As a kid, we used to drive from frozen Winnipeg to sunny Texas for Christmas every year, and over the course of that 3000 km trip, I loved seeing the transcontinental lorries, and admiring the way different drivers would personalise them.
I always thought that spending days on the road in my own company, and seeing different parts of North America – from the Rockies, to the desert, to the badlands, to the Great Lakes, to the prairies – would be a fantastic way of life – at least for a while.
Anyway, here in Europe, although I can only imagine it would a much more intense experience, the idea still attracts me. And I love the lorries just as much!
What job would you secretly love to do, even if it is totally unrealistic (and perhaps not as cool as you might think it would be)?
The idea of the open road and seeing parts of the Europe off the tourist trail excite me. Once I’d done a few months of European roads I’d go to the ice roads. I’ve watched enough ice road truckers to be a pro when I arrived.
I first listened to this when I came over to the UK from da U.S.A in 1981, I’d never heard anything like this, the sound, clarity and rhythm of Andys guitar sound and how he created it..
So, I wanted to be him for about a year..
But my all time hero, a guy I always wanted to really be, a guy I grew up reading about, a guy I followed and tried in some small way to emulate was ..
On a day off from my desk job we went for a walk up pen-y-fan. Half way up was a National Trust chap fixing stones in the path; he had his dog, a radio, decent weather,a fantastic view and a job that could basically go on forever. Lucky bugger, I thought.
(The day after it chucked it down, mind… I wonder if he found something indoors to do instead…)
Train driver must be pretty boss.
Unlike truck driving, we have no conception of train driving because we don’t get to look out the front window and see the rails race by (generally speaking). It’s a hidden, magical world.
Weeksy and I are going to start up a place. Perhaps in North Wales, possibly in Morzine.
I’d love to chef. Or even better, a mobile chef. Like a chip van, but with great food, like boeuf bourginion, coq au vin, decent pasta etc. Good ‘bistro’ style. Easy to cook. Great and easy to take away. Surf spots, festivals maybe, bike hang outs, you get the picture.
All from the back of a big old corrugated Citroen van.
No porridge will be sold. Fry-ups will be prominent in the mornings.
I always wanted to be a tunnel engineer. It was the reason behind my choice of A-levels. However after dropping physics after a few months and getting a U in Ad-Maths I came to the conclusion that although good at geology, the engineering side of it just wasn’t happening. I still spend hours studying maps and planning where I could solve all manner of infrastructure issues with a strategically placed tunnel. I really can’t understand why we don’t dig more of them in this country.
Ah well. Soon be time for another tour around the tunnels of Norway to see how the professionals do it. 🙂
Driving a train is dull, I have to go up front for work now and again and I try and avoid it now if I can, just stop and go and hope nothing or no one appears in front of you. Fair play to the drivers that can keep their concentration on the job, would drive me nuts!
I think I’d like to be a game keeper or tree surgeon?
Ambrose, do I remember correctly that back in the old MTB-Wales days, you and Mrs Ambrose used to host a mountain bike weekend at a bothy, where you did some of what you just described in your post (i.e. cooked for whomever was on the adventure, and guided a ride)?
EDIT: If I am remembering correctly, do you still do those?