ASIANOVERLAND.NET RUSSIA SCANDINAVIA

DAY 1/225 1981 – LONDON TO OSTEND (BELGIUM) - FERRY

At this time last year I was in the Middle East as Top Deck courier on my first Overland from London to Kathmandu. After 3 weeks in Nepal,  Corrie and I travelled Overland from Kathmandu back to London. After only one week break in London, we then did a 7 week Winter European, arriving back in London exhausted, but ready for a few European skiing trips. We then put up our feet in London, went to Wimbledon, saw Pink Floyd perform The Wall at Earl’s Court, went to the Oval to watch the Ausies smash The Prisoners of Her Majesty (POMS), and got cold feet ready to hit the road again.

Russia Scandinavia is next the logical trip cos we’ve been to Europe and Turkey a few times, but never been to Russia. The special thing about this trip is that it’s my first as a Top Deck punter, having been courier on my earlier Top Deck trips. Wonderful. But the downside is that the cost of the trip is 289 pounds – a massive 10 pounds per day!!!

A lot of punters think Rule number 5 is –

“NO SEX ON THE BUS.”

But Rule No 3 is the relevant one –

“The crew must be careful in their relationships with the passengers Not to become involved with any females unless intending to remain with them for the rest of the trip.”

This is Corrie and my third Top Deck trip together, and we’re still together 40 years later, so I reckon we’ve complied with Rule No. 3.

Our courier for this Russia Scandi trip is Carmel Smith. She is the most organised courier I’ve ever met. Follows all the Rules. Always on time. Always informative, nice and kind.

Our driver is Mark Bannerman, who is the most organised Top Deck driver I’ve ever met. For most Top Deck drivers, the bus is always the centre of attention, as it’s mostly broken down, blown a gasket, blown the brake drums, had a head on collision, got bogged so the punters have to be used as four wheel drive, etc etc etc. But Mark’s Decker never seems to have any problems. Or if it does, Mark doesn’t tell anyone about them.

On the ferry ride across to Ostend, we have a few beers and meet a few of the punters, who also seem a likeable bunch – Colleen McGrath, Michael Cummins and John (Herbie) Quirk. Little did we know at the time, that these punters would become life-long friends who we would later live with in Mick’s house in Coburg after we travelled back overland from London to Melbourne.

↑ Day 224 ↓ Day 226