(Sunday – TB) Had a very lazy day. Didn’t get up until 1330hrs. Cleaned cabin, secured load AGAIN. Adjusted trailer brakes AGAIN. Had a nice shower, washed underwear, had lunch and watched winter sports only Austrian tele. Hope to move off at 2145hrs for home. There is bound to be a long queue at Salzburg border.

Parked up: Border Walserberg / Sharzbach, A/D.

Started at 0700hrs this morning and ran into heavy snow just before the Austrian border. Left Spielfeld and going good. Thought I would have made it to the border but had trouble with rangechange and trailer brakes hanging, had to stop at 3pm. 75km short of the border.

Parked up: Mandling, A.

Met Roger Hayward and other English at the Belgrade customs. Spent all morning getting ready for the off. Managed to get away at 1430hrs so will definitely have to spend the weekend in Europe, never mind should be home for the following one. Tea at 1800/1900hrs, I tend on having an early night, there’s no rush now.

Parked up: Near Zagreb, YU.

Started to load at 0830hrs and finished at 1330hrs but to late for customs today. Load was tractor tyres and a very dirty place to load. Everywhere was covered in carbon black. I can imagine what it is like in the summer. They certainly did have a lot of snow, there is till plenty about and very cold indeed. Night heater ON.

Parked up: Belgrade Customs, YU.

I put the clock back 2 hours last night. Up at 0530hrs but blocked in car park. Never mind but must be in Belgrade tonight (today is Wednesday – TB) for loading on Thursday for England. Arrived Yugoslavia 1200hrs, long time at customs. Proceeded to Belgrade to load tyres for the UK. Met 2 Falcongates who told me John Jones had returned to Sofia with alternator trouble, pity I could have helped him.

Parked up: Belgrade, YU.

Left again at 0445hrs for Istanbul & Kapicule. Had to wait til 1000hrs to cross the bridge. Arrived Kapicule, bathed, washed clothes. Take on 650 litres diesel and 800DM (Deutchmarks) from Young Turk. I arrived Kapikule at 1430hrs and eventually got away from the Bulgarian side at 2215hrs. Nearly 8 hours in the queue – absolutely knackered!

Parked up: Svilengrad, BG.

Left Adana at 0630hrs and had a nice quiet run up to Askaray arriving at 1050hrs. Had a soup and then set out for Ankara. Got stopped three times for police control. Arrived Ankara 1500hrs, departed 1800hrs. Started to rain 60km out and then snow came down, but stopped when I dropped down. Put in 200 litres diesel and arrived at Düzce 2250hrs.

Parked up: Düzce, TR.

Adana to Düzce is approximately 740km according to a modern route map.

Left Cizre just after 0600hrs and stop for breakfast at 0730hrs, then on in nice sunny weather to Birecek. Found out the old car park man is an Afghani, wonder why he never asks for things. Repaired fog lamp wires helped by the Afganhi, gave him some fags and biscuits and he was over the moon, especially when I told him I used to drive to Kabul. Arrived Adana, had shower, washed clothes and watched TV.

Parked up: Adana, TR

Nick Carter arrived Mosul last night with a Telex to say my missing pallet is probably on his truck. When we looked we couldn’t see it because his load was a mess. We must hope it is . Quite a long queue at the border. Arrived at 2pm. Hope to be home about the 27th if possible. Depends on backload instructions. 8hrs in queue.

Parked up: Cizre, TR.