Fat Bloke Travels: Still On The Road - HGV Trucking During Pandemic

Well it's more or less business as usual for us, however, out of 24 trucks there is only 13 of us on the road at our yard.

The rest have been furloughed, I've had that many truck changes I've lost count and have been from one end of the country to the other since my last post.

I also had a paint swapping experience with a VW Passat on the A4 just out of London!

There were just a few scratches on my truck - video evidence from my truck suggests that I was not to blame!

I'm back in a DAF XF which I am enjoying, I think I still prefer my Mercedes but the DAF is a smoother ride and does have some fancy night lights in the cab.

Still not as fancy as the guy below with all the polished chrome and fancy paint!

It's from the film "Gladiator" As much as I like the effort that goes into it, at the end of the day a truck is a depreciating asset, this guy must have more money than sense.

I'm still trying to work out how it gets across the Cat Walk to connect his lines without damaging his paint work?

During time off I've cooked a few tasty meals and had some rather lovely Mango Cider from Snails Bank Brewery

This was a Thai Sticky Chicken - Had a bit of a kick to it and tasted wonderful!

The cider was from our local Micro Pub here in New Milton - They are doing a collection and delivery service!

We have also had some amazing weather recently although it has cooled off the last few days, not that I'm complaining as sleeping in the truck when it's hot is not great.

It does mean we get to see some fantastic sunsets, this was taken late evening as we drove across the New Forest.

Stayed at a Truck Stop called the Red Lion just off the M1 the other night, really well organised and the food was excellent. With your parking you get a £6.00 meal voucher - I added £1.75 and got a very good Tandoori Chicken, Chips and Salad.

My 14 year old Base Ball Cap also had to be repaired, out with the needle and thread and it's good to go for a few more years!

Sat down on the beach just 10 minutes from our house the other evening, this view looks out towards the Needles on the Isle of Wight.

Some times whilst out in the truck you get to have a reasonable view whilst you brew up - other times not so pretty!

It also never ceases to amaze me what we export - this last week I have collected Ash - Being exported to Vietnam to be turned into furniture and scrap aluminium to be smelted down and recycled into more goods!