PART 2 CADIZ / LAS PALMA'S

Hello to all, hope you all are good and having a great time now summer is over!! And before we know it, christmas time will be on us and another year has gone by. Ok then back to the plot, i left off heading back to Cadiz for the weekend. We could not find anywhere to park near the beach so headed back to the port of Cadiz. Got another shower and yes it was very cold again but needed one. Ok we headed into town to get fed and watered, we were good boys as we were back at the cab about 23.oohrs as we did not find anywhere to go. So watched a film on the harddrive and bed it was a hot night about 24c.





Sunday morning went to find somewhere to get fresh bread and some bits, only got the bread as this was the only shop open so stopped to have coffee and headed back to the cab for some lunch. Sunday afternoon we went for a walk and found a beach put did not have swimming stuff so went for a paddle along the beach looking at the girl's, and some of them were ok but a lot, well they should of left there clothes on. Found a beach bar and sat down for a couple of cold one's then walked back to the cab again. Was not impressed with Cadiz, not one bit. Ok there is alot of history here and the fort wall which was the main defence of the town in its time, yes it looked great but i did not have my camera with me as no pockets, it took my breath away but to far to walk back to take a photo of it.



Ok this is coming in to Cadiz.

The main road run right into Cadiz. And if you were driving a car it will take you right to the fort but as like most town's trucks come in so far and then have to take another road.

Like this one. This was taken just as a truck passed me and before 3 came around the corner and scooter's, they were everywhere, f--k, the little mother f--kers.

This is before we had to turn right where that car is going and its not sign posted to the port, you pick it up after heading down that road for a bit.

This is at the gate of the port. You could walk in and out without being ask for your passport.

Just inside on the right we parked up. To the left of the main gate is the older part of Cadiz's town thats where we went for a long walk and found nothing of interest to us. Now i must admit there was a lot of tourist's about and yes if you like place's like this, it might be your cup of tea but not for us.

Parked up in the port of Cadiz

This is what we drove passed coming into Cadiz but on a Saturday, there was nowhere to park and it looked so good but hey ho.

Hey Bob!!! that will do said Laurel and Hardy on Saturday but the parking lot was full, this was Monday morning and they were sad we could not stop.

This is the beach running into Cadiz and it has beach showers, and i bet they were warmer than the one's in the port.

OK Monday we had to do customs in the morning and they got it wrong. All they had to do was to stamp the papers as transit, and they stamped them as export, don't know why as Las Palmas is part of Spain, so will have to do an import in Las Palmas.

This is the boat we were waiting for. We were the only truck driver's on it, all the rest were Spanish car driver's + one Uk car. I later spoke to the lady that was driving the uk car and she said that she was on her way to start a new life in Lanzarote with her young daughter. If you are reading this i hope all is going good for you both and the (Gestapo) are not that bad or you have to tell them VERY nicely to go away. Drop me a line on here or email me ..best of luck girly's.

Ok now we are off the boat in Las Palmas. We are parked looking at the boat still in the port but outside the ferry terminal. It was a wet one but soon dried out and got hot. Later on we had to walk to the agent for them to do the custom papers, they were not happy about having to re-import because of the idiots on the mainland, but got that sorted......well Robert did anyway as he had been here last year. In my own opinion the agents are a bunch of w----rs. Like the agent said he will meet us at the the port gate on Monday morning, to put the papers into the gate guard but he will not get there till 9am..... but we were loading in at 8am, and he said every trl leaving the port he had to be there to make sure there were no problems. We said bollocks to that and there was a heated conversation. We did it our way and got the all the papers off them and photocopy's of the import part of the paper's. Guess what no problems on Monday leaving the port, he was just after trying to get more money out of us. F--king wanker. I feel sorry for Robert as he has to use the same agent coming out of there on Monday 28th sept, as i will not be there to see the shit they start again so good luck Robbie boy. (There not company so you can hit em.) LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some people think i have got a great job and yes i have, but sometimes it's not so good as off this boat, parked up waiting to start the load in on Monday and this is only Thursday. This is us parked up in the port, there was nowhere else to park.

This is the wash room!!!!!!! And for a shower we went to the beach for the day and had a shower with shower gel on the beach. You should of seen there faces on the beach as we had a shower after our swim and sunbathe, it was funny.... Robert taking a shower with me holding the button in and likewise, we did keep our shorts on though...... It was bloody hilarious. lol!!!

And doing some washing. The back of the cab comes in handy as a washing line and the wiper blades as well.

Ok Sunday at 1700hrs we had to go to the arena to meet some of the crew and have a chat.

OK Monday: Fun over with and time to work.

This is coming to the arena, down a bit more on the photo. We had to back in on the right side, so was going to have to stop the traffic, and it was heavy. Thats the part i like doing just to see some of their face's knowing they were going to be late for work by about 2mins. Some people don't like to be delayed for 1 second.

This is the arena after we had unloaded and heading back to the port to get the next one.

Ok This is Robert backed in and unloading. This was also the way the cop's used to get into their station.

As this one was not impressed he was not a happy bunny. He parked to block us in but he had moved before we had to move. Ha Ha.

This is on the left side of the arena (we were unloading on the right side) and we were to park all trl's here we got them in (we're the guy's) the crew's hotel is to the left so they did not have far to go to work.

Ok after we unloaded we have to go around the block to get back to the port.

Ok back out onto the main road heading back to the port. The arena is on the left.

Still heading to the port. That's it on the far right of the photo.

The port is on my right.

This one is looking out from where the trls are parked up at the arena.

Ok the show was in. Earlier i had a message from the boss telling me i was booked on a flight at 19.30hrs to Amsterdam, so took a shower and packed my bags as i was leaving this truck (607)here for Leon as it was his truck and he was flying into Las Palmas on Saturday 26th Sept to help with the load out and then he will stay on this show. I was to fly back into Schipol airport, got there at 0200hrs Tuesday, the boss had booked a hotel for me and Stef will pick me up at midday on Tuesday.

Tuesday in the office and was told i was taking another truck as mine was still not ready (getting a bit pissed off with this) and heading for the uk as there was an ice show going in to Manchester on the Saturday, but had to do another job in the uk first, so Tuesday night boat to Harwich .

Wednesday morning down to Tilbury to pick up a empty container and back to Caz's got there at midday and left at 0300hrs Thursday. Caz was not a happy bunny and she wasn't the only one.

Thursday morning up to Telford to load for Hamina Finland. Stef was there but still in bed, as he did not get to Telford until sometime in the early hours, so waited for him to get up and load as we were going to be doing the same show, load in for Manchester. Loaded our pick up's and back to Tilbury, dropped the container in there then up to Felixstowe for the morning as the container's for the ice show where coming into Felixstowe port and Maritime transport company were to take 6 up on Monday and 4 on Tuesday, so sorted that out and got our container's and headed for Manchester for the Friday night there.

Saturday morning into the arena, by this time we were joined by another of our driver's so there was 3 of us to unload. We gave the show crew a hand and we were on our way back to Felixstowe for Saturday night. We had 3 more container's to pick up but first we had to go to Harwich to drop the one's we had unloaded that morning. The show came in 40ft container's and we were swapping them into our own 45ft container's. When the show comes out of Manchester and for the rest of that tour, they will be swapped back into 40ft container's in around 8month's time when the show moves out of Europe. We stopped at a truck stop just out side the port of Felixstowe. I will do a separate post about that as it was a VERY good stop over. We stopped there till Sunday night as we had to pick up at 0100hrs in Felixstowe and back to Manchester for the morning as we had to be there for Maritime transport, they all got there on time and the 6 container's where empty by 1500hrs and then it was shower time and rest. It was a very long day and i was over tired, did not get to bed till 2130hrs and that was a push; I had to say to myself come on Bob it's bed time. I think within about 3seconds i was asleep ZZZzzzzzz, did not have to get up until 0800hrs Tuesday morning as the rest of the container's and ours were not booked to unload till 0900hrs and we were the first one's to unload. I was empty and on my way by 1030hrs as had to take the container to Harwich and back to Felixstowe for another one but this one was going to be parked at Harwich as i was sailing back to Holland that night to help pick up the empty 40 ft and to get my truck back and YES it was ready. Well they did'nt do a very good job at all, the airbrush work is not very good and they missed a bit as well but what the f--k i got her back and it feels good to be home again. If you work away and live in a truck you will know what i mean by "good to be home."

Ok i am at Caz's at the mo but have to leave Sunday afternoon, have to take one of our show box trl's to Manchester then over to a place called Killingholm to pick up an empty 45ft to take that to Manchester. Dropped it then 40ft back to Killingholm for the boat Monday night to Holland then i am heading south to Italy to start the tour i am going on. Will tell you more later on about that. I will just say it's not for Disney this time but the draw back is it's only till Jan 2010. After that i don't know what the plan will be and Robert and I will have to wait and see what the boss's plan will be, more than likely, will go on one of the show's which is still touring, by then there will be 3 show's on the move. This will be posted when my sweet Caz gets time this coming week as she has gone back to school, her time is limited at the mo. In the end it will be great. I know she will get what she is looking for and it will make things much easier for us, as we will be having two good pay packets and we can find a place where we can move in together and be happy and comfortable. Maybe a can get a car, as i do not have one at the mo i just use Caz's when i am here..

Well that's it for now i think we are up to date, so here we go back on the road. I don't think i will get internet for 2 weeks so it may be a long one again next time, so see you lot then and happy days till then guy's and girl's, it would be nice if some of you drop me a comment just to say hi that will be nice.

So keep it sunny side up till the next post and be happy:

THE START OF NEW SEASON PART 1

Hi to you all. As i said it was going to be a bit of time until i posted again. I think about 3weeks now and boy, does time fly. AT the moment I am back in the UK but lets not get head of myself lets go back to the start. I said it was show time again and I was due to pick up Steve another uk driver from Ashford in Kent and head to the yard nr Rotterdam.




Ok we got to the yard and the plan had changed yet again (IT WAS that Robert, Steve and me were heading for Spain) it ended up with just me and Robert going south and Steve was going to do something else. As my truck had not been painted yet i had to take Leon's truck (one of our Dutch drivers) but that was ok as the show we were putting in down south was his show. As this blogg goes on, you will understand whats going on. So let me come back to the plot. Me and Robert where heading for the port of Algeciras in southern Spain with two stalks of chassis's for the containers from Japan or somewhere in that part of the world. It was a live show which is heading for Las Palmas Gran Canaria. Ok took some pic's on the way down, none in France as most of that part was done in the dark, so sorry no piccys of Paris; well there's not a lot to see driving through there anyway and you've got to have your eyes on the French idiot driver's. So down to where we stopped for the night which was Orleans, well south of Paris. So that was Tuesday 01.09.09 over and done with. Wednesday saw us heading south again nothing more to add there till we got to the border at Irun. They have opened it up, no custom building there any more just toll booth's and your in Spain.




The first photo's are of the new motorway going over Pamperlona, it's a lot of mountains and the old road was a nice run but a bit on the tight side as it was a single lane road and very steep and it took a bit of time to go that way.


There are a lot of tunnels up here too.

This was late in the day and the temp had dropped a bit so had to put a log on the fire!!!

These photo's are of a sunset over Vitoria in Spain at the end of the second day just before we parked up for the night at a nice truck stop/hotel good food and very clean shower's.

This is a plane coming into land. look's good to me.

Ok Thursday was just heading south. The route was Burgos / Valladolid/Salamanca/Badajoz to Sevilla where time was up 10hrs driving again today.


This was heading around Salamanca.

This town is somewhere south of Valladolid. Small town but it's got two BIG churches in it. There are a lot of these two church towns around here.

and another one.

Ok this is Friday morning not far from where we are heading to (Algeciras). This photo was taken on another day as it was only just getting light when we passed here.

Same water but with out the bridge.

Cannot remember where this was, think somewhere south of Badajoz
just got the camera out in time.

Still heading for the port at Algeciras.
The temp was 30c +.

They have been building a lot of new motorways down here. The road to the left is the old road and we are heading for the one on the right.

This pic fell in the wrong place but it's the bridge at Sevilla.

Ok got to the port, had to do custom's for the containers coming in they were all on ATA carnet's. Put them into the agent and then over to the port as the boss had made arrangments for the chassis's to be unstacked. When we do it with the sideloader it takes sometime but in here they use a toplifter and a 20ft box. Sorry but did not have time to get photo's. They where all on the floor with in the hour. Then it was a waiting game for customs to clear them, and the boat only got in that morning. So it was about 4pm before we got the first one's. We then had to transport 6 containers over to the port of Cadiz about 2hrs away before the boat left from Cadiz to Las Palmas on Tuesday afternoon. We did two on Friday and two on Saturday; then there was a change of plan again. The stage we were to use in Las Palmas was coming over with us, but the Spanish company had some sort of problem so Robert was going to head to Malaga on Monday to pick the trl up which the stage was loaded on and me to do the last two containers. So Saturday night and Sunday was spent in Cadiz, it was very hot about 37c in the day and 27c at night.

The next couple of photo's are heading back to Algeciras on Saturday morning. This is the coast road, well it was not that close to the coast at times but we were looking for somewhere to park for the rest of the weekend after picking up on Saturday morning but there was no where to stop.

Them hill's have alot off wind in them .

Looks nice. That's as close to the mediterranean as we got on this road.

That's the port of Algeciras in the distense. We said we were not going to come back the same way. It was ok with just the unit but not with the trl as well.

Ok we got back to Cadiz Saturday afternoon got somewhere to take a shower and shit it was so cold i think the water was coming from the fridge or something, the old man and his mates disappeared (guys will now what i mean).

I am doing this last blogg in parts so i will leave this one for now as we are back into Cadiz for the week end with nothing to do. The next post will be with some photo's of Cadiz and Las Palmas but not of the tourist type photos you would expect. You will see them soon.

So keep it sunny side up till then my friends have a safe one and keep smiling.