any more money for the trip phoned the uk and they said it has had this problem before it was very old truck . they said phone tomorrow and I did they said they will send someone out as passenger a mechanic 2 more day went past still at this truck stop I was getting fed up and just wanted to get home to my wife and children by this time . I phoned after a day and a half and they said he will be here tomorrow and said are you going to give me any more money and they replied no you have had your money I was not very happy now . the mechanic arrived and said there was a big problem with the truck we do not know if to scrap it or repair it the mechanic had a hgv licence so he could drive the truck back I to;d them to stick it where the sun does not shine , collected my belongings and headed for the motorway had my taco card that I was holding up and I was in luck a English driver stopped for me he was going to dover he give me a lift to dover got there phoned my wife she come and picked me up from the docks in our car I was very happy getting home with my wife . I swore I would never do it again and go to Europe this lasted about a year then I decided to give it another go well this another go lasted about 25 to 30 years iam retired now and miss it like hell that was the good old days I am now 66 years old and loads of memories all nearly good regards Stewart hope you enjoy my story That truck was like this one very old as you can se the picture is not that truck but it was a Volvo F89 Well now for the flight from Exeter to Milan plenty of nice scenery on the way with p3dv4 and PTA hope you enjoy my screen shots some Italian shots are varese area ,Gallarate , Legnano , and Milan hope you like my screen shots regards stewart well it is raining again at Exeter airport on my way Sid mouth Devon le Havre le Havre Paris 1 Paris 2 pairs 3 Paris 4 Paris 5 Paris 6 nr Switzerland Switzerland nr lausanne the alps 1 alps 2 sion area a bit of snow ahead lovely scenery more mountains must be near Italy now river down there Italy now Milan 1 Milan 2 nr airport Milan 3 Milan 4 Millan 5 lining up for airport not far now getting closer I can now se the airport good to be landing at last well raining again I think it has followed me time for Coffey thanks very mutch regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 6 hours ago, Stillwater said: Another fantastic post, Stewart, both shots, flight & story. Quite some life experience in here... PS: In 2 years from now you can have the customs experience on every trip you make to Europe. Turn the clock back. Thanks Gerold for your nice comments on my story and my screen shots it was good when you had to clear customs you got a rest ad meet over drivers that you know the good old days. when you did not have to clear customs never go much rest it was from a to b regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruudmeij Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Great post again Stewart. Cheers, Ruud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwater Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 4 hours ago, stewart1 said: when you did not have to clear customs never go much rest it was from a to b regards stewart In our times the company controllers would allow, say, 15 minutes for customs. The rest goes off your lifetime. Finance management rules the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 1 hour ago, ruudmeij said: Great post again Stewart. Cheers, Ruud Thanks Ruud glad you like my story and my screen shots just put another up Bristol to mantes regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 17 minutes ago, Stillwater said: In our times the company controllers would allow, say, 15 minutes for customs. The rest goes off your lifetime. Finance management rules the world. Yes you are right Gerold when you had to clear customs you where therefor a day or longer met over drivers that you know the good times just put another post up Bristol to nantes regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 14 hours ago, fly37 said: What a story... considering Rome to Milan almost 500km, maybe 3500 4000km of trip ... When the story turn bad it is important, the possibility to tell, means you are alive... Nice shots and very detailed indication Thank Stewart, Thanks very much glad you liked my story and my screen shots just put another up Bristol to Nantes did you get my email regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly37 Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 56 minutes ago, stewart1 said: Thanks very much glad you liked my story and my screen shots just put another up Bristol to Nantes did you get my email regards stewart Yes I received.. thank appreciate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
European Mountain Man Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 thanks Gianni I have 9 more stories that have come to me regards stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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