Gjirokastra to Butrint, & St. Nikolas’ Monastery, Albania

Appearances can be deceptive.

In some ways, the articulated lorries made us feel a little better. Clearly, the narrow, winding mountain road could take large traffic. In other ways, however, it tested our nerve. Albanian drivers have no qualms about nipping around lorries, or even other cars already overtaking them, on blind bends, regardless of what might be coming.

Also, in a Beast-sized truck, confrontations with artics in places where our offside wheels had to trust a crumbling road margin abutted to the edge of a cliff made the drive on the main highway to Sarandë somewhat more adrenalin infused than we expected.

The car overtaking the artic on a blind bend, which we soon found had oncoming traffic, had just overtaken us!
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Lorry Lessons for Ladies – Day 5: THE TRUCKIN’ TEST!

Finally, the day I was dreading had arrived.

It was Trucking Test Day.

I had two hours to scale and polish my driving skills before my Class 2* truck test at 09:33. If I failed, Mark and I would not be able to depart on our next trip until I’d successfully secured another test date and passed.

A tall order amid a swathe of Civil Service strikes.

It could delay our departure, and dictate whether we had time to go where we planned to go.

So, the only thing riding on my test success was our entire future happiness…

The only thing riding on my test success was our entire future happiness…
Continue reading “Lorry Lessons for Ladies – Day 5: THE TRUCKIN’ TEST!”

Lorry Lessons for Ladies – Day 4

“How are you this morning?” I greeted my fellow students, shuffling from foot to foot in their customary huddle at the training centre.

“Could be better,” replied Rob, who clutched a large can of Monster energy drink. “My car’s turbo blew up on the M25 on the way home. I was there nearly all night.”

Not what you want in the lead up to your penultimate day of training. He did look tired.

“At least you’re not taking your test today,” I said, by way of compensation.

Continue reading “Lorry Lessons for Ladies – Day 4”