11th -13th August 2008

Before we start I'll just point your attention at my fundraising widget >>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'd be very grateful for sponsorship of any amount for the cycle ride I'm doing with my 9 year old son.

Monday
0645 Start. A nice bright Monday morning, even better as the yard is already open and there's a big empty space in it. Having now handed the number 1 title back to it's rightful owner I am back at the bottom in number 3 slot. Or to put it another way, I'm back in my 6 wheeler.

I'd already preflighted the motor on Friday, everything was stowed in the overhead lockers and tacho ready to go. Just kick the tyres and light the fires as it were. I've got a bit of a run around this morning, first stop across to Felsted where I'm due to load a 3t dumper. It's a funny place to get into but I reverse in dwn the narrow driveway and round between the barns through the tight gap first time. I'm happy with that with so long out of the seat.





There's a slight change of plan here, there's an 80 roller to load first followed by the 3t dumper.



All ready to go it's a nice drive up to Chipping on the A10 where there are some barn conversions underway. Driving my lorry again makes me realise how shagged out the unit is, I've got so much more torque and the gearbox is much more slick.

The dumper comes off here and the roller is moved across I've got some more bits to go on. Next on board alongside the roller is a 1.5t mini. There's a skiploader to go on next and a 2t mini to sit on the back. Whilst it's not exactly full, there's a bit of thought required to get it all inboard and that's something I've missed over the last 10 weeks.



We're off to Hatfield Broad Oak now and I need to unload everything but the 2 tonner on the back. Or at least I need to leave everything but there. The 2t machine is run off and dumped to one side.





Then I can unload the other bits before reloading the 2 tonner.



Once everything is squared away, it's back off to Felsted to get rid of the machine and then I'm off back to the yard stoppng on the way to check that the bunk is still operational. Back at the yard it's chaos with vans and plant everywhere, eventually I find a space and squeeze in. Off home at 1615. 171Km.

Tuesday
0645 Start. The yard was awash this morning andmy journey over to the JCB dealer in Braintree not much better. There was not much activity going on there until past 0800 and it was after 0830 before I'd got my load, a 3t 803 demonstrator. Although I can't ever see the rain stopping I shed the waterproofs and head off to Kent.



The weather improves as I head round the M25 and by the time I arrive at Strood it's not a bad day. I'm actually at Diggerland, although they won't let me play for free even though I've brought my own one.



Back up to Essex and into the yard. I get another run out in the afternoon, collecting our 1.5t mini from Hutton. It's back to the yard, unload and reload with a 6t machine for tomorrow. Off home 1645.

Wednesday
0645 Start. Off out to Blackmore near Ongar to deliver the Kobelco 60 that we'd loaded last night. It's a bit big for the job really but the sign for it and I head back to Danbury where I'm due to load from a construction company there. I'm just 2 minutes from where I need to be and I get a call to go back to the yard, luckily that's only 2 minutes away too.

They have now decided that the 60 is too big after all and I've now got to load the 1.5t mini and take it back to exchange it. Then it's back to the yard and pick up where I left off.

We're loading a load of Heras panels and bits, and I'm working with our other 6 wheeler today. Luckily he's only just arrived and is just unfolding the crane. Just after we finish loading the rain starts, dodged that well.



I lead our little convoy, but have to keep off the throttle a bit as I'm that bit quicker.



Surely we are not going that slow?

After a cuppa in the dry we head off across to Kent and down into West Sussex, we're delivering to a site in Horsham. Unloading is by crane and we have to take cover for another heavy rain storm.



All done and it's back to Essex. Finished 1615. Off till Monday.